The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-30

uFe hhu h1nseS hIde-Bhe Sb5ck-
Icford Amendment to BE Urged
The Hepburn bill to provide for the con-
struction of canal connecting the waters
of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans will be
called up for consideration in the House
on Tuesday. Discussion of the bill will
continue on Wednesday. and on the after
noon of that day it is the understanding
that vote will be reached.
The Hepburn bill was introduced in the
House on December :. referred to the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce, and reported with amendments on
February Il. Since that date certain
amendments have been agreed on by the
committee, and these will be offered when
the bill shall come to be discussed fer
amendment.
The Original 1iII.
The bill, as introduced, follows:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United States of
America in Congress assembled. That the
President of the United States be, and is
hereby, authorized to acquire from the
States of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, for
and in behalf of the United States, control
of such portion of territory now belonging
to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as may be
desirable and necessary on which to cN-
cavate, construct, and defend a canal of
such depth and capacity as will be suffi
cient for the movements of ships of the
greatest tonnage and draft now in use.
from a point near Greytown. on the Carib
bean Sea. via Lake Nicaragua to Breto. on
. H. md =rtnh nv
be necessary to secure such control is
hereby appropriated, out of any money
in the Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated.
Sec. 2. That when the President has Sc
cured full control ever the territory in sec
ton / referred to he shall direct the Sec
retary of War to excayate and construct
canal and waterway from a point on the
shore of the Caribbean Sea, near Grew
town, by way of Lake Nicaragua, 10 a
point near Breto, on the Pacific Ocean.
Such canal shall be of sufficient capacity
and depth as that it may be used by yes
sells of the largest tonnage and greatest
depth now in use, and shall be supplied
with all necessary locks and other ap-
pliances 10 meet the necessities of vessels
passing from Greytown to Breto; and the
Secretary of War shall also construct such
safe and commodious harbors at the ter
mini of such canal and such fortificstions
for defence, as will be required for the
and safety of all vessels de-
string the use of said canal.
'Sec. 3. That in making surveys for said
canal and harbors, and in constructing the
same, the President shall detail such num-
ber of engineer officers of the Army or
Navy, and shall employ such civil en-
gineers as may be necessary. and may
require of them the performance of such
professional duties as he may desire.
'-Sec t. That in the excavation and con-
struction of said canal the San Juan River
and Lake Nicaragua. or such part of each
as may be made available. shall be used.
Sec. 5. That in any negotiation with the
States of Costa Rica or Nicaragua the
President may have. the President is au
thorized to guarantee to said States the
use of said canal and harbors, upon such
terms may be agreed upon, for all YES
sells owned by said States, or by citizens
thereof
Sec. 6. That the sum of SAC, 600 900. or
SO much as may be necessary, is hereby
appropriated, out of any money in the
not otherwise appropriated, for
the completion of the work herein author
ized. said money to be drawn from the
Treasury from time 10 time, as the same
shall be needed upon warrants of the Pres
ident. based OF estimates made and veri-
fed by the chief engineer in charge of
the work, and approved by the Secretary
Of Wa"
Amendments to the Measure.
In the bill as amended by the committee
prior to its report the last clause of sec
tion . was made to read as follows: And
the Secretary of War shall also construct
such safe and commodious harbors at the
termini of said canal, and such fortifca-
ticns for defence, as will be required for
the safety and protection of said canal and
harbors"
Section 8 was thus amended: THAT
the President shall cause such surveys as
may be necessary for said canal and har-
bors and in constructing of the same and |
employ such persons as he may deem nee
essary."
Section was amended as follows: That |
the sum Of ten millions OF dollars is here
by appropriated, /, out OF any money in the |
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to-
ward the project herein contemplated; and
the Secretary of War is further hereby
authorized TO enter into contract or con-
tracts for materials and work that may be
deemed necessary for the proper excava-
tion, construction, defence and compile /
ton OF said canal, to be paid for as ap-
may from time TO time be
hereafter made, not TO exceed in the ag-
gregate S14e. eco. OO0."
The bill as the committee has agreed to |
amend it contains no mention OF fortifica-
tions. II has been agreed TO amend sec
tion 2 SO that ii Will read as follows:
THAT when the President has secured full
control over the territory in section 1 re-
ferred to he shall direct the Secretary of
War to excavate and construct canal and
waterway from point on the shore of the
caribbean Sea, near Greytown, via Lake
Nicaragua. to point near Breto. on the
Pacific Ocean. Such canal shall be of SUI
hcient capacity and depth as that it may
be used by vessels of the largest tonnage
and greatest depth now in use, and shall
be supplied with all necessary locks and
other appliances to meet the necessities
Of vessels passing from Greytown to Breto;
and the Secretary OF War shall also con-
struct such safe and commodious harbors
at the terrnini OF said canal and such pro-
vision for defence as may be necessary
for the safety and protection of said canal
and harbors."
The friends OF the Canal bill rally
stops the Cough
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