The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-19
Report Of the House Committee on
Project.
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
Not Recognized.
Made to Fit Conditions Of Fifty
Years Ago.

Washington, February li--Chairmsn
Hepburp Of the House committee on In
terstate and foreign commerce, today sub
mitted the report Of the committee in
favor OF the Hepburn bill for construct
ing the Nicaragua canal The report
says:
"If the provisions OF the bill can 6e
carried out the United States will. with
in q few years (from six TO eight be 10
foil ownership and control Of water
way connecting the oceans that 1t can
defend and that 1t can use In the inter
ests OF Its rayy aud Its merchant marine,
ss wisdom may dictate.
"Ihere seems to be but little doubt that
the states Of Nicaragua and Costa Rica
will give their consent for the construo-
tim of this great work.
After reviewing ths several surveys, the
report continues:
"These reports above referred to. in the
opinions of the engineers and scientists,
believed 10 be entirely oompetsns for
their work, Justify your COMMITTEES In
recommending the undertaking OF tie
epterpriss as one that is entirely rracti-
CAEle, Auu LAao ooh ~ - -
sum CT money the expenditure Of which
will be wise.
stIt is true that the estimates Of cost
are variable, ranging from less than Si0,-
OGO,Og0 TO possible sl46, 0o1 900. 1t Is,
howsvr proper to say that the size and
charg oser OF canal estimst,d for Is as
variable as is the cost.
sin discussing the cash remuneration
that will come to the United States from
tho owership OF this canal. estimates only
zap be made. There has been great differ
encas Of opinion expressed by persons
who have come before the committee and
by writers on this subject as to the ex-
tent OF the use that would be made of
the canal by the worlds shipping.
We have the right to assume that the
amount would be increasing from year
to year. At present 81 IS per ton Is the
toll charged for the uss of the Suez canal.
II that rate was charged ut the Ma
raeua canal and four millions were the
tonnage passing through 1t, more thar
six million dollars would lie the receipts.
1t is estimated that the cost OF main
tanning and operating the canal would be
one million dollars annually.
AN ALL-AMERICAN CANAL
ut is canal discriminating in favor
Of our merchants and our ship builders,
and cur labor that your committee ar g
anxious to secure.
"a number of persons claim to have
concessions from the governments oil
Nicsrauga and Costa Rioa investing them
with rights to navigate the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua. Others claim
to be authorized to construct this great
waterway connecting the oceans. But
tr Is believed that these rights have either
lspssd or are Of iuconsiderable value.
or have been obtained for speculative
PURPOSES. 1t should be the purpose OF
the Government to deal directly with the
goyerpments Of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica. 1t is not believed that any one Of
these real or alleged cuncessiouaries havs
any rights or interests that they can con.
vey TO the United States. Ana Ii lie not
deemed wise to have any joint interest or
interests OF copartnership, or any inter-
est growing ont of corporate relations
with any Of these persons The people
of the United States want a canal that
will be completed under the control OF
the United StsteA"
The report presents an argument
against the claim made by some persons
that creating this shors passage to our
Pacific possessions would be an invasion
of the rights Of other maritime nations.
1t says that no one could ob;eot TO Mica