Evening star., 1900-05-03
PASSED BY THE HOUSE
FAVORABLE ACTION ON NICARAGUA
CANAL BILL.
The Vote Was 22o Yeas to 35 Nays
Committee Amendment Adopted
Text of the Measure:

After The Stars report of the considera
tion in the House of the Nicaragua cana
bill closed yesterday the committee amend
ments to the second section were adopted.
Mr. Neville CNeb.) offered amendment
which defeated, providing that wher
ever possible only American labor shoul,
be employed in the construction of the
canal.
Mr.. Marsh Qll) entertained the HOUSE
with a vigorous speech in which he predict
ed that the Nicaragua canal would be the
entering wedge for a great canal connecting
the great lakes with the Gulf of Mexico.
Mr.. Cannon created another furry in re-
ferring to Admiral Walkers statement
which he quoted Tuesday to the effect that
the commission was not prepared to say
now where the canal should be constructed
He said he had met Admiral Walker sincc
and he had said he had given the same in
formation to Mr.. Hepburn. chairman of III.
interstate commerce committee.
The excitement increased as the time for
a vote approached Mr.. GrosvenOr and Mr.
Cannon exchanged broadsides, and Mr.. Bur
ton made his final protest against the bill
He declared that the House was proceeding
fNogically and hastily.
The other committee amendments were
adopted. and Mr.. Burton offered his final
amt ndment providing that no money should
be expended under the terms Of the bill unit
the iSthmian canal commission made its
report The amendment was defeated with,
cut division.
Mr.. Dolliver 0owa) supported the bill as
an expression of the practically unanimous
sentiment of the people of the United States
Mr.. Cannon made a final protest against
the bill, pointing out that its author, Mr.
Hepburn and the last speaker, Mr.. DOLL
Yer. conceded that the bill was defective
There We're calls Of ''VOter' Vote" as
Mir. Cannon concluded
substitute by MIR. Shackleford that the
bill should not go into effect If the Hay
Pauncefote treaty was ratified was Ge-
fsated.
The bill was then reported to the House.
Mr.. Adamson (Cia) demanded a sepa rate
vote upon the committee amendment suosti-
tuting the words provisions for defense
IL place of Notifications for defense" The
vote was taken by ayes and noes.
The committee amendment was adopted
15i To 14.
Mr. Burton then moved to recommit the
bill to the interstate commerce committee.
with instructions to report back forthwith
a substitute authorizing the President to
secure control of strip of territory con-
Meeting the two oceans for the construction
of a canal. and authorizing the construction
of such canal al a cost not TO eXceef
4Uttst'A0.
The motion was defeated-52 to III.
Mr. Burton demanded the ayes and noes.
but could not get a second for his demand
Ile vote then came upon LLle lIildl PsISS't5S :
of th,. bill.
The bill was passed. 225 to 81. The an
ncuucenent was received with a whirlwind
of applause from the floor and galleries.
Thost who voted nay are the following:
Ache,Son, Adams. Burton, Cannon. Ca
pron Clark tMo). Coorey, Cowherd, Cox,
DalzcIl, De Almond. Denney. Dougherty,
Fleming. Fletcher, CASTOR. Gillett CMass), ,,
Graham, Hit, King. Lawrence, Lester,
Levy. I-ittauer. Littlefield. Mccall. Neville.
Rrirktr SblfrOfh SDrdgllp.
Stewart (Wis.). Talbert. Thayer and Van
dIver-25.
Text of the Bill.
The bill, as it passed the House, is as
follows:
BE 1t enacted, etc, that the President of
the United States be. and is hereby, au-
thnrizei to acquire from the states of Cos
ia Rica and Nicaragua. for and in behalf
of the United States. control of such por-
ton of territory now belonging 10 Costa
RIca and Nicaragua as may be desirable
and necessary on which to eNcavate con-
struct and protect canal of such depth
and capacity as will be sufficient for the
movements of ships of the greatest tonnage
and draft now In Use, from a point near
Greytown: on the Caribbean sea. via Lake
Nicaragua. to BretO. on the Pacific ocean:
ard such sum as may be necessary to Sc
cure such control is hereby appropriated
out of any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated.
Sec. 2 That when the President has Sc
cure'l full control over the territory in sec
tion one referred to, he shall direct the
Secretary Of War to exCavate and construct
a canal and waterway from point on the
shore of he Caribbean sea. near Greytown,
by way Of Lake Nicaragua, TO a point near
Breto. on the Pacific ocean. Such canal
shall be Of sufficient capacity and depth as
that il may be used by vessels of the
largest tonnage and greatest depth now in
use. and shall be supplied with all neces-
sary locks and other appliances TO meet the
necessities of vessels passing from Grey
town to Breto: and the Secretary of War
shall also construct such safe and commodi-
Gus harbors at the termini of said canal
and such provisions for defense, as may be
necessary for the safety ard protection of
said canal and harbOrs.
Sec. ,. That the President shall cause
sCch surveys as may he necessary for said
canal and harbors. and IN the construction
OF the same shall employ such persons as he
may deem necessary.
Sec. T. That in the excavation and con-
structiou of said canal the San Juan river
and Lake Nicaragua. or such parts of each
as may be available, shall be used.
Sec . That in any negotiations 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 as may he agreed upon, for all ves-
sels owned by said states Or by citizens
thereof.
Sec. g. That the sum of $40 0o0 600 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 au-
thorized To enter into a contract or con-
tracts for materials and work that may be
deemed necessary for the proper excava-
tion. construction. completion and defense
of said canal, to be paid for as appro-
pr.ations may from time 10 time be here
after made. not to exceed in the aggre-