New-York tribune., 1900-04-18
FIGHTING FOR CANAL BILL
MIR. HEPBURN AND HIS FRIENDS PRESS
ING THE NICARAGUA MEASURE.
Isr TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRrpUSE-I

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE-l
Washington. April 1T.-Chairrnan Hepburn OF
the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Com
rnerce and other advocates in the House OF Rep
resentatives of immediate legislation TO provide
for the construction Of the proposed Nicaragua
Canal have become exceedingly impatient on ac-
count OF wnat they regard as unreasonable de-
law and they are threatening to make the situa-
ton interesting as well unpleasant for those
who they believe are exertng their efforts and
influence for further delay because OF their hos
tilty to the project itself. The Hepburn bill
fcvorably reported to the House two months ago
to-day Stree that time the Hsy-Pauncefote
treaty has been signed. and Is now pending in
the Senate for ratification. with little pros
pect for favorable action until next winter II
ever. The preliminary report Of the Walker
Commission has not yet been made and sub
mitted 10 Congress. and probably will not be for
some time TO come.
vexed by the delay and untOward prospect
the advocates of the Hepburn bill are trying to
force it's consideration and passage by the House
at this session. Chairman Hepburn has already
obtained an imposing array Of signatures TO a
paper requesting the Committee on Rules TO
bring In a special order providing for the con-
sideration of the bill at an early date specified
and for vote en- the bin and all amendments
thereto On a day and hour also TO be specified
He is confident that such an order would be
adopted by an OverwhelrinS ma iority. and
there is every reason TO believe that his conf
dence is Justified There is equally good reason
TO believe that the bill would pass the House
as reported by the committee by a large ma
jurity II is inti.1ated. however. that the mem
bers of the Committee RULES, as well as other
influential leaders of the majority in either
branch of Congress. are strongly Of the opinion
that the measure in its present fern ought not
10 be passed at this session
One Of the objections NEST strongly urged IS
the provision requiring the Secretary of War
to build such Notifications as may be necessary
for the defence and protection Of the canal and
the harbors at the terminf. Some OF the more
radical advocates of the measure, including. 1t
is understood. Chairman Hepburn himself, do
ret regard this objection as valid one. and
argue that if il were removed some other one
would be Immediately raised and urged with
equal energy.
SUSPICIOUS OF PANAMA INTERESTS.
they vigorously assert that the advocates OF
delay are moved by other influences and motives
than any which are apparent on the surface and
that the actual springs of opposition are deeply
and cunningiy hidden. One Of these. they are
convinced. is the Panama Canal interest, which.
they say is making desperate efforts TO prevent
or postpone action until that interest has been
properly cared for In the course Of CONVERSE
ton to-day in relation 70 this subject a mem
ber of the committee who shares the beliefs
and opinions of Chairman Hepburn in regard
to il declared I substance that the Panama
Canal interest playing for the biggest stake
of the century that its cusJOdianS realized
full we'll that no more than one tnLerOcearic
canal would ever connect the Atlantic and the
Pacific. and that the building of the Nicaragua
Canal would mean the utter and total loss OF
every dollar that had been expended at Panama
we'll of every dime invested in the Panama
franchise and shares Another advocate OF I'M
mediate action who felt somewhat gloomy over
the prospect remarked,
am in favor OF smoking these fellows out
not only those who have profess TO have paid
out their good money TO obtain control OF the
Panama interests. but also those who are trying
TO hamper and prevent the success Of legislation
which will result in ship canal across Costa
Rlca and Nicaragua by br2ndishing canal con-
cessons obtained down there, when they could
the Pacific than they could between Nev-York
and Liverpool. Yes, We will have smoke these
fellows OUT perhaps, before We pass the Hep
burn bill.
TWO PETITIONS To THE SPEAKER
Chairman HepbUrr'S written request, backed
by the signatures Of 125 Republican Representa-
tives was handed to Speaker Henderson this
afternoon. and Mr.. Adamson. of Georgia. pre-
scented signed by equal number OF Demo
cratic members-the total amounting TO more
than two-thirds of the membership OF the House.
Both petitions asked that the Canal bill be taken
up for consideTati tiOn on May l.