The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-13
REPORT is FAVORABLE.
Nicaragua Canal Bill Has Been Prepared by
Committee.
PRESIDENT AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE
Right of Why Il to BE Secured and
United States Will Construct
and Defend II.

Washington, January 1.-THE house
committee on interstate and foreign COM
mercei today ordered favorable report
on the Hepburn bill for the construction OF
the Nicaragua canal. The bill is prac
tically the same one reported by this COM
mittee in the last congress.
The committee made some changes In the
original bill. inserting a new section, No.
3, and making verbal alterations. 1t was
finally agreed to. The bill is as follows:
To provide for the construction of a
canal connecting the waters of the Atlantic
aud Pacific oceans.
BE it enacted, etc. that the president OF
the United States be and is hereby au-
thorized to acquire from the States of Costa
Rica and Nicuaraga 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 anu
necessary ON which to excsvate. construct
and defend cana, OF such depth and ca
pacity as VIII be sufficient for the moves
ment OF ships of the greatest tonnage aud
draft now in use, from point near Grey
town on the Caribbean sea via Lake MIC
aragua to Bretu. on the Pacific ocean, and
such sums as may be necessary to secure
such control are hereby appropriated out
of any money in rhe treasury not other
wise appropriated.
Section g That the president having
secured full control over the territory in
section / referred to, he shall direct the
secretary OF war TO eScayate and con-
struct a canal waterway from point Oh
the shore of the Caribbean sea near Grey
town by way OF Lake Nicaragua TO point
near Breto on the Pacific ocean. Such
canal shall be of sufficient capacity and
depth as that II may be used for the
largest tonnage vessels 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 construct such safe and
commodous harbors at the termini OF
said canal and such Notifications for de-
| Tense as will be required for safety and
protection of said canal and harbor.
Sec. 3. That the president shall cause
! such surveys as may be necessary TO SAID
canal and such harhor and in the con-
structing Of the same,
| Sec. 4, In the excavation and construc-
ton of said canal the San Juan river and
Lake Nicaragua or such parts OF each as
may be made available shall be used.
| Sec. 5. That In any negotiations with
| the States of Nicaragua or Costa RIGA the
president may have. the president Is au-
thorlzed to guarantee to said States the
use of said canal and harbors upon such
terms as may be agreed upon for all yes
sells owned by said States or by citizens
| thereof.
Sec. 6. That the sum of s140 900 900 or
so much thereof as may be necessary is
] hereby appropriated out OF any money in
| tho treausry not otherwise appropriated for
the completion OF the work herein author
lied. said money to be drawn from the
treasury from time to time as the same
shall be needed upon warrants Of the pres
ldent based on estimates made and verified
by the chief engineer in charge of the
work ard approved by the secretary of
| war