The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-13

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE house
committee on interstate and foreign COM
merce today ordered a favorable report
upon the Hepburn bill for the construc-
ton of the Nicaragua canal. The bill
is practically the same one reported by
this committee in the last congress.
There was some discussion about the adj
visibility of delaying action on the bill
until the Isthmian canal commission re-
ports, but this was finally regarded as
unnecessary, and all the members. ex-
cept Fletcher. voted to report the bill fa-
yorably. The latter said his silence
should not be construed as opposition to
the measure but merely as a reservation
of his right to support or oppose 1t after
further consideration.
The committee made some changessin
the original bill, inserting new section
and making verbal alterations. As
finally agreed to the bill Is as follows:
Text OF the Bill.
ITO provide for the construction of a
canal connecting the waters of the At
lantic and Pacific oceans.
BE 1t enacted, ETC., that the president
of the United States be and Is hereby au-
thorized to acquire from the states of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua for and in be-
half of the United States control Of such
portions of territory now belonging to Cos
ia Rica and Nicaragua as may be desirable
and necessary, on which to excavate, con-
struct and defend a canal of such depth
and capacity as will be sufficient for the
movements of ships of the greatest ton
mage and draft now in use, from point
near Greytown, on the Caribbean sea, via
Lake Nicaragua, to Breto, on the Pacific
coast and such sums as may be neces-
sary to secure such control are hereby
appropriated out of any moneys in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Government to Construct Ii.
''Sec. 2. That when the president has
secured full control of the territory. in
section / referred to, he shall direct the
secretary Of war to excavate and con-
struct canal and waterway from a
point of the shore of the Caribbean sea,
near Greytown, by way of Nicaragua. to
a point near Breto, on the Pacific coast.
such canal shall be of sufficient ca
pacity and depth as that 1T 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 Bre-
to, and the secretary of war shall also
construct such safe and commodious har-
bors at the termini of said canal and such
quired for the safety and protection OF
said canal and harbors.
Surveys Authorised.
'Sec. 3. That the president shall cause
such surveys as may be necessary for
said canals and harbors and In the con-
structing of the same.
Route for the Canal.
"Sec A. That in the excavation and
construction of said canal the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua, or such parts
of each as may be made available, shall
be used.
Settlement with Countries.
''Sec. S. That in any negotiations with
the states of Costa Rica or Nicaragua
the president is authorized to guarantee
to said states the use of said canal and
harbors upon such terms as may be
agreed upon for all vessels owned by
said states or by citizens thereof.
Heavy Appropriation Made.
Sec s. That the sum of $40. 900. 600. or
so much thereof as may be necessary,
is hereby appropriated out of any money
in the treasury not otherwise appropriat-
ed for the completion of the work herein
authorized, said money to be drawn from
the treasury from time to. time. as the
same shall be needed, upon warrants of
the president, based on estimates made
and verified by the chief engineer In
charge of the work and approved by the
secretary of war