The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-05-05

Measure.
Washington, May 1.-The house 10
day. at the conclusion of the mos
stormy debate Of the present sessio
of congress. passed the Nicaragua bi
by the overwhelming vote Of 225 t
thirty-fve. All attempts to retain il
the bill the language of the origina
bin for the fortifcation of the cana
and to still further strengthen the Ian
guage on that line We're baked. an,
the victory of Mr.. Hepburn and tn
committee was complete A motion t,
rc2ommit the bill with instructions t,
report back another bill leaving tn,
selection of the route to the president
was buried under an adverse majority
of tifty-tWo TO III.
Mr. Cannon, chairman of the apprO.
priauons committee, and Mr.. Burton OF
Ohio, chairman of the river and har-
bors committee, made a game fight Il
stall off action at this session. but
their appeals were in vain and the
members rode rough-shod over all
their arguments and protests.
Much excitement reigned throughout
the day, and several times bitter words
were used. The excitement reached its
climax in high dramatic scene be
tween Mr. Hepburn and Mr.. Cannon.
when the former used the word lie
and liar, as he denounced the distin-
Guished chairman Of the appropria-
lions committee for attempting TO
dishonoT him 90
The house was in riotous confusion
Hrrrrr O.
the aIsleS and the situation at one time
was so threatening that Mr.. Wheeler
OF kentucky tDem) sought to pour oil
on the waters by raising a point of or
der.
But he was not upheld. and the two
1rate members carried their war to the
very hilt. There was a show Of peace
at the close Of the incident. but the
feeling between the two men ran so
high that the mutual retractions with
winch such Incidents generally end.
were but the clOaks of the keenest and
most cutting sarcasm. The bill as il
passed the house, is as follows:
be u enacted. etc, that the presi-
dent of the United States be. and is
hereby authorized. to acquire from the
states of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
for and in behalf Of the United States.
control Of such portion of territory
now belonging to Costa Rica and Mic
aragua as may be desirable and neces-
sary on which to excavate, construct
and protect a canal of such depth and
capacity, as viii 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; and such sum as
may be necessary to secure such con-
troll IS hereby appropriated out of anv
money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated.
Sec. THAT when the president has
secured full control over the territory
IN section 1 referred to, he shall direct
the secretary Of war to excavate and
construct canal and waterway from
point on the shore Of the Caribbean
sea near GreytOWn. by way of Lake
Nicaragua, Co a point near Breto. on
the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall he
of sufficient capacity and depth as that
II may be used by vessels of the larg-
est tonnage and greatest depth now in
use, and shall be supplied with all
necessary locks and other appliances
TO meet the necessities Of vessels nass-
lng from GTeytOWn to Breto: and the
secretary Of war shall also construct
such safe and commodioUs harbOrs at
the termini Of said canal. and such
provisions for defense as may be neces-
sary for the safety and protection of
said canal and harbors.
sec. That the president shall
cause such surveys as may be necessary
for said canal and harbors. and in the
of the same shall emnIov
such persons as he may deem neces- \
sar.-
Sec. 4-That in the excavation and
the construction Of said canal the San
Juan river and Lake Nicaragua. or such
parts Of each as may be made avil-
able, shall be used.
Sec. THAT in any negotiations with
the states Of Costa Bica or Nicaragua.
the president may have, the president
Is authorized to guarantee to said
states the use OF said canal and har-
horS upon sucn terms as may be agreed
upon Tor all vessels owned by said
states. or by citizens thereof.
sec 6-That the sum of $40 600 600 is |
rebNapprgpriated out of any money in |
the treasury not other wise appropriated I
toward the project herein contemplated |
ana the secretary of war is further au- |
thoriZed to enter into contract or CON
tracts for materials and work that NAV /
be deemed necessary for the proper ex- |
raVati0n. construction, completion and |
9etense OF said canal, TO be paid for as
appropriations may from time to time |
be hereafter made, not TO exceed in the /
aggregate $14O, 600 OOO" i
When the house met, on motion of
dr- Hepburn Qa), in charge of the |
canal bill. general debate upon that |
bin was closed, and the bill was read |
for amendment under the ffve-minute |
rule.
Mr.. Hepburn offered the committee /
amendment TO substitute the word 1
protect for defend in the first sec
ton.
Mr. Mann of Illinois. a member of
the interstate commerce committee,
said he favored a canal built, owned
ana ~ fortified by the United States.
Mr. Underwood of Alabama said he
~ l@ea The building OF the canal No