Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-12
House Committee FayOrs the Hep
burn Measure,
WHAT THE BILL PROVIDES.
United states 20 Construct the Canai'
and 20 Portlfy and Defend IL
Other business

washington, Jan. 12-The House
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce today ordered a favorable
report upon the Hepburn bill for the
construction Of the Nicaraguan canal
The bill is practically the same one
reported by this committee In the last
Congress. There was some discussion
about the adysabiity OF delaying ac-
ton on the bin until the Isthmian canal
commission reported but this was
finally regarded as unnecessary, ana
all the members except Mr. Fletcher
Of Missouri, voted to report the bill
fayorably. The latter said his silence
should not be construed as opposition
to the measure, but merely as a reser-
walton Of his right to support or oppose
Il after further consideration. The
committee made some changes In the
original bill, inserting new section
three and making verbal alterations
AS finally agreed TO the bill Is as fol-
lows.
To provide for the construction OF
canal connecting the waters OF the At
lantic and Pacific oceans,
BE II enacted, etc, that the President
OF the United States be and Is hereby
authorized TO acquire from the states
OF Costa Roca and Nicaragua, for and
in behalf OF the United States. control
OF such portion Of territory now belong
ing to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as
may be desirable and necessary on
which TO excavaie, construct and de-
fend a 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 point near
Greytown, on the Caribbean sea, via
Lake Nicaragua TO Breto on the Pa
ciflc ocean, and such sums as may be
necessary TO secure such control are
hereby Appropriated out OF any money
In the treasury not otherwise appro-
priated,
Section 2.--That when the President
has secured full control over the terri
tory In section referred TO he shall
direct the secretary OF war to excavate
and construct canal and waterway
from point on the shore Of the Carib-
bean Sea- near Greytown. by way Of
Nicaragua to point near Breto, on
the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall be
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 nee
cssary locks and other appliances TO
meet the necessities of vessels passing
from GrrYtown TO BretO, and the Sec
rotary Of war shall also cOntruct such
safe and commodious harbors at the
ternini OF said canal and such fortlfca-
tions Tor defense as will be required for
safety and protection Of said canal and
harbors.
Section THAT the President shall
cause such surveys as may be neces-
sary for said canal and harbOrs and in
the constructing Of the same.
Section 4--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 avail
able shall be used,
Section 5--That in any negotiations
with the states of Costa Rica or Mic
aragua 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 clti-
Gems thereof
Section 6-That the sum OF s1i0, 900. 900
or SO much thereof as may be necessary
Is hereby appropriated out Of any
money In the treasury not otherwise APP
propriated for the completion Of the
work herein authorized. said money 10
be drawn from the treasury from time
10 time. as the same shall be needed,
upon warrants df the President, based
on estimates made and verified by the
chief engineer in charge Of the work
and approved by the secretary Of war.
Mr. Catchings MISS was sworn In as
member at the opening OF the session
Of the House today. He has been de-
tanned at home since Congress con-
vened
The Speaker laid before the House
the resignation Of John Walter Smith,
governor Of Maryland.
Mr.. Sulzer IN. ~ then presented for
immediate consideration a resolution
for the appointment Of q special COM
mlttee Of nine members to investigate
the relations Of the secretary OF the
treasury With certain New York ma
tional banks, and the transactions rela.
tive 90 the sale Of the New York Gus
tom house. Before the reading OF the
resolution was completed, Mr.. Dalzell
(Rep.. Pa) objected on the ground that
the resolution should go through the box
in the regular way.
Then | ask unanimous consent" said
Mr. Sulzer, "for its consideration"
Il object" shouted Mr.. Hopkins
(Rep. Ils,) and several other Repub-
llcans.
Mr. Grosvenor (O.) moved that the
resolution be laid on the table.
1T is not before the house" observed
Mr.. Hopkins The able report Of the
secretary Of the treasury has met all
the charges II contains"
Mr.. Richardson CDem.) the minority
leader, as a matter OF privilege, called
attention TO what he claimed was an
infractlon Of the rules Of the House in
the print OF the shipping bill. Append
cd to IL was partisan argument by
ex-senator Edmunds, which had no
business there and made II nom frank
able document. He thought the whole
document should be suppressed.
Mr. Payne On. Y.,) explained that the
Edmunds argument had been printed
by inadvertence. After some discussion
1t was agreed by unanimous consent
that the bill should be reprinted With
out the agreement attached in the pres
ent print. The House at 1920 p. m,
adjourned until Monday.