The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-13

The House Committee on Interstate anj
Foreign Commerce yesterday instructed
Chairman Hepburn to favorably report to
the House the bill for the construction OF
the Nicaragua Canal MIR. Fletcher of Min
nesota alone refrained from giving the bill
his Endorsement. in order, as he stated,
that he may oppose or favor the bill on the
floor OF the House as he may see ct after
more thorough study of its provisions.
The bill as it will be reported 10 the
House, except in minor particulars, viii be
the same as the one which passed the COM
Ynittee stage at the last session Of Con-
gress.
There was some talk in the committee OF
waiting for the report of the Isthmian Ca
nal Commission, but it was pointed out
that there was nothing TO be gained by
such a course The bill reads as follows:
To provide for the construction OF canal
connecting the waters OF the Atlantic and Pa
cihc oceans
BE it enacted, etc.
That the President 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 puT-
ton of territory belonging TO Costa hica
and Nicaragua as may be desirable and necessary
on which TO excgvate, construct, and defend
canal OF such depth and capacity as viii be SUI
ficient for the movements Of ships of the great
est tonnage and draft now IN use, from point
near Creytown. the Caribbean Sea, via Lake
Nicaragua, TO Brcto, on the Pacific Ocean; and
such sums as may be necessary TO secure snch
control are hereby appropriated, out OF any money
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated
See That when The President has secured fuii
control over the territory in section-l referred
TO- he shall direct the Secretary OF War to eH-
eaVsfe and construct Z canal and waterway from
a point on the shore Of the Caribbean Sea, near
Grrytoun by way OF Lake Nicaragua, to point
near Erctu. on the Pacific Ocean. such canal
shall be Of sufficient capacity and depth as that
II NAV be used by vessels Of the largest tonnage
and greatest depth now III Use, and shail be sup
piled with all necessary locks ana ctheT appii-
anses to meet the necessities Of vessels passing
from Greytown to Brctos and the secretary oi
War shsl also construct such safe and coInfno-
dious harhors at the torinni ot s1ld ScahAl anu
such Notifications for defence. as VIII ne require"
for safety and protection of said canal ana har-
bor.s
Sec. 3. That The President shall cause such
surveys as may be necessary for said canal ana
hsrburs and in the constructing OF the same.
Sec. l. That in the excavation and contrue-
tion of said canal the San Juan River aud Lake
Nic.rag1ta or such parts Of each may be made
available. shall be used
Sec. 5. That in any negotiations with the
States of Costa Rica or Nicaragua the Presi-
dent may have the President is authorized to
guarantee TO said States the Use OF said canal
and h4fbors upon such terms as may be agreed
upon for all vessels owned by said states or by
citizens thereof.
SCI. G. That ,he sum Of sli0,O0DGeO. or so
much thereof as may be necessary. is hereby ap-
propristed, out of any money in th2 Treasury
not otherwise appropriated. for the completion
cf the work herein authorized, said money 10
be drawn from the Treasury from tine TO time
as the same shall be needed, upon warrants OF
thc President based on estimates made and veri-
fed by the clief engineer in charge Of the work
anil -.d ht- lao of