The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-05-11
CANAL IN
THE HOUSE
Bill Wins by a Great
Majority.
TEXT OF THE MEASURE
Territory to be Acquired from Mica
ragua and Costa Rica--Ten
Millions Appropriated.

WASHINGTON, May 2.-The House to-
day, at the>conclusion of the most stor-
my debate of the present session of Con-
gress, passed the Nicaragua bill by the
overwhelming vote of 225 to 80. Attempts
to retain in the bill the language of the
original bill for the fertilization OF the
language on that line were baked, and
the victory of Hepburn and the commit
tee was complete. A motion to recornm;t
another bill leaving the selection of the
route to the President, was buried under
an adverse majority of - to III.
Cannon, chairman of the Appropriations
Committee, and Burton of Ohio, chairman
of the River and Harbor Committee
made a game fight to stall off action at
this session, but their appeals We're in
vain and the members rode roughshod
over all their arguments and protests
Much excitement reigned throughout the
day and several times bitter words ,-ere
used. The excitement reached its eli
max in a highly dramatic scene between
Hepburn and Cannon, when the former
used the word lie and liar as he ,,c-
nounced the distinguished chairman OF
the Appropriations Committee for at
tempting TO dishonor him. The House.
was in riotous confusion during the
quarrel. Members crowded the aisles
threatening that Mr.. Wheeler of Ken
lucky Cd sought to pour oil on the
troubled waters by raising point Of or
der. But he was not upheld and the TWO
.irate 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 which such in
cidents generally end We're but the cloaks
! for the keenest and most cutting sar-
caSm.
BE it enacted. etc. that the President
of the United States be, and he is here
by 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 Nicaragua as may be
desirable and necessary on which TO eX-
caVate, construct and protect a canal OF
such depth and capacity, as will be suffi-
c1ent for the movement of ships of the
greatest tonnage and draught now in use.
frcm point near Greytown on the Carib-
bean sea, via Lake Nicaragua to Breto,
! on the Pacific ocean; and such sum as
may be necessary to secure such control
is hereby appropriated out of any money
in the treasury not otherwise appropri-
ated.
Section ?. That when the President
has secured full control over the terri
tory in Section i referred to, ne shall
direct the Secretary of War to eXcayate
and construct canal and waterway
from a point on the shore of the Carib-
bean sea near Greytown, by way of Lake
Nicaragua, to a point near Breto, on the
Pacific ocean. Such canal shall be of suf-
ticient capacity and depth as that may
be used by vessels of the largest tonna gre
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
harbors at the termini of said canal
and such provisions for defense as NAV
be necessary for the safety and protcc-
ton of said canal and harbors.
Section g. That the President shall
cause such surveys may be necessary
for said canal and harbors, and in the
construction of the same shall employ
such persons as he may deem necessary
Section 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 available
shall be used.
Section >. That in any negotiations
with the States of Costa Rica or Mica
ragua the President may have, the Pres
ident Is authorized to guarantee to said
States the use of said canal and harborS
upon such terms as may he agreed upon
for all vessels owned by said States or
. by citizens thereof.
Section 6. That the sum of SO, 0Dl, 600
is hereby appropriated out of any money
( in the Treasury not otherwise appropriat t
ed toward the project herein contemplat-
ed, and the Secretary of War is further
authorized to enter into contract or
contracts for materials and work that
may be deemed necessary for the proper
excavation. construction, completion and
defense of said canal, to be paid for as
appropriations may from time to time be
hereafter made, not to exceed in the ag-
. l..iA