The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-27
NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
Change Made I'm It's Wording, Limit
ing the Present Appropriation
to $4,000, 900.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The house COM
mittee on interstate and foreign commerce
today reconsidered the Nicaragua canal
bill, which had been reported with an ap-
preparation of $14o 100000 and changed the
appropriation section SO as to make Sl0.-
co., 900 available, with authority to con-
tract for the entire excavation and COM
pIetion at q total cost not exceeding $140.r
ooo.0oo
Before this action was taken Mr.. Hep
burn. chairman OF the COMMITTEES. stated
that as all the members OF the committee
were anxious for the success Of this bill
It was well to consider some Of the objec-
tions which had been raised. He had
heard several objections on the ground
that the whole sl40OOO.ooo was appropri.
ated now, and three or four gentlemen had
said they would not support the bill II the
entire sum was appropriated now. but
would support 1t only If a portion was
made available at once to begin the work.
Corliss thereupon offered the following
new section. which was adopted:
Section g. That the sum of $10.000.000 is
hereby appropriated out of any money in
the treasury not otherwise appropriated
towards the project herein contemplated,
I, and the secretary of war Is further hereby
autn0TlZeQ
tracts for materials and work that may be
deemed necessary for the proper excava-
tion, construction, defense and completion
of said canal, to be paid for as appropria-
tions may from time to time be hereafter
made, not to exceed in the aggregate $780,
000O00."
Fletcher asked when you get the ca
nal half built for $4,000, 900 what will you
do for the other half?''
Corliss answered that the highest esti-
mate of cost thus far made was $133 100000.
Mr.. Hepburn added that iii the amended
form the bill simply applied the contract
system and limited the aggregate to $l40,-
100000.
In the amended form the bill was or
dered reported.
The Pacific cable question was then TAX
en- up, and Gen. Wager Swayne, of New
York, spoke in favor of private construc-
tion and operation Of the cable lines as
against government ownership.
Claim Of Exclusive Cable Rights.
Mr. Lewis Marshall. of New York. ap-
peared in behalf of the Eastern Extension
and Australian Telegraph Company, the
British company which now operates the
cable connections with the Philippines, and
stated that he was present to submit a
notice of prior rights.
He explained the concessions held by
this company from Spain. one of them ex-
tending until 1910 and one of them grant,
ed in 1895. giving exclusive landing rights
in the Spanish Pacific islands until 1913
Mr.. Marshall said the company main
tanned that these grants by Spain were
binding on the United States, as this gov
ernment had succeeded. to Spain's SOW
ereignty and had put Itself in Spain's
shoes"
Mr.. Corliss asked IL 1t was claimed the
United States could not lay cable to
Manila.
Mr.. Marshall said IT was held this could
not be done without extinguIshing the ex-
isting rights in some regular way.
Capt. Squier. acting chief signal officer.
stated that owing to the assertion OF .x-
elusive rights the war department had Sc
cured copies of the original concessions
under which this British company was
operating. He said these controverted the
claims of exclusive rights. They were be- |
ing translated and would be soon submitted
to congress.