Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-03


WASHINGTON, D. c., Nay 2.-The
House to-day at the conclusion of the
most stormy debate of the present ses-
sion of Congress passed the Nicaragua
canal bill by the overwhelming vote of
225 to 50.
All attemps to retain in the bill the
language of the original bill for the
fertilization of the canal and to
strengthen the language on that line
were baked and the victory of Mr..
Hepburn and the committee was COM
plete.
A motion to recommit the bill with
instructions to report back another bill
leaving the selection of the route to
the President was buried under an adj
verse majority of 50 to III.
Mr. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
priations committee, and Mr. Burton,
Of Ohio, chairman of the river and
harbors committee, made a game fight
to 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 it's
climax in a highly dramatic scene be-
tween Mr.. Hepburn and Mr.. Cannon
when the former used the word lie
and liar" as he denounced the dis
tinguished chairman of the appropria-
tons committee for attempting to dis
honor him" The House was in riot
Gus confusion during the quarrel. Mem
bers crowded the aisles and the situa-
ton at one time was so threatening
that Mr.. Wheeler, of Kentucky, Demo-
crat, sought to pour oil on the waters
by raising point of order But he
was not upheld and the two irate mem
bers 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 mu-
tual retractions with which such Incl
dents generally end were but the
cloaks for the keenest and most cut
ting sarcasm.
The bill as it passed the House is as
follows:
BE it enacted, ETC., that the Presi-
dent of the United States be and he is
hereby authorized to acquire from the
States of Costa RIGA and Nicaragua
nf Toit
control of such portion of territory
row belonging to Costa RIGA and
Nicaragua as may be desirable and
necessary on which to eXcavate, con
struct and protect 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 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 control is hereby appropriated,
out of any money in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated.
Section 2:
THAT when the President has secur-
ed full control over the territory in
Section 1 referred to, he shall direct
the Secretary of War to excayate and
construct canal and water way from
a point on the shore of the Caribbean
sea near Greytown, by way of Lake
Nicaragua to a point near Breto, on
the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall be
of sufficient capacity and depth as that
it may be used by vessels of the larg-
est tonnage and greatest depth now in
use, and shall be supplied with all nee
essary locks and other appliances to
meet the necessities of vessels pass
ing from Greytown to BreJo, and the
Secretary Of War shall also construct
such safe and commodious harbors at
the termini of said canal and such pro-
visions for defense as may be neces-
sary for the safety and protection of
said canal and harbors.
Section s:
THAT the President shall cause such
surveys as may be necessary for said
canal and harbois, and IN the con-
struction of the same shall employ
such persons as he may deem neces-
sary.
Section 4:
THAT in the excavation and con-
I'll dSiiOA vi 0Nd-u NdlA1l liz CGu 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 Nicaragua the
President may have, 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
citizens thereof.
Section 6:
THAT the sum of $40 .00o. 600 is here
by appropriated, out of any money in
the treasury not otherwise appropri-
ated, toward the project herein con-
templated, and the Secretary of War
is further authorized to enter into a
contract or contracts for materials and
work that may be deemed necessary
for the proper excavation, construc-
ton. 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 aggregate
$40, 600 COO
To BE a Military College.