The Portland daily press., 1900-04-21
The Fertilization Clause
Stricken Out.
1t Is Believed Compromise VIII
Be Generally Acceptable.

mittes on Interstate and foreign oom-
merce to-day made an Important ohasss
In the Hepburn Nicaragua bill, striking
ont the provision for the fcrtihcations
and thus providing what is erreotsd to be
compromise which will aid In bringing
the me ASSURE to an satly consideration.
An amendment Was proposed by Repre-
sentative Barham Of California. The
chairman Of the committ.e was In
strueted to offer the same upon consider
alton OF the bill at the proper time as a
COMMITTEES ams ndment thereto. The
amendment was agreed to, not without
some expressions Of rsiuctanre, but with
a View to overcoming opposition and Sc
curing action. In its new form, the sec-
ton reads s follows: "Bs IL enscted,
e.o., that the President OF the United
states be and he hereby Is, authorized to
acquire from tie states OF costa hioa ana
Nicaragua fer and In behalf OF the
United States control Of such portion Of
territory now belonging to Costa hica
and Nicaragua as may 10 desirable and
necessary on which to ex.avate, oonstruct
and protect canal Of such depth and Ca
pacity as will he sufficient for the move
ment OF ships OF the greatest tonnage and
draft now In use, from point near Grey
town on the Caribbean sea, Via Lake
NicaraRua to Brato on the Pacific ocean,
and such gum a. may be necessary 70 Sc
cure suoh control Is hereby appropriated
out Of any money In the treasury not
otherwise appropriated.
Ahn
has secured full CONTROL over the territory
In section one, referred to he shall direct
the secretary CT war to excayate and con-
struct a canal and waterway from paint
on the shore of the Caribbean sea near
Greytuwn, by way OF Lake Nicaragua 70
= point near 3rsto on thu Paciho Je~san.
such canal shall bo OF 'snfn capacity
and depth az that IL may bS>ussd BY ves-
sells of the largest tonnage aid greatest
depth In uss and shall be supplied with
ali necessary looks and other appliances
to meet the necessities Of war vessels
passing from 9reytown to Brsto; and the
sscretary Of war shall also constructs such
Aaie aud commcdious harbors at the ter
minis af said canal and such provision
for defeoss as may be necessary for the
safety and pr otsction OF said canal and
harbors,"
Following the announcement OF the
changes In the bill. Mr.. Hepburn stated
that IL had bean definitely arranged that
the House would take up the canal bill
ON May / and 3. Although the commit
tee on rules has taken NO formal aotten.
yet this appears to be the definite under
standing. MIR. Hepburn says the pat sage
of the bill 10 unquest'onsble. The main
dissent to the change In the bill came
from Mr.. Arson who desired TO have the
words 'stortify" and 'defend" retained
as against any doubtfal or compromising
phras aology. MIR. Barham. upon whose
motion In committee the changes in the
bill were effeotsd said:
"Ihe changes are designed to overcome
objections which have been raised and l
have reason to believe they will accom-.
piish that end and make the bill general
ly acceptable. 1hs words 'rortify' and
defend appeared to invits controversy
and diplomatic complications and In
view OF the action of the administration
In negotiating the sy-Pauncefote treaty
1t appears entirely needless TO raise dip.
lomatic issue with England simply on
the use of words. Following the meeting
Mfr. Shackleford of Missouri, member
Of the committee find with the HOUSE, his
dissenting views on what has been done
While favoring the construction OF the
canal he objects TO any recognition Of the
Clayton Bulwsr treaty. He proposes
new section to the Hepburn hill. provid-
ing that the not shall not go into force
until after the Senats has taken action on
the ay.Pauncsfote treaty, and not then
II that treaty Is ratified.
The minority report on the Nicaragua
o. nal bill filed by III. Shack lsford says:
"The undersigned. while concurring
In the vigorous American policy SO ably
and tersely stated by Mr.. Hepburn on
behalf of the majority Of the COMMITTEES
neyerthsl ess do not sopour In tina recon-
mendation that the bill do pass In the
form presented.
"Ths act Of Congress which auth orizes
the building of the canal should contain
an explicit and direct assertion OF the
right OF tbs United States to build. own
and control said canal absolutely free
from European dictation.
"The Clay ton Buiwer treaty as IL
clearly shown by Mr.. Hepburn, long 60
ceased to have any binding force BY rea-
son Of the conduct of Great Britain.
This being true we should strictly adhere
to the Monroe doctrine and stand BY
our traditional policy that Europe will
not be permitted &c intsrmsddle with
elsa tlantlo affairs.
It lie to the Monroe doctrine that We. a.
repubiis. must look for safety. We
should never under aay circumstances
even tactily adnlt that Europe has tho