The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-13
NICARAGUA CANAL MEASURE.
HEPBURN bill REPORTED FAVOR~
ABLY TO THE HOUSE.

Committees Action Was UnnnImonsa
Few Changes Were Made In the
Mensure-Cnrries an Appropriations
of S11O.O0O. O.OOO--Provides for Ac-
quiring Control of the Canal Routa
Froh Nicaragua ana Costa Ricas
Early Action Expected.
Washington Jan. 12.-It is almost certaln
now that there win lie Nicaragua canal
legislation by this Congress and probably
at this session.
The House Committee on Interstate
Commerce by unanimous vote decided to-
day to report The Hepburn bill. and ths
outlook is that the Senate committee VIII
take similar action.
Az The meeting of the House committea
Mr. Adamson of Georgia moved that thu
Hepburn bill which stands substantially
in the same state as II was In the lasr
Congress. be taken up for consideration
and disposition. lie endeavored to secure
this action a week ago, but some peopla
desired TO be heard upon the bill, il camd
over to.this meeting OF the committee
To-day the bin was taken up and dis
cussed at some length and the chairmam
to report it favorably.
This bill provides for government cons
structlon over the Nicaragua route.
There was some discussion in the CONS
mlttee about the advisabllity of delays
ing action on the bill until the Isthmian
| Canal Commission reported. but this was
finally regarded as unnecessary and all
the members except Mr.. Fletcher OF Minis
nesota, voted to report the bill favorably.
The latter said his silence should not bd
construed as opposition to the measures
| but merely as a reservation OF his right
to support or oppose 1t after further con@
sideration. The committee made some
changes in the original bin inserting a
new section three and making verbal all
terations. AS finally agreed to the bill Is
as follows:
what the Bill Provides.
To provide for the construction of a cans
| al connecting the waters of the ATLANTIC
| ana Pacific oceans.
BE 1t enacted etc. That the President Of
| the United States be, and he hereby Is au-
| thorzed to acquire from the states of
| Costa Rica and Nicaragua for and in be-
| half 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 excavate con-
| struct and defend a canal of such depth
| and capacity as viii be sufficient for this
! movements of ships OF the greatest ton-
I mage and draft now in use, from point
near Greytown, on the Caribbean sea- via
| Lake Nicaragua, 10 Breto, on the Pacific
! ocean; and such sums as may be necessary
! to secure such control are hereby appro-
/ priated out of any money In the treasury
not otherwise appropriated.
| Sec q That when the President has
| secured fun control over the territory i'm
| section ] referred to, he shall direct the
! Secretary of War to eXcavate ana COM
| stuct a canal and water way from point
ON the shore of the caribbean sea, near
| Greytown, by way OF Lake Nicaragua, tn
| a point near Breto, on the Pacific ocean,
/ Such canal shall be Of sufficient capacity
| and depth as that it may be used by ves-
| sells of the largest tonnage and greatest
l. depth now i'm use and shall be supplied
| with all necessary locks and other appli-
| ances to mat the necessities of vessels
| passing from Greytown 90 Breto; and the
| Secretary of War shall also construct such
| safe and commodious harbors at the ter
mini of said canal and such fortitlcations
| for defense as will be required for safety
| and protection of said canal and hRrbors.
| Sec g. That the President shall Gauss
| such surveys as may be necessary for
| said canal and harbors and in the cons
structing of the same
Sec A. That In the excavation and cons
/ struction of said canal the San Juan river
| aud Lake Nicaragua, or such parts of each
| as may be made available, shall be used.
Sec s. That in any negotiations with the
| states of Costa Rica or Nicaragua the
| President may have, the President Is au-
| thorized 10 guarantee to said states the
use OF said canal and harbors, upon such
| terms as may be agreed upon, for all ves-
sells owned by said states, or by citizens
! thereof.
Sec 6. That the sum of $4,000, 900 or So
/ much thereof as may be necessary Is here
| by appropriated out of any money in the
| treasury not otherwise appropriated, foe
! the completion Of the work herein autho-
laa.s..s.~. a S..<~~Sy 20 be drawn from the
| President based on estimates made and
verified by the chief engineer In chargo