The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-01-13
FAVORS A NICARAGUA CANAL
BILL AGREED UPON BY HOUSE
COMMERCE COMMITTEE.
Submitted to the House Yesterday--The
President Given Fail Power In the
Matter-Unttcd states to Have Full
COntroI-Bill Also Provides for An.
preparation Of SI4O, 100000.

Washington, Jan. 12.-The house COM
mittee on interstate commerce to-day
reported favorably the Hepburn Nicar-
aqua canal BILL The bill is practically
the same one reported by this commit
tee in the last congress. There was some
discussion about the advisability of de-
laying action until the Isthmian canal
commission reported. but this was final
ly regarded unnecessary, and all the
members except Mr.. Fletcher of Mime
sofa voted to report the bill favorably.
The latter said his silence should not be
construed as opposition to the measure,
but merely as a reservation of his right
to support or oppose it after further
consideration. The committee made
some changes in the original bill, in
serting a new section and making ver-
bal alterations. AS finally agreed to the
bill is as follows:
To provide for the construction of a
canal connecting the waters of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Be it enacted, ETC.:
That the president of the United
States be and Is hereby 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 desira-
bic and necessary on which to excavate,
construct and defend a canal of such
depth and capacity as will be sufficient
for the movement Of ships of the great
est tonnage and draft now in use from
a point near Greytown, on the Carib-
bean Sea, via Lake Nicaragua, to Breto,
ON the Pacific ocean, and such sums as
may be necessary to secure such con-
troll are hereby appropriated out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated.
Section 2-That when the president
has secured full control over the terri
tory in section 1 referred to he shall
direct the secretary of war to excavate
and construct canal and waterway
from point on the shore of the Carib-
bean Sea, near Greytown, by way Of
Lake Nicaragua, to a point near Breto,
on the PaciEc ocean. Such canal shall
be of sufficient capacity and depth as
that it may be used by vessels of the
largest tonnage 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 Breto; and the secre-
tary of war shall also construct such
bo tbo
termini Of said canal and such fortifi-
cations for defense as will be required
for safety and protection Of said canal
and harbors.
Section 3--That the president shall
cause such surveys as may be necessary
for said canal and harbors and in the
Of the same.
Section 4-That in the excavation and
of said canal the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua, or such parts
of each as may be available, shall be
used.
Section 5--That in any negotiations
with the states Of Costa Rica or Nicar-
aqua the president may have the presi- |
dent is authorized to guarantee to said I
sta tes the use of said canal and harbors, |
upon such terms as may be agreed up /
IN, for all vessels owned by said states
1r by citizens thereof.
Section 6--That the sum of $40 900, 900,
1r so much thereof as may be necessary,
IS hereby appropriated, out of any
in the treasury not otherwise ap- /
for the completion of the
work herein authorized, said money to
De drawn from the treasury from time
o time, as the same shall be needed,
lpon warrants Of the president based
IN estimates made and verified by the
,hief engineer in charge of the work
md approved by the secretary of war.