Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-01-13
T0Dl.lIG| D. !. THE ! ': ! B DITCH
Hepburn Nicaragua Canal Bill
Reported Favorably to the
House.
It Authorizes the President to
Cause the Canal to Be
4 ,-,.
Constructed
Through War: Department, and
Appropriates $14O,O00,O0O
For the Work.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-The house
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce has ordered a favorable re-
port upon the Hepburn bill for the con-
struction Of the Nicaraguan canal The
bill is practically the same one reported
by this committee in the last congress.
There was some discussion about the
advisability of delaying action on the
bill until the lsthmian canal commits
sion reported, but this was finally re-
garded as unnecessary, and all the
members except Mr.. Fletcher (Minn.)
voted to report the bill favorably. The
latter said his silence should not be
construed as opposition to the measuse,
but merely as reservation of his right
to support or oppose it, after further
consideration. The committee made
some changes in the original bill, in
serting new section 3. and making
verbal alterations. As finally agreed
to the bill is as follows:
"To provide for the construction. of
canal connecting the waters of the At
lantic and Pacific oceans.
Be it enacted, etc., that the president
Of the United States be and is hereby
authorized to obtain from the states of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, for and in
behalf of the United States, control of
such portion of the territory now be-
longing to Costa Rica and Nicaragua
as may be desirable and necessary on
which to excavate, construct and de-
fend 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 point near
Graytown, on the Caribbean sea, via
Lake Nicaragua to Breto, on the Pacific
ocean; and such sums as may be neces-
sary to secure such control are hereby
appropriated out Of any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Section 2. That when the president
has secured full control Of the territory
in Section referred to, he shall direct
the secretary Of war to exeavate and
construct canal and waterway from
point on the shores of the Caribbean sea,
near Greytown, by way Of Lake Mica
ragua, to 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 largest
tonnage and greatest depth now in use,
and shall be supplied with all necessary
locks and other appliances to meet the
necessities Of vesselspassing from Grey
town to Breto, and the secretary of war
shall also construct such safe and COM
modious harbors at the termini of said
canal, and such Notifications for de-
fense as will be required for safety and
protection OF said canal and harbors.
Sec. 3. That the president shall cause
such surveys as may be necessary for
said canal and harbors. and in the con-
structing of the same
Sec. 4. That in the excavation and
construction of said canal, the San
Juan river and 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 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. rz.
Sec. =. That the sum of $40, 0oO, 900
or SO much thereof as may be neces-
sary, is hereby appropriated out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated, for the completion Of the
work herein authorized, said money to
be drawn from the treasury from time
to time as the same shall be needed
upon warrants of the president, based
upon estimates made and verified by
the chief engineer in charge Of the
work and approved by the secretary of
war. 80 a zgt 5 u