The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-01-19
HEPBURN,'S CANAL BILL
Favorably Reported Without Awaiting the
Isthmlan Commissions Action.
NICARAGUA AND COSTA RIGA GAIN
Use of Canal and Harbor-Total Cost
to Be Within Fourteen MiIlIons-Mis-
c~elianeous Washington Intelligence.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-The house
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce today ordered a favorable
report upon the Hepburn bill for the
construction of the Nicaragua canal.
The bill is in most particulars the
same n reported by this committee
in the last congress. There was some
discussion about the advisability OF
delaying action on the bill until the
lsthmus Canal commission reported,
but this was finally regarded as un-
necessary and all the members except
Fletcher of Minnesota voted to report
the bill f~avorably. The latter said his
silence should not be constructed as
opposition to the measure, but merely
as a reservation of his right to support
or oppose it after further considera-
ton.
The committee made ONE changes in
h original bill, inserting a new SEE
ton 3 and making verbal alterations.
AS finally agreed to, the bill is as fol-
lows:
ITO provide for the construction of
a canal connecting the waters of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
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 Rica and Nicaragua
for and in behalf of the United States
control of such portion of territory be-
longing to Costa Rica and Nicaragua
as may be desirable and necessary, on
which to ~eXcavate, construct and de.
fend a canal of such depth and capac-
ity as will be sufficient for the move
ment 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 tne
Pacific ocean,; and such sums as may
be necessary to secure such control
are hereby appropriated out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated.
Section 3. That the president shall
aus secured full control over the ter
ritory in section 1 referred to, he shall
direct the secretary of war to excavate
and construct a canal and waterway
from a point on the shore of the Car
ribean sea, near Greytown, by way OF
Lake Nicaragua. to a point ear Breto,
Ol liz L dCllC OCSdu. ouCll did SHdtl
be of sufficient capacity and depth so
that it may be used by vessels of the
largest tonnage and greatest depth
now in use, and shall be supplied with
all appliances to meet the necessities
of vessels passing from G%reytown to
Breto, and the secretary of war shall
also construct such safe and commo-
dious harbors at the termini of said
canal and such Notifications for de-
Tense as will be required for safety and
protection of said canal and harbors-
Section 2. That when the president
has such surveys as may be necessary
for said canal and harbors and in the
constructing of the same.
Section 4. That in the excavation
and construction of said canal the San
Juan river and Lake Nicaragua, OF
such parts of each as may be made
available shall be used.
Section 5. That in any negotiations
with the states of Costa RIGA or Mica
the president is authorized to
guarantee to said states the use of said
canal and harbors, upon such terms rs
be agreed upon, for all vessels
owned by said states or by citizens
thereof.
Section 6. That the sum of $140,-
O0O, 900 or so much thereof as may be
necessary, is hereby appropriated, ont
of any money in the treasury not 9TH
appropriated, for the compile
ton of the work herein authorized,
said money to be drawn from the treas
ury from time to time, as the same
shall be needed, upon warrants of the
president. based on estimates IN
charge of the work and approved by
the secretary of war"