The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-21
THE HEPBURN BILL AMENDED
PROVISION FOR FoRTITICATIUN
WAS STRICKEN OUT.
believed 10 he in the Nature of q
Compromise to Overcome the
Opposition 10 Action.

Washington, April 20.--The house COM
mittee on interstate and foreign COM
merce today made an important change
In the Hepburn Nicaragua canal bill.
striking out the provision for the ''foru-
fcation" and thus providing what is ex-
pected to be "a compromise which viii
aid In bringing the measure to an early
consideration.
The amendment was proposed by Rep
resentative Barham Of California, The
chairman OF the committee was instructed
to offer the same upon consideration of
the bill at the proper time as a commit
lee amendment thereto. The amendment
was agreed to, not without some EXPIRES
ston OF reluctance. but with view t.
cover coming opposition ard securing ac-
ton.
In It's new form the section reads as
follows:
BE IL enacted. etc. !: That tae presi-
dent of the United States be and Is
hereby authorized to acquire from the
states of Costa RIGA and Nicaragua, for
and in behalf OF the United States, con-
troll Of sIcn portion Of territory now be"
longing to- Costa Rica and Nicaragua as
may be desirable anu necessary to eH-
cavate, construct and protect canal OF
such depth and capacity as will be SUI
feleut for the movement of shps OF the
greatest tonnage and draft now in use
from point near Greytown, on tho
Caribbean sea, via bake Nicaragua %
Breto, on the Pacific ocean; and sutn
sum as may DO necessary to secure such
control is hereby appropriated ont OF ANY
money In the treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated.
Sec. .. That when the president Sc
cures full control over territory In section
] 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 Caribbean sea near Greytown by
way of Lake Nicaragua to a poin near
b. eto on the Pacific ocean. Such canal
shall he of sufficient capacity and depth
as that it may be used by vessels of largest
tonnage and greatest depth now IN use and
shall be supplied with all necessary iocks
and other appliances to meet the necess-
ties of vessels passing from Greytown 10
Breto and the secretary OF war snail also
construct such safe and commodious har
bors al the termini OF said canal and such
provision for defense as may be necessary
for the safety and protection of said canal
and harbors."
Following the announcement OF the
changes in the bill. MR. HEPBURN
STATED THAT IT HAD BEEN DEFl-
NITELY ARRANGED THAT THE HOUSE
WOULD TAKE UP HE CANAL BILL ON
MAY AND = Although the committee
on rules has taken no formal action YET.
this appears TO be the definite understand
ing. Mr.. Hepburn says the passage OF
the bill is unquestlouable.
The main dissent 10 the change In tho
hill came from Mr.. Adamson OF Georgia,
who desired to have the words "tortlfy'
and defend detained as against any
compromising phraseology.
Following the meeting. Mr.. Shackleford
MOI, a member OF the committee. filed
with the house his dissenting Views on
what bad been done. While favoring the
construction of the canal he objects to any
recognition OF the Clayton Bulwer treaty
He proposed a new section TO the Hepeui IL
bill providing that the acs shall not 20
into force until after the senate has taken
action on the Hay Pauncefote treaty and
not IL that treaty was ratified
The minority report Med by Mr..
shackleford says THE undersigned
while concurring In the vigorous American
policy SO ably and tersey stated by Nj
Hepburn on behalf Of the majority OF the
committee. nevertheless does not concur
In the recommendation that the bill pass
in the form presented.
nc AtA u tBhtANe' NhAhh oNNANf' NNn
the building OF the canal should contain
an explicit and direct assertion Of the
right OF the United States TO BUILD. OWN
AND CONTROL said canal ABSOLUTELY
FREE FROM EUROPEAN DlCTATION.
"The Clayton Bulwsr treaty long ago
ceased 10 have any binding force by rsa-
son Of the conduct OF Great Britain. That
being true, we should strictly adhere "a
the Monroe doctrine and stand by our
traditional policy that Europe shall .aoi
be permitted to interncddle With cis-At-
lantie affairs. 1t is to the Monroe doctrine
that we. as a Republic. must look for
safety. We should never. under any cir
cuustances. even taeitly admit that Eu-
rope he's the right 10 SO much as interro-
gate us on American questions. much lees
TO limit our action
After citing Mr.. Blaine in support OF
this view. the report adds: This is the
Fundamental principle OF our National in
dependence. and no exigenryr should be
euffclent to cause Ne 70 even momentafily
lose sight Of It."