The Atlanta constitution., 1900-01-15
House Committee Will Re-
port Hepburn's Meas
ure FavorabIy
MORGAN FAV0RS BILL
And Will Urge Senate Committee To
Take Action on the Lines of the
Bill-There Will Be No
Trouble in Getting
Concessions.
BY Jos: Oil.

Washington, January 12.-(Special)-lt
IS almost certain now that there Will
be Nicaragua canal legislation by this
congress. and probably at this session.
The house committee on Interstate com
merce by unanimous vote. decided today
TO report the Hepburn TN. and the out
look is that the senate committee will
take similar action.
At the meeting of the house committee,
Mr. Adamson, Of Georgia, moved that
the Hepburn BILL which stands substan-
TALLY in the same state It was in the
larst congress. be taken up for considera-
ton and disposition. lilo endeavored to
secure this action a week ago. but as
some people desired to bo heard upon the
bill. II came over 10 this meeting Of the
committee
Today tho bill was taken up and dis
cussed at some length and the chairman
was instructed. on Mr.. Adamsons mo-
ton. TO report Il favorably. This bill
provides for government construction
over the Nicaragua route. Senator Nor
gan has called his committee on Inter
oceanic canals TO meet on Monday next,
and added 70 the call is "a line urging all
members OF the committee TO be present
as the business TO TOO considered viii ho
al especial Importance. This call was
issued a DAY or TWO ago and, therefore,
has no direct bearing upon or relation
To the action az tire house committee,
but II develops that II WAS the purpose
of .'snuU,i. MORGAN aEu otlter prumincLt
members Of The committee 10 set In mo-
tion legislation OF the same nature as
substantially that embraced in the Hep
burn bill. There may be one or two MEM
btrs OF the committee who incline to-
ward delay, but Senator Morgan and the
majority of the members are in favor OF
the enactment Of legislation. without
waiting FOR the repor Of tho commission
headed 10y Admiral Walker.
Senator Morgan said today that he IS
entirely in accord with the purposes OF
the Hepburn bin and It's main features,
and IL is understood that Il was mis- pur-
pose. even IN advance of the action of
the house committee 10 urge his commit
tee to take action on the lines of the
Hepburn bill.
What we are after" said Senator Nor
gan lis the enactment of Legislation
looking TO the construction of a trans
isthmlan canal in the most practical
manner possible and with as little delay
as possible
The Hepburn bill meets fully Senator
Morgan's contention that ghe Nicaragua
route IS the proper one TO be followed.
lie Is inclined TO believe that the appro-
pridtion Of SliO.OOoUU0 is more than is
necessary. Tor hc mas always believed
the canal could be constructed inside OF
Sl1.G1Vp. lie thinks there viii be no
trouble in securing the necessary conces-
sions from the governments OF Nicaragua
and Costa Idca for the government con
struction Of the canal. lie does not con-
slider that the Hepburn hlIl involves any
concession OF sovereignty on the part Of
the Central American governments, and
that u viii be easy. when the machln-
cry IS once set IN motion, TO secure the
active cooperation and hearty good Will
of those governments.
The house committee on public build
ines did not get To the consideration of
specific bills at It's meeting today. The
only business transacted was tho ap-
pointment of subcommittee TO consider
bills according 10 the sections they come
from. Mr. Brantley. of Brunswick. is on
The Subcommittee in charge of the bills
from Georgia and the surrounding states.