The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-03

day, at the conclusion of the most stormy
debate of the present session of congress,
passed the Nicaragua bill by the over
whelming vote of 225 to 35 All attempts
to retain in the bill the Language of the
original bill for the fertilization of the
canal and to still further strengthen the
language on that line were baked by
Hepburn, and the victory of Hepburn
and the committee was complete. A mo-
ton to recommit the bill with instructions
to report back another bill leaving the Sc
lection of the route to the president was
buried under an adverse majority of SO
to III.
Cannon and Burton showed Under.
Cannon. chairman of the appropriations
committee, and Burton. chairman of the
river and harbor committee. made a game
fight to stall of action at this session.
but their appeals were in vain, and the
members rode roughshod over all their
arguments and protests Much excite
ment reigned throughout the day. and
several times bitter words were used. The
excitement reached its climax in a highly
dramatic scene between Hepburn and Can
non. when the former used the words ''lie''
and liar as he denounced the distin-
guished chairman of the appropriations
committee for attempting Ito dishonor
him"
The house was in riotous confusion dur
ing the quarrel. Members crowded the
aisies. and the situation at one time was
80 threatening that Wheeler Of Kentucky.
Democrat. sought to pour oil on the
waters by raising a point of order. But
he was not upheld. and the two irate
members carried their war to the very
hilt. There was a show of peace at the
close of the incident, but the feeling be-
tween the two men ran so high that the
mutual retractions with which such Incl
dents generally end were but the cloaks of
the keenest and most cutting sarcasm.
Text of the bill.
The bill as It passed the house is as
follows:
"Be II enacted etc, That the president
of the United States be and is hereby au-
thorized to acquire from the states of
Costa Rlca and Nicaragua, for and in be-
half of the United States. control of such
portion of territory now belonging to
Costa Rica and Nicaragua as may be de-
sirable and necessary, on which to exca-
vate, construct and protect a canal of
client for the movements OF ships of the
greatest tonnage and draft now in use,
from a point near Greytown, on the Car
ihbean sea. via Lake Nicaragua TO Brito.
on the Pacific ocean: and such sum as may
be necessary to secure such control Is
hereby appropriated out OF any money in
the TREASURY not otherwise appropriated.
Sec. That when the president has
secured full control over the territory in
1 ha
secretary of war to exoavate and CON
struct a canal and waterway from n point
on the shore OF the Caribbean sea near
Greytown, by way Lake Nicaragua, to a
point near Brito. on the Pat tihc ocean
Such canal shall be OF sufficient capacity
and depth as that Il may be used by ves-
sells OF the largest tonnage and greatest
depth now in use, and shall be supplied
with all the necessary locks and other
appliances to meet the necessities OF ves-
sells passtng from Greytown to Brito: and
the secretary OF war shall also construct
such safe and commodious harbors at the
termini OF said canal. and such provls-
ions for defense as may be necessary for
the safety and protection of said canal
and harbors
ass~, & That the president shall
cause such surveys as may be necessary
for sad canal and harbors. and In the
construction OF the same shah employ
Anch versions as ne may Ntffn necessary.
Sec. 4 That In the excavation and
the construction OF said canal tho San
Juan river and Iaka Nicaragua, or such
rarts OF each as may he made available.
shall bc used
sec. & That IN any negotiations
with the states Of Costa Rica or Nlcar-
aqua the president may have. the pveSl-
dent Is authorized TO guarantee to said
states the use Of said canal and harbors
upou such terms as may be agreed u.cn
for all vesse.s owned by said states or
hy citizens thereof
Sec That the sum OF sl0ooooo
Is hereby appropriated out OF any money
in the treasury not otherwise approprl-
atei toward the projec- herein conten-
Mated. and the sef retary OF war is fur
ther authorized TO enter into a contract
or contracts for materials and work that
may be deemed necessary for the proper
excavation, construction. completion AMI
defense Of sid canal, 10 be paid fer
sppropriations may from time 10 time he
hereafter made, not TO exceed In the az
gregate slt0oaN,no.'
When the house met today. on motion
Of Hepburn. In charge OF the Nicaragua
canal bill. general debate upon shat bill
was closed and the bill was read Tor
amendment under the five minute rule.
First Committee Amendment.
Hepburn offered the committee amend