The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-04-21
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL
TO be CONSIDERED BY THE HOUSE
ON MAY1.
Important Amendment of tho Hepburn
characterization for Fortifcstions
Stricken Out-signifcance OF the
Chunges Made.

| Washington, April 20.-Representa
| tive Hepburn in charge of the Mica
raguan canal bill, announced this af
| ternoon' that definite arrangement
has been reached by which the bill will
be considered by the house on May
/ and and passed.
| The house committee on interstate
and foreign commerce to-day made al
| important change in the bill, striking
out the provision for the "fortifica
| tions' and thus providing what is ex
| pected to be a compromise which viii
aid in bringing the measure to ar
early consideration. For the word ode,
fend" is substituted the word pro
tect." In another section the secretary
of war is empowered to make such pro-
visions "as may be necessary to pro
tect, instead of erecting "fortif1ca-
tons to defend" the canal.
The amendment was proposed by
representative Barham of California.
The chairman of the committee was in
structed to offer the same upon consid-
GRAFTON Of the bill at the proper time
as committee amendment thereto.
The amendment was agreed to, not
without some expressions of reluctance,
but with view to overcoming opposi-
ton and securing action. In it's new
hn Ie, COL
Section l. Be it enacted, etc, that the
president of the United States be, and
is hereby, authorized to acquire from
the states of Costa Rica and Nicara-
qua, for and in behalf of the United
States, control Of such portion of ter
ritory now belonging to Costa RIGA and
Nicaragua as may be desirable and
necessary on which to excavate con-
struct and protect canal of such depth
and capacity as will be sufficient for
the movement of ships of the greatest
tonnage and draft now in use, from
point near Greytown on the Caribbean
sea, via Lake Nicaragua, to Breto, 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 appro-
priated
Section 2. That when the president
has secured full control over the terri
tory in section 1 referred to, he shall d.
rect the secretary of war to excavate
and construct canal and waterway
from point on the shore of the Car
ribean sea, near Greytown, by way of
Lake Nicaragua, to a point near Breto,
on the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall
be of sufficient capacity and depth 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, and the secretary of war
shall also construct such safe and com
modious harbors al the termini of said
canal, and such provision for defence
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 definitely arranged
that the house should take uo the bill
IN May l and O. Although the commit
tee on rules has taken no formal action
Outstanding.
Mr. Hepburn says that the passage
If the bill is unquestionable.
The main dissent to the change in the
bill came from Mr.. Adamson of Geor-
yia, who desired to have the words
fortify" and defend retained as
against any doubtful or compromising