Evening star., 1901-12-11
Mr.. MORGAN'S BILL
Goes Into Detail in Regard to Canal
Construction.
ALSO As TO ITS MANAGEMENT
Treaty to Be Ratified Before Holi-
day Recess.
IS TO ITS MANAGEMENT
NO OBSTRUCTIVE TACTICS

upon that instrument. There is probability
of its ratification before the holiday re-
cess.
Senator Lodge, who is in charge of the
treaty in the Senate has received intima-
tions from sources possibly hostile that
there will be attempts at obstruction.
The bill which has been introduced in the
Senate by Senator Morgan of Alabama,
chairman of the committee on interoceanic
canals, goes further into the details of the
construction and management of the canal
than Representative Hepburn's bill
Mr. Morsnn's Bill.
The bill of Senator Morgan provides that
the words canal belt in this shall be
understood including the entire area of
land and water ceded granted by Nica-
ragua and Costa Rica to the United States
for canal purposes A fund is established
in the treasury of the United States, net
to exceed S1s0.G09,000, to be applied to ell
the necessary and proper purposes of OPEN
ing, constructing, equipping and controll-
ing the canal The fund thus created shall
be applied by appropriations to be made by
Congress, as needed The sum of 100000
is made Immediately availab BILE.
There is established in the Treasury De-
partment a division to be styled the canal
division for keeping the accounts of all
receipts and expenditures of money sup
piled under acts of appropriation. There
shall be chief of the division, at an an
nual salary of $500; an assistant at a
salary of $1,000: two clerks, with salaries
of sl,s0O each: three clerks of lower grade
and messenger. The rules for governing
the work in the division and all matters of
duty connected Herewith shall be pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Canal Board.
canal board is esta bished to consist
of the Secretary of War, who shall be a
member and the president thereof and of
eight other citizens of the United States
TO be appointed by the President of the
United States, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. 10 govern the canal
belt and locate the canal line, and to con-
struct and equip the canal. The members
of the canal board, except the Secretary of
war, snail take the oath prescribed by
law TO officers of the executive depart
ments, and thai they will give their per
sonaI service and attention. with due dill
gence and care, to the duties of their office
The terms of office of the members of the
canal board. except the Secretary of War
shall be for five years following the date
OF their confirmation by the Senate. On the
first appointment, two members of the
board shall be appointed for three years
three of them for four years and three of
them Tor hVe Years each, and their sue
cessors snail be appointed for the term of
lVe years each The members of the canal
board shall each receive an annual salary
or sSWn. payable monthly. Their qualif-
cations for office under this act shall be
ness Tor the place and not to their political
affiliations.
No member of the canal board shall have
any personal business interest in any con-
tract or in any employment of another
person or corporation connected with the
construction of the canal, or the supply
of labor, material or transportation for
such purposes The members of the canal
board shall be removable by direction of
the President of the United States but re-
movais shall not reduce the membership
hsa hD 3rE}h hl1F
time.
The canal board shall have in charge
and under their control all work to be
done under the provisions of this act re-
l&tlng 10 the canal or the canal belt
and of all expenditures connected there
with, except the pay. quarters and sup
port of the military police force, whether
SCch work, or the materials to be used
therein. is supplied by the government or
through contractors. They shall deter
mine the location of the axial line of the
canal and of all structures pertaining to
the canal, and the points of connection
with the seas or Lake Nicaragua, and they
may change the aXial line of the canal
when such change is necessary or proper
They shall have general supervision and
control over the canal belt for the preser-
walton of peace. law and order to
prevent any conspiracy or overt acts in
tended TO inJure the canal or persons en-
gagged in any duty connected Herewith
and the military and civil police IN the
canal belt shall be subject to their direc
tion of the President OF the United States.
Regulation for Police Government.
The chief justice of the United States,
the Secretary of State and the Secretary
Of War shall constitute a board to prepare
regulations TO be approved by the Presi-
dent OF the United States. for the police
government of the canal bet conformable
TO the powers granted to the United States
by Costa Rica and Nicaragu which when
approved by the President shall have
the effect of law therein. And they shall
prepare and report a measure to Congress
for the establishment of courts in the canal
belt, with such jurisdiction as may be ap-
propriate and conformabe to the powers So
granted.
Three Divisions Established.
In the work of constructing the canal for
the better supervision and inspection there
of. three divisions are established; the first
division to extend from the great dam to
be built on the San Juan river eastward to
the Caribbean sea; the second division to
extend from the dam TO the west shore of
Lake Nicaragua, and the third division
from the lake to the Pacific ocean The
canal board shall appoint an eng:neer-in-
chief for each of the divisions. removable
by. the board. and two assistant engineers
70 each chief engineer. The salary of the
chief engineer shall be S6UJO per annum
fOr each, and Of the assistant engineers
q tED each
The President of the United States is an
tEOriZed 10 designate any officer of the
army or navy. on the active or the re-
tired list for duty as engineers or inspec-
tors OF work on the canal. TO I'LL any place
provided in this act except that of a MEM
ber of the canal board, or for any addf-
tiOual place or work that may be neces-
sary. A regiment of the regular army or
any smaller body of soldiers. under the
command of an officer not below the rank
of colonel. unless some emergency may re-
quirs the command to be intruSted to an
officer OF lower rank, shall constitute a
military guard for the canal belt. and shall
De- located at convenient places in the canal
belt. III cantonnen,s barracks with
proper arms ard equipments, and with nee
essary medical and hospital service. and
Win coI1missary. quartermaster and sur
EeonS as required by army regulations for
military posts.
Canal Bill I'm the House.
chairman Hepburn has called meeting
OF the House committee on Interstate and
foreign commerce for Friday, when some