The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-14
CANAL CONSTRUCTION BILL
HEPBURN MEASURE REPORTEL
 BY HOUSE COMMITTEE.
MT. Hepburn Directed to Push 1t in the House-wilI Urge 1t as One of the First Matters to be Taken Up After the Holt- days-DirectiOnsa as to the Building of the Canal.

| Washington, Dec l3-The house cOm- mittee on interstate and foreign con- merce at it's first meeting to-day voted to report favorably the Hepburn bill providing for the construction of the Nicaragua canal. Representative Fletcher, of Minnesota, was the only member voting against reporting the bill.
 Before the vote was taken several amendments were proposed. One by MT. Adamson, dem., of Georgia, was agreed to providing that the expendi- ture of $10OOO,OOO, as provided by the bill, shall be made on warrants signed by the president of the United States. | Chairman Hepburn was directed to urge the measure to consideration and a vote in the house at the earliest prac- ticable time.
 MT. Hepburn said after the meeting that he would push the bill in the house as one of the first measures to be taken up after the holidays.
 The unanimity of the committee to- day was gratifying to the friends ot the canal measure. MT. Adamson, democrat, of Georgia, moved to report the bill and the entire democratic mem- bership of the committee voted for the bill. MT. Adamson is also cooperating with Chairman Hepburn on the floor or the house with view to securing unit ed action when the measure comes up.
 The Hepburn bill, as finally agreed upon and ordered reported to-day, is as follows:
 Be it enacted, etc.:
 70 f1n nj a States be and is hereby authorized to acquire from the states of Cosa Rica and Nicaragua, for and in behalf or the United States, control of such portion of territory now belonging to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as may be desira- ble and necessary on which to excaVate construct and protect canal or such depth and capacity as will be sufficient for the movements of ships, or the greatest tonnage and draught now in use, from point near Greytown, on the Caribbean 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 or any money in the treasury not other wise appropriated.
  has secured full control over the terri tory in section one 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 Carib- bean Sea, near Greytown, by way of Lake Nicaragua, to a point near Brito, on the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall be of sufficient capacity and depth as that it may be used by vessels of the largest tonnage and greatest draught now in use, and shall be supplied with all necessary locks and other appli- auces to meet the necessities of vessels passing from Greytown to Brito, and the secretary of war shall also con- struct such safe and commodious har- bors at the termini of said canal and such provisions for defense as may be necessary for the safety and protection of said canal and harbors
 "Section S-That the president shall cause such surveys as may be necessary for said canal and harbors, and in the of the same may employ such persons as he may deem neces- sary.
 Section 4-That in the excavation and construction Of said canal the san Juan river and Lake Nicaragua, or such parts of each as may be available, shall be used
 "Section 5-That in any negotiations | with the states of Costa R'ca or Nicar- agua the president may have the pres ident is authorized to guarantee to said | states the use of said canal and har- | bors, upon such terms as may be agreed | upon, for all vessels owned by said | states or by citizens thereof
 Section 6-That the sum of $0,000,0oO | Is hereby appropriated out of any mon- ay in the treasury not otherwise appro- orated toward the project herein con- and the secretary of war Is further hereby authorized to enter into , contract or contracts for materials md work that may be deemed neces- ,ary for the proper excavation, con- ,truction. defense and completion of said canal, harbors and defenses, to be paid for as appropria tions may from ime to time be hereafter made to be lrawn on warrants signed by the presi- lent not to exceed in the aggregate one hundred and eighty million dollars.'
 
 BAKERY WAGON WRECKED.