Evening star., 1901-12-05
Subject to Occupy the Attention of
Both Houses.
THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE STEP
What the Executive Department
is Also Doing.
PROSPECTS ARE BRIGHT

Nicaraguan canal legislation is likely to
occupy the attention of both houses of
Congress to a large degree before the holi-
days commencing next week in the Sem
ate and as soon -as the committees are
appointed in the House. 1t would seem
that the years of investigation, hesitation.
debate and discussion of this subject are
about to crystalline this session in definite
action.
The present status of the isthmian canal
project may be briefly stated thus: The
isthmian canal commission has recon-
mended the construction of an interoceanic
canal via the Nicaraguan route. the cost
of which is estimated in round numbers at
$3.50, 100000. Valid and sufficient reasons
set forth why the Nicaraguan route is
preferable to the acquisition of the unfin-
ished Panama canal.
In anticipation of such a report the ex-
eeutive branch of the government has
negotiated a treaty with Great Britain, in
which some alleged bars in the way of this
government undertaking the work alone
are removed and certain requirements fixed
by the Senate last year are met. This
treaty was laid before the Senate in ex-
ecutive session yesterday, and while it is
Constructively under seal of secrecy its gen.
eral provisions are pretty we'll understood.
1t supersedes the much-discussed Clayton
BulWer treaty; it obviates the acquiescence
of any foreign power in the sole ownership
of the canal by the United States; 1t does
not prohibit the canal being fortified: pro-
vides for the policing of the canal by his
government. and provides that the treaty
cannot be affected by possible change of
sovereignty of the country through which
the canal passes.
The First Legislative Step.
The first legislative step will be the rats
cation of the treaty by the Senate. The
foreign relations committee, of which Sena-
early next week. and go to work upon
favorable report on the agreement. Sena-
tor Cullom stated today that he did not
lcok for unusual delay in the consideration
OF the treaty. He discredited rumors of
contemplated democratic obstruction for
the sufficient reason that he could not see
where political capital could be made by
any party in adopting such course.
In the meantime the State Department is
dealing with the Central American states
of Nicaragua and Costa Rica for the lease
to the United States of the territory through
which the canal is to pass. The isthmian
canal commission recommended the acQui-
sitiOn of a strip of land ten miles wide, the
whole length of the route of the canal. The
two Central American states have already
signed protocols agreeing to make the nee
essary treaty. and it is expected it will
be submitted to the Senate before the close
of this session.
The Next Move.
" illIt lnt lTtdty-IHdklIlS power are dl
work upon this branch of the subject. an
other legislative step will be taken. A bill
will pass the House and come to the Senate
authorizing the President to direct the Sec
retary of War to commence the canal and
making the necessary appropriation there
for. Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa, prospective
chairman of the interstate and foreign COM
merce committee. will offer the bill, which
will in the main follow the terms of the
bill that passed the House last session.
Bills of similar interest will be offered in
the Senate and considered in committee
meanwhile. --
The friends of the isthmian canal project
are now watching for the next move of the
enemies of the canal. who are the transcon-
tinental railroads that allied with lie
Panama Railroad Company and the Pan
anna Canal Company. 1t is expected that
the favOrite device of playing the Panama
route against the Nicaragua route will
again be resorted to, Notwithstanding the
majority report of the isthmian canal COM
mission
The friends of the isthmian canal project
say. however, that never have the pros
poets for the construction of a canal been
so favorable as at present. All condi-
tions have worked to this end within the
past year. With every obstacle heretofore
advanced renewed the finances of the
government are found in condition to war
rant the expenditure for the work, and
there is general satisfaction over the out
lCoE.
Senate Committee Meets.
The SeLate committee isthmian canal
was in session today and engaged in a
general discussion of the Nicaragua canal
bill which was introduced by Senator Nor
gan. but adjourned without action, because
of the absence of Senator Hanna. The dis
position of the committee is to report the
bill at an early date, although it is not
expected that action will be taken on it
by the Senate prior to the disposition of
the new canal treaty with Great Britain
The committee also is disposed to act first
upon the bill as introduced by Senator
Morgan. providing only for the acquisition
of right of way, leaving the details of leg
islation for the construction of the water
way to the future.