Evening star., 1901-12-19
House Adopts Rule to Begin Bills
Consideration January 7.
FAVORABLE DISPOSITION MANIFEST
Plans of the Opponents of the
Project Set Forth.
NOBODY FRIGHT TEN ED

The favorable disposition of the House TO
the Nicaraguan canal bill was shown this
afternoon when Chairman Hepburn of the
commerce committee secured unanimous
consent for the adoption of rule providing
for the consideration of the Nicaraguan
canal bill after the holiday recess. 1t is
to be taken up January : and made the
continuing order until passed.
Representative Cannon of Illinois asked
Mr. Hepburn whether in his opinion action
upon the bill at this time would embarrass
negotiations now pending for the acquisi-
tion of the territory through which the
canal would pass. Mr.. Hepburn replied that
it would not. but that, on the contrary this
bill provided the means for acquiring the
route. for while the Senate could negotiate
treaties, all appropriations of money would
have to be made with the consent of the
House of Representatives.
Mr. Richardson of Tennessee said the
question was not partisan one, and that
the democratic minority were not inclined
to place any obstacle In the way of the
consideration of the bill
MIR. Underwood of Alabama, one of the
democratic leaders of the House, recalled
the fact that once when the preponderance
OF sentiment of this country was in favor
or the acquisition of Hawaii it was impos-
Slole TO obtain a two-thrds vote in the
United States Senate on treaty to that
end. and 1t was necessary to pass a Joint
resolution requiring but a majority of the
votes of the two houses. In that way the
VIII of the American people was prevented
from being frustrat ted by a minority of the
United States Senate.
Mr.. Underwood said that the people of
TINS country want the canal. 1t was we'll
known, he said. that gigantic interests
were laying themselves across the path
way to the accomplishment of that object
and that one of the methods adopted was
TO insist that there should be delay in the
hEA until
negotiated with Costa Rica and Nicaragua
The announcemeNA Aof the adoption of the
special order for Jaruary was greeted by
applause on both sides of the chamber
Enemies OF Canal Project.
The enemies of the isthmian canal project
and the opponents of the Nicara guam route
in particular are busily at work attempting
to raise obstacles to action by Congress
which they know is likely TO follow the
ratification of the Hay-Pauneefote treaty
All kinds CT reports are being circulated at
the Capitol of alleged difficulties in the
way of securing concessions for the route of
the NIcaTagt.an canal and the complications
likely to arse with Central American and
European governments.
The only show the anti-caDal combina-
tion now has for its white alley is to play
for delay in the pa ssage of the bill to put
the canal project into execution. Their
plans, as they show on the surface. seem to
be to stir up contention between the House
and Senate upon the differing bills. hoping
Tor disagreement. and all the time cir
culatinS reports to discourage the prac-
ticability of the canals construction.
Chances for Disagreement Not Good
The chances for a vital disagreement be-
tween the two houses on the terms of an
enabling act are not good. While the bills
pending in the House and Senate are diff
ferent in terms. their objective is the same.
There is only one point upon which the
House is likely 10 be insistent. 1t is that
in order to avoid possible scandal and OK
travagance the disbursement of the $780,
Op,OID or S2OO,OD0,0 900 appropriated for the
building of the canal shall be under the sll-
pervision of a responsible officer and de-
pariment of the government To that end
the House committee has amended the bill
requiring all money to be paid out on war
rant of the President of the United States
putting the responsibility right up TO the
highest possible authority.
The latest rumor of possible international
complications over the canal route circu-
lated at the Capitol concerns reported
concession for the exclusive navigation of
Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan river
which, 1t is said, German steamship line
has recently bought. 1t is whispered about
the corridors with anxious head shakings
ih1t the United States will find 1t quite
different from dealing with Great Britain
which acknowledges the Monroe doctrine
10 dealing with the German government,
which is Inclined to resent ANYTHING that
sion. 1t is threatened that Germany will
De apt TO claim the pound of flesh under
all the contracts of German subjects with
central American governments
Doesn't Brighten Any One
This kind of talk does not frighten any
one who Is backing the isthmian canal pro-
ject. In the first place ii is said that II
there is any one thing more than another
likely to consolidate sentiment in both
houses of Congress in favor of immediate
action, without debate practically on a
Niearaguan canal bill, it would be the sug-
Sestlon that Germany, under some ostensi-
Die concession, proposed to stand in the
way of that great American undertaking
Outside of this, however is the fact that
thls question OF concessions does not both
er the canal projectors very much. 1t is
pointed out that the treaties by which we
VIII obtain right of way in Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, Will deal with those govern
meHts and they will be expected to settle
abrogate or otherwise arrange any preyt-
Gus concessions granted.
Il have no doubt there are all told a
score OF concessions " sair Chairman
Hepburn OF the commerce committee to-
day. We are not worrying about them,
Most of them are defeasible and many Of
them contain provisions that have moi been
complied with and are thus invalid
AT any rate, We will EXPECT Nicarapua
and Costa Rica to attend to those c1nces-
sions We will let the other fellow do the
worrying ~