The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-10
CANAL BILL PASSED
II Went Through the House by a
Practically Unanimous Vote,
CANNON LED THE FIGHT
On Motion 10 RecOmmit Could Not
Get a Record Vote.
ON FINAL VOTE 1T WAS 30S TO 2
Carries Appropriation TO Buy Needed
Territory.
ut BETWEEN HEPBURN AND CANNON


~'1d ,o'6lN 18th He Answered in
tanner
Washington, Janums 9.-The Hepburn
Nlcaraguan canal bill passed the house late
this afternoon by a practically unanimous
vote Only two members ont of $40,
Mcssrs. Fletcher Rep., Minnl and Lassiter
Dem Nal, voted against It. The opposi-
tion to committing the government to the
Nicaragua route attempted to secure
amendments giving the president discrc-
tionary power TO purchase and complete
the Panama canal if it could be purchased
for 100000 The test came on the first
vote, when the advocates OF an alternative
route polled 1o2 against 40 votes. At
each succeeding vote their strength
dwindled until MIR. Cannon dnD, under
whose leadership the night was made, was
unable TO get the ayes and noes on a mo.
ton to commit All other amendments and
the bill passed exactly as they came from
the committee.
The debate which preceded the taking OF
the final vote was made memorable by n
clash between Mr. Hepburn, the author of
the bill and Mr.. Cannon, chairman Of the
appropriations committee. on several pre-
v,ous occasions they have measured swords
over canal legislation. Two years ago Il
similar bill was passed by a vote Of 224 to
80. The bill as passed today authorizes
the president to secure from the states Of
Costa Rlca and Nicaragua in behalf OF the
United States control of such portion Of
the territory belonging to said states as
may be desirable and necessary in which
to excayatc, construct and prospect a canal
suitable to the wants Of modern naviga-
tion aud commerce ana approprates such Il
sum as may be necessary to secure the
control of said territory.
Section authorizes the president, after
securing conjlOl OF the needed territory.
10 direct the secretary of war to construct
such canal from the Caribbean sea at a
point near Grcytowu in Nicaragua, by way
OF Lake Nicaragua, to point ON the Pa
cihc ocean near Brito, and also to construct
proper harborS NJ the tprmiIH of said canal
aud to make necessary provisions for
the defense of the canal and harbors.
Sections . and authorize the president
to make such surveys. as may be necessary
ana 10 employ persons In constructing the
canal as may to him seem wise, and directs
that in the construction of the canal the
river san Juan and Lake Nicaragua shall
be used far as they are available.
Section authorizes the president TO guar
autee to the states OF Costa Rica and Me
aragna the use of the canal and harbors,
upon terms to be agreed upon for all vcs
| sSls owned by said states and by citizens
] thereof,
The last section makes a present appro
| pratlOn of SlO,OOO0OO TO carry on this
work and authorizes the. secretary OF wal
| to enter into proper contracts Tor materia
and work as may he, deemed necessary
| therefor, such work and material TO he PAID
| for as appropriations may be made from
! time TO time. The section fixes the agsre
! gate cost at SlS0,OOOOUO. to be drawn iron
I sI..yht
In anticipation Of vote upon the. cam
! bill today there was a large attendance Oh
| the floor Under the order made yester
! day the general debate was TO close Mt
| o'clock, when the bill was to be read fo
amendment under the five-mnute rule.
| Mr.. Adanson uia.D the first speaker to
| day, urged the passage Of the Hepburn bill
| without amendment. He argued that tn,
! time had come for action and that equivo
cation now could only result In delayin.
| the commencement OF the canal.
| MIR. Wooten tTcXasj also urged that th'
| Hill should he passed without amendment
| II the Morris amendment was adopted M
said the canal would become a conli
| tional project surrounded ny doubts an,
difficulties which might doom II to fna
! failure owing 10 international political com
! plicationS. He declared II was rather
strange coincidence that those who nov
! wanted to amend the bill had In the pas
| opposed the passage OF any bill. He rC
gardcd the Morris amendment AZ n moderl
| Trojan horse. Mr.. Wooten said ne did no
!
He believed such an amendment savore
more of Spnrious sentiment than SCUM,
ard Sautary sense. He favored II neutra
/ canal
Al this point. upon request Of Mr. Davt
FlaD. the time for general debate was cX
tended to $50 a. m.
Mr. Sparkmun CFln) spoke in favor Of tn
Mr.. cannon ulll. chairman Of the ar
preparations committee. took III" floor III
remarks were given close attention. rh
0. r -, rflf hfa enl1
ness proposition and should be Considrrp
from a business standpoint Mr.. Canno
FLASHED sharply with Mr.. Hepburn. wno
in charge Of the hill.
Mr.. Cannon criticized the Iowan for with
holding his speech from Che record and Nj
Hepburn characterized Mr.. CHnnon's crit
risn as "qucrulous and for an improve
purpose stating that he had only exec
cIsed a privilege Custolarily exercised II
members But he offered then and ther
10 give Mr.. Cannon the speech and son
II over to him by n page
Mr.. Cannon declared in his recollectio
no member in charge Of great measur
TO undertake a work that was o last fo
centuries had ever pursued such course
He declared II was not decent parliament
airy procedure. and when Mr.. iiepbur
made some quick reply he observed ami
laughter that. II the gentleman from low
were only as Straightforward rs he WA
nip OF tongue, he would be bette
Nr Cannon discussing the language @
the bill. asked what was meant by author
izlng The president to obtain full control
over the land upon which the canal wa
ownership Of miles OF property owned b
spepulators. both American and Mica
rauguanf With great emphasis Mr., Car
non declared that In his Judgment, III
general appropriation which the hill cor
famed and the ''artful language" of
would cause the claim that II gave tn
president full power, not only 20 pay Mica
ragua and Costa Rica. but the Martini
Canal company aud European, America
and Nlcaragnan spectators, how much b
conld not tell. II might he ShWo.OW SO
ooG 0O0 or s95 O0o.nH lie denounced wha
he fermcd tho pndlc haste Of those VIII
wanted 10 build this canal between ''no'