New-York tribune., 1902-06-27
THE CANAL BILL AS PASSED
PRESIDENT To CHOOSE PANAMA ROUTE .
FEASIBLE; IF NOT. NICARAGUA

PRESIDENT To CHOOSE PANAMA ROUTE.p
FEASIBLE. IF NOT. NICARAGUA
Washington. June 2G-The Isthmian Canal
bill is substantially as follows:
Section 1 authorizes the President to acquir.
for the United States. at a cost not exceedfne
S40UUOOOO. all the rights. privileges, franchise
concessions, grants of land right of way nm
finished work plants and other property owned
by the New Panama Canal Company, of France
on the Isthmus of Panama, and all it's mans
plans, drawings, records on the IsthmUs Of
Panama and in Paris, including all the capital
stock. not less however, than - SOB shares os
the Panama Railroad Company. owned by or
held for the use of said canal company pro-
vided satisfactory title 10 all OF said property
can be obtained.
Section = authorizes the President to acqurs
from the republic of Colombia exclusive and
perpetual control Of a strip Of land not less than
six miles wide from the Caribbean Sea to the
Pacific Ocean and the right to and dispose
of the waters thereon, and to exCavate con-
struCt and perpetually TO maintain. operate and
protect thereon a canal of such depth and Ca
pacity Will afford convenient passage Of
ships of the greater tonnage and draught
in use from the sea to the ocean; this control
TO include the right perpetually 70 maintain and
operate the Panama Railroad, if the ownership
thereof a controlling interest therein. shall
have been acquired by the United States: also
jurisdiction over the strip and the ports at the
ends thereof, to make the necessary police and
sanitary rules and regulations, and 10 establish
judicial tribunals to enforce the same The
President also may acquire such additional ter
ritory and rights from Colombia as in his judg-
ment will facilitate the general purpose OF tbs
act.
BY Section 3 S4OOO0OO0 is appropriated to
pay for the property of the New Panama Canal
Company. and a sufficient amount 10 pay CO0m-
bia for the territory acquired from that country
for building the canal The President IS then,
through the Isthmian Canal Commission. au-
thorized TO proceed with the construction Of the
canal utilizing so far as practicable the work
already done. The canal is 10 have all neces-
sary locks and other appliances Provision
made for the construction OF safe and cOmmO-
dious harbors at the termini OF the canal and
for such works Of defence as may be necessary
for the safety and protection of the canal and
harbOrs.
Rv Section : the alternative authority is given
to the President of proceeding with the con-
struCtion of an iSthmian canal by what IS known
as the Nicaragua route in the event that ne IS
unable TO secure a satisfactory title to the
property Of the New Panama Canal Company
and the control of the necessary territory from
Colombia. and after first having obtained for
the United States exclusive and perpetual con-
troll by treaty of the necessary territory from
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the provisions az
TO tonnage and draUght Of vessels. as 70 har-
bors and as to works OF defence being the same
as in the section relating 10 the Panama route.
An appropriation is made Of such sums as nay
be agreed upon by treaty as compensation ID
Nicaragua and Costa Eica for concessions anu
rights granted To the United States
Section , apprOpriates Sl0.uUoObO toward tha
project contemplated and provides that appr5-
priations not 10 exceed in the aggregate tla
additional sum of S13JUOO.Wo if the Panama.
route be adopted. $1SoO00UOD should tho
Nicaragua route be selected.
BY Section 6 provision is made that in any
agreement with Colombia, or with Nicaragua or
Costa Rica, the President is authorized 10 guar
antee them the use Of the canal and harbOrs On
such terms as may be arranged, for all vessels
owned by those countries or their clTlZels-
Section ! creates an iSthmiau canal cOInInlS-
sion of seven members. 10 be nominated by the
President and confirmed by the Sen15e. They>
are 10 have charge of construction Of the etilaL.
and are to be subject TO the direction and con-
troll of the Executive. At least four or ne seven
are to be skilled in the science OF engineering,
at least one is To be officer OF the army anu
one an officer of the navy Authority IS S4Net
for the employment of engineers from tie army
and civil life and of other necessary persons
The commission is to make reports 70 me FlTS.N
dent and to give 10 Congress sIeh illi'iii-d'''AA
as may be required -,
Under Section = authority IS given tor me
issue of S13o 100000 = per cent gold bonds u
meet the expenditures authorized by JAe act
They arctic be issued from time 70 llile dS 20
proceeds may be required are % ne II ~. ~
nominations Of $50 or some multiple OF tha-
sum redeemabie after ten years ana pa!aOie I'
twenty years, the interest 10 be paEdo'e I1aI
tarIy in gold coin. They are 20 be- exempt loll1 @
taxation are to be disposed Of at not lesS tn@I t1
par and are to be open 10 popular SGoSIils-
ton None of these bonds are 10 De SOU "a
pay the sums appropriated in Sections anu
of the act or the S1O,ODOoiN approprlaleu W