The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-13
Hepburn Bill Wins in Senate
Canal Committee.
HANNA ONE OF OPP 0sITI0N
He Suggested Delaying Matter Until colom-
blan Minister Should Be Heard on
Views Of His Country In Re-
gard to Panama Route.
ny Associated Press.l

4 WASHINGTON, D.. c., March 12--Ihe
Senate Committee on Isthmian Canals
has decided by a vote of Z to to report
the Hepburn bill, providing for the con
str1ction Of an istllmian canal via the
Nicaragua route.
The action Of the committee was taken
at a called meeting held during the al al
ternoon and came after a brief report
by Senator Morgan, chairman OF the
committee, detailing the result OF a con-
ference with Secretary Hay as 10 Tue Tue
status of diplomatic negotiations VIII
the Central American republics concern
ing the canal. He stated that the Sec
rotary had told him that there are no
negotiations in progress between the
United States and Colombia concerning
the Panama route and that the new min,
lister from that country to this mao III.
even presented his credentials; put t na.
on the other hand. the representatlV yves u
this country and those OF NlcaraSu st sli. ~,
Costa Rica. had been in consultation anu
had practically agreed upon all the po POI! 10
to be covered in concession treaties,
nothing really being left in that con-
nection but to put the agreements IN
writing. He said that the governments
of those two countries had manifested
g. disposition to make all the concessions
which the United States could ask to ald
in the construction of canal and tnat
among these concessions is one for per-
petual right of way.
SUGGESTED DELAY.
When the recitation of the report had
been completed Senator Hanna suggest
ed that probably the Colombian MIN
lister had been detained by unto"ara
circumstances and suggested that acton
by the committee should be delayed un-
til opportunity could be had to ascer-
tain Colombia's position in the matter.
This suggestion was met with strong
protest from the friends of the Mica
raeua. route and Senator Mitchell moved
to report the Hepburn bill as it passed
the House. Senator kittredge moved to
amend postponinS action until next Mon
day but his motion was voted doWn-l
to T. The question then required on
Senator AItchell's motion, which was
carried by the same vote, reversed. Some
Of the members of the committee were
absent, but as their positions were under
stood their votes were counted. The
vote for the Hepburn bill stood: Yeas.
Morgan MITCHELL Hawley, Plat. of New
York; Harris, Turner, Foster, of Louis
lana Nays, Hanna, Pritchard, Millard,
kittredge.
VERBAL REPORT.
Senator Morgan said after the ADJOURN
-mSnt OIL the CONlulLtcS -lHeit Hts plotieiyis
would report the bill to the Senate to-
morrow. but that while he would use all
due diligence in securing consideration of
the measure he had had no conference
with the Republican leaders of the Senate
as to when the measure should be taken
up for consideration. He said he mad
not been authorized to present a written
report and would not present any, beyond
submitting the testimony taken during
the committee hearings.
The Hepburn bill authorizes the Presi-
dent to acquire territory for right of way
fora canal of sufficient capacity to ac-
scommodate the largest ships from Grey
to,ln on the, Atlantic via. Lake Nicaragua
to Brito on the Pacific: under the super
vision of the Secretary of War; authorizes
surveys of the harbors at the two ends
Of hte route: guarantees the use of the
canal tosh,essels of Costa RIGA and Mica
ragua, and appropriates slo.0o0,6r0, TO
beginning the work.