The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-14
THERE ARE NO CHANGES
All Amendments Offered by Friends of
the Panama Route Meet With
Disaster.
BETWEEN HEPBURN AND CANNON
The Later Led the Figh. For an Alternative
Route fayoring ths Purchase Of the
Panama Canal For S40,-
900, 900.
tFrom Fridays News and Obseryer.)
(By the Associated Press.)

tFrom Fridays News and Obseryer)
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, Jan. 9.-The Hepburn
late this afternoon by practically a unani-
nous vote. Only two members out Of
SO voted against it. Messrs. Fletcher
(Rep) Minnesota, and Lassiter (Dem.)
negative. The opposition to committing
the Government to the N~icaraguan route
attempted TO secure amendments to
lodge with the President the discretion
airy power to purchase and complete the
Panama Canal, if it could be purchased
for $40, 200, 600. The test came on the
first vote, when the advocates of an al
tentative route polled 102 against 40
votes. AT each succeeding vote their
strength dwindle until Mr.. Cannon, Of
Illinois, under whose leadership the fight
was made, was unable to get the ayes
and noes on a motion to recommit. All
other amendments failed and the bill
passed exactly as it came from the COM
mittee. None of the votes except that
on the final passage of the bill was a
record vote.
The debate which preceded the taking
Of the final vote was made memorable
by a clash between Mr.. Hepburn, the
author of the bill. and Mr.. Cannon,
chairman of the Appropriations Commit
tee. On several previous occasions they
have measured swords over canal leg
i%slation. Two years ago a similar bill
was passed by a vote Of 224 to 36.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
TIL bill as passed today authorizes
the President to secure from the States
Of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. in be-
half of the United States, control of
such portion of the territory belonging
to said States as may be desirable and
necessary on which to excavatc, con
struct and protect a canal suitable to
the wants of modern navigation and COM
merce, and appropriates such a sum as
may be necessary to secure the control
/ of said territory.
Section . authorizes the President
after securing control of the needed ter
ritory, to direct the Secretary of War
to construct such canal from the Carib-
bean Sea, at d point near Greytown. in
| Nicaragua, by way of Lake Nicaragua,
to q point on the Pacific Ocean near
Brito. and also to construct proper har-
bors at the termini Of said canal. and to
maxi necessary provisions for the de-
Tense Of tho canal and harbors.
Sections ) and 1 authorizes the Presi-
dent to make such surveys as may be
necessary and to employ such persons in
constructing the canal as may to him
seem wise. and directs that in the con
struction Of the canal the river San
Juan and Lake Nicaragua shall be used
as far as they are available.
Section 5 authorizes the President to
| guarantee to tho states of Costa RiCa
and Nicaragua the use OF the canal
and harbOrs. upon terms to be agreed
upon. for all vessels owned by said
states and by citizens thereof.
The last section makes a present APP
preparation OF $40, 000. 600 to carry on this
work and authorizes tho Secretary of
War to enter proper contracts and ma
terial and work as may be deemed
necessary therefor, such work and ma
tcriai to b. paid for as appropriations
may lie made from time TO time. The
section fixes the aggregate cost at $180,-
coo, 900 to be drawn from the Treasury on
! warrants OF the President.
THE DEBATE BEGINS.
Mr., Adamson tGa.). the first speaker
tOdGa, al ScI IL pdS0dSt IL I1eI?-
| burn bill without amendment. He argued
that the time had come for action, and
thai ecuivocation now could only result
in delaying the commencement of the
canal.
II the Panama Company had an offer
10 make which We could accept, he
said. there would be time enough to take
advantage Of it, when the bill was pend
ing in the Senate or later in Congress
Mr.. Wooten (TeX.). also argued that the
bill SHOULD be passed without amend
ment. He regarded the Morris amend
ment as a modern Trojan horse
At this point upon the request Of Mr.
DAVIS Ila.l. the tire for genera! debate
vas extended until 2:30 ?. IN.
Mr.. Sparkman IFla.p, spoke III favor
Of the Hepburn bill.
Mr.. Cannon 1lls.p. chairman of the Ap-
preparations Committee, then took the
floor His remarks were given close at
t~cntion. The building Of this canal. he
said. was3 a business proposition and
should be considered from q blsincs
standpoint. Personally. he had favored
d canal fer years, but because he had
not been willing to proceed "ithout IN
formation and against fixed treaty law,
he had been called hard Nance.
MIR. Cannon discussing the language OF
the bill asked What was meant - an
thorizing the President to obtain full
control over the land upon which the
canal MAS to be built. Did il mean pur-
chase and ownership Of miles of property
by spectators by both American and
Nicaraguan? With great emphasis Mr..
Cannon declared that in his judgment