The age-herald., 1902-03-13
Morgan NH Report the Hep- burn BiII to the Sen-
 ate Today
AFTER SHORT DISCUSSION
 VOTE RESULTED Z ID 4
Senator Morgan Says Though He Will Use Diligence In Securing consid- eration He Has Had No Confer
 ence With Republican Leaders.

Washington. March 12.-The Senate committee on isthmain canals has de- cided ky vote of : to 4 to report the Hepburn bill providing for the construc- tion of an isthmain canal via the Mica raguan route.
 The action of the committee was taken at a called meeting held during the after noon and came after a brief report by Senator Morgan, chairman of the com mittee. detailing the result of a confer ence with Secretary Hay as to the status of diplomatic negotiations with the Cen tral American republics concerning the canal.
 He stated that the Secretary had told him that there are no negotiations in progress between the United States and Colombia concerning the Panama route and that the new minister from Columbia had not even presented his credentials; but that on the other hand the represen- tatives of this country and those of Mica ragua and Costa Rica had been in con- sultation and had agreed upon practical ly all the points to be covered in conces- sion treaties, nothing really being left in that connection but to put the agree ments in writing. He said that the gov ernments of those two countries had manifested a disposition to make all the concessions the United States could ask to aid in the construction of a canal and that among these concessions is one for perpetual right of way.
 Hepburn Bill Favored.
 When the recitation of the report had been completed Senator Hanna suggested that probably the Colombian minister had been detained by untoward circumstances and proposed that action by the commit tee should be delayed until an opportuni- ty could be had to ascertain Colombia position Senator Mitchell moved to re- port the Hepburn bill as it passed the House
 Senator Kittredge moved to amend by postponng action until next Monday' but his motion was lost-4 to l.
 Senator Mitchells motion was carried by the same vote. Several members of the committee were absent, but their views being thoroughly understood, their votes were cast accordingly.
 The vote on the Hepburn bill stood:
 Yeas-Morgan Mitchell, Hawley, Platt of New York Harris, Turner and Foster of Louisiana.
 Nays-Hanna,, Pritchard, Willard and Kittredge.
 Will Report Bill Today.
 Senator Morgan after the adjournment of the committee, said, that he would probably report the bill to the Senate tomorrow. 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 had not been au- thorized to present a written report and would not present any beyond submit ting the testimony taken during the committee hearing.
 The Hepburn bill authorizes the Presi- dent to acquire territory for right of way for a canal from Costa Rica and . caragua direct the construction of canal of sufficient capacity to accom- modate the largest ships from Greytown, on the Atlantic via Lake Nicaragua to Brito on the Pacific. under the super vision of the Secretary of Var author izes surveys of the harbors at the two ends of the routes: guarantees the use of the canal to vessels of Costa Rica and Nicaragua and appropriates GOO for beginning the work.