The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-10
Closing Debate Marked by Clash
Between the Illinois sswatch Dog
and the Iowa Hustler.
PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE
TEN MILLIONS APPROPRIATED TO
BEGIN WORK on THE CANAL.
Aggregate Cost of Construction Linz
tied to sIsO.oOo. 600. 10 BE Paid in
Warrants on the Treasury.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 9.-The Hepburn
Nicaraguan canal bill passed the House
late this afternoon by practically unan-
imous vote. Only two members out OF $40
voted against it. Messrs. Fletcher Rep..
Minn.) and Lassiter Dem, Va were the
two voting in the negative The opposition
to committing the government TO the Mica
raguan route attempted TO secure amend
ments TO lodge with the President the dis
cretionary power TO purchase and complete
the Panama canal if it could be purchased
for S4O,OOO00O. The test came on the first
vote. when the advocates of an alternative
route polled 1O2 against 170 votes. At each
succeeding vote their strength dwindled un-
til Mr.. Cannon, Of Illinois. under whose
leadership the fight was made, was unable
TO get the yeas and nays on a motion TO re-
commit. All other amendments failed and
the bill passed exactly as it came from the
committee. None of the votes except that
on the final passage of the bin a record
vote. The debate which preceded the TAX
ing of the final vote was made memorable
by clash between Mr.. Hepburn, the au-
thor of the bill, and Mr.. Cannon. chairman
of the appropriations committee. On sew
eral previous occasions they have meas
ured swords over canal legislation. Two
years ago "A similar bill was passed by a
vote Of 224 to So
The bill as passed to-day authorizes the
President to secure fro-f---, es-p
Costa Rica and Nicaragua. in behalf of the
United States, control of such a portion Of
the territory belonging 10 said states as
may be desirable and necessary through
which to excavate, construct and operate
navigation and commerce, 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 territory. TO
direct the secretary of war to construct
such canal from the Caribbean sea, at a
point near Greytown. in Nicaragua, by way
of Lake Nicaragua, TO a point on the Pa
ciic ocean near Brito. and also to construct
proper harbors at the termini Of said canal
and to make necessary provisions for the
defense Of the canal and harbors.
Sections 3 and authorize the President
to make such surveys as may be necessary
and to employ such persons in constructing
the canal as may TO him seem wise, and di-
rects that in the construction of the canal
the River San Juan and Lake Nicaragua
shall be used as far as they are available.
Section 5 authorizes the President 20
guarantee to the States of Costa Rica and
Nicaragua the use OF the canal and har-
bors, upon terms 10 be agreed upon, for all
vessels owned by said states and by citi-
zens thereof.
The last section makes a present appro-
priation Of $lO.OOO.OOO to carry on this work
and authorizes the secretary of war TO en-
ter into proper contracts for material and
work as may be deemed necessary there
for, such work and material TO be paid for
as appropriations may be made from time
TO time. The section fixes the aggregate
cost at SlS0,0000 coo, 10 be drawn from the
treasury on warrants of the President