Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-01-18
HOUSE PASSES
HEPBURN BILL
Mere Only Two Votes Against
the Nicaragua Canal
Measure.
OUTLINE OF THE BILL
After the First Test Vote on Amend
ments the Opposition to
the Measure Melted
Away.
OUTLINE OF THE BILL

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE Hepburn
Nicaragua canal bill passed the house
ate yesterday afternoon by practically
/ unanimous vote. Only two members
,ut of 80 voted against 1t. Messrs.
Fletcher, republican, OF Minnesota, and
Lassiter, democrat, Of Virginia, were
the two voting in the negative.
The opposition to committing the
government to the N~icaraguan route
attempted TO secure amendments to
iodge with the president the discretion
airy power to purchase n complete
the Panama canal If II could be pur-
chased for $40, 600, 600.
The test came on the first vote,
when the advocates OF an alternative
route polled 102 against 10 votes. At
each succeeding vote their strength
iwindled, until Mr.. Cannon of Illinois,
lnder whose leadership the fight "a
alade, was unable to get the yeas and
lays on q motion to recommit. All
)ther amendments failed, and the bill
passed exactly as 1t came from the COM
nittee. None of the votes except that
)n the final passage of the bill was a
record vote.
The debate which proceeded the TAX
ng of the final vote was made m
tDtc ny Il CldSu DGlNSGu MI. t1GDDuIl,
he author of the bill, and Mr.. Cannon,
chairman of the appropriations COM
nittee. On several previous occaSons
hey have measured swords Eel canal
egislation. Two years & a similar
I'll was passed by a vote OF pa TO SO.
Provisions OF Bill.
The bill as passed today authorizes
the president TO secure from the states
IF Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in be-
half of the United States, control of
such a portion Of the territory belong
ne to said states as may be desirable
and necessary on which to eXcavate,
construct and prospect a canal suit
able TO the wants of modern navigation
and commerce, and appropriates such
a sum as may be necessary to secure
The control of said territory.
Section 2 authorizes the president,
after securing control of the needed
territory to direct the secretary nf war
10 construct such canal from the Carib-
bean sea, at a point near Greytown, in
Nicaragua, by way Of Lake Nicaragua,
TO a point on the Pacific ocean hear
Brito, and also to construct proper
harbors at the terminals OF said canal,
md to make necessary provisions for
the DEFENSE OF the canal and harbors.
Sections 3 and 4 authorize 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
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 to
guarantee to the states OF Costa RIGA
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.
ApproprIates $40, ooo,o 600.
The last section makes a present ap-
preparation of $40, 600, 900 to carry on
bis work, and authorizes the secretary
Of war to enter into proper contracts
for material and work as may be
deemed necessary therefor, such work
and material to be paid for as appro-
priations may be made from time TO
time. The section fixes the aggregate
cost at $3.50. 600, 600, to be drawn from
the treasury on warrants OF the presi-
dent.
NHNrk - Ella C,n