The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-13
MORGAN A WINNER
NICARAGUAN CANAL BILL TO BE
REPORTED TO SENATE.
HANNA SUGGESTED DELAY.
WANTED TO GIVE COLOMBIA MORE
TIME FOR PANAMA.

DiIntoriness of Colombian Minister
May Cost His Country Dear-Nic-
aragua and Costa Rica Have
Practically Agreed on All Points
in Question and Are Liberal in
Their Concessions, Including Per-
petuaI Right of Way-The Bill
Carries $IO,0OO,0OO to Begin the
Work.
Washington, March 12.-The Senate
Committee on Isthmian Canals has
decided by a vote of to to report
the Hepburn bill, providing for the
construction of an isthmian canal via
the Nicaragua route.
The action of the committee was
taken at a called meeting held during
the afternoon. and came after a brief
report by Senator Morgan, chairman of
the committee, detailing the result of
a conference with Secretary Hay, as
to the status of diplomatic negotiations
with the Central American republics
concerning the canal. He stated that
the Secretary had told him that there
are negotiations in progress between
the United States and Colombia con-
corning the Panama route, and that
the new minister from that country to
this had not even presented his creden-
tials; but that on the other hand, the
representatives Of this country and
those of Nicaragua and Costa Rica had
been in consultation, and had practi-
cally agreed upon all the points to be
covered in concession treaties, nothing
really being left in that connection but
to put the agreements in writing. He
said that the governments of these two
countries had manifested disposition
to make all the concessions which the
United States could ask to aid in the
construction of canal, and that among
these concessions is one for perpetual
right of way.
When the recitation of the report
had been completed Senator Hanna
suggested that probably the Colombian
minister had been detained by unto
ward circumstances and suggested
that action by the committee should
be delayed until opportunity could be
had to ascertain Colombia's position
In the matter. This suggestion was met
of the Nicaragua route and Senator
Mitchell moved to report the Hepburn
bill as it passed the House Senator
Kittredge moved to amend by post
poning action until next Monday, but
this motion was voted down. to Z.
The question then required on Sena-
tor Mitchells motion, which was car
ried by the same vote, reversed. Some
of the members of the committee were
absent, but as their positions were I'M
derstood their votes were counted. The
vote for the Hepburn bill stood:
Yeas-Morgan, Mitchell. Hawley
Platt of New York, Harris, Turner,
Foster of Louisiana.
Nays-Hanna, Pritchard. Willard
Kittridge.
Dissatisfied With Roosevelt.
Senator Morgan said after the ad-
1ournment of the committee that he
would probably report the bill to the
Senate tomorrow, that while ne would
use all diligence in securing consider
alton 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 had not been authorized
to present a, written report and would
not print any beyond submitting the
testimony taken during the committee
hearings.
The Hepburn bill authorized the
President to acquire territory for right
of way for canal from Costa Rica
and Nicaragua; directs the construc-
ton of a canal of sufficient capacity
to accommodate the largest ships frorn
Greytown on the Atlantic, via Lake
Nicaragua to Brito on the Pacific, un-
der the supervision of the secretary of
war; authorizes surveys of the harbors
at the two ends of the route; guaran-
tees the use of the canal to vessels of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua and appro-
PIRATES S10,000,000 for beginning the
work.