The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-03-13
THE NICARAGUAN ROUTE
SENATE COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED
TO RECOMMEND HEPBURN BILL.
Morgan Said He Would Report It at
Once, but Did Not Know When It
Would Be Considered,

Washington. Mach 1.-The senate com
mittee on is.hulan canals has decided 10y
vote OF : to 1 to report the Hepburn
bill providing Tor the construction of an
isthmiau canal via the Nlcaraguun route
The action OF the committee was taken
at a called meeting held during the after
noon and came after brief report by
Senator Morgan, chairman OF the commit.
tee, detailing the result OF conference
with Secretary Hay Hs to the status Of
diplomatic negotiations with the Central
American republics concerning the canal
lie stated that the secretary had told him
there were no negotiations In progress be
tween the United States and Colombia con
corning the Panama route and that the
new minister from Colombia had not even
presented his credentials; but that ON the
othcr hand the representatives. Of this coun-
try and those Of Nicaragua and Costa
klca had been In consultation and had
agreed upon practically all the points To
be covered In concession treaties, nothing
really being left In that connection hut
10 put the agreements in writing lie
sald tnat the governments Of those two
countries had manifested disposition 10
make all the concessions the Quilted States
could ask to aid In the construction of a
canal ana mat among these concessions Is
one Tor perpetual right Of way When the
recitation OF the report had been completed
senator Hanna suggested that probably the
Colombian minister had hepn detained Inv
untoward circumstances and proposed that
action by the committee should he de-
IaEeu until an opportunity could he had TO
ascertain Colombia's opposition.
senator Mitchell moved TO report the
Hepburn bin as IL passed the house Seua-
TOR hittredge moved to amend hy postpoa
ing action until next Monday, but his mo
tlon was lost TO 7.
senator Mitchell's motion was carried by
Inc same vote reversed. Some Of the mem.
Oers OF the committee were absent but
rs their positions were understood their
votes were counted The vote ON the Hep
burn bill stood: Yeas--Moggun, Mitchell
HaWley, Platt IN. ", Harris, Turner and
Foster (La), Noes-Hanna, Pntchard, Nil.
lard and Kittredge.
Senator Morgan after the adjournment
OF the committee said that he would prob
ably report the bill to the senate tomorrow
While he would use an due diligence In
securing consideration of the measure he
had had no conference with republican lc9 l.
ers of the senate as 10 when the measure
should be taken up for consideration. lie
had not been authorized 70 present a writ
ten report and would not present any no.
yond submitting the testimony taken during
the committee hearing.
The Hepburn bill authorizes the president
Ia acquire territory for right OF way for n
canal from Costa Rica and Nicaragua. dI.
reefs the construction OF canal OF sufrI-
cent capacity TO accommodate the largest
ships from Greytown ON the Atlantic via
LSke Nicaragua TO BrltO on the Pacific. nm
der the supervision Of the secretary Of war.
authorizes surveys of the harbors at the
Two ends OF the route; guarantees the use
OF the canal TO vessels OF Costa Ricn ami
Nicaragua, and appropriates $4,000 600 FOR
beginning the work.