The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-03-19

NICARAGUA ROUTE WINS.
The Hepburn Bill to be Reported
to the Senate.

Washington, March 12.-The senate
committee on Isthmian canals has
decided by vote of 7 to 4 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 called meeting held during
the afternoon and came after brief
report by Senator Morgan. chairman Of
the committee, detailing the resolution
of conference with Secretary Hay
as to the status Of diplomatic negotia-
tions with the Central American re-
pubhes 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 that
country to this had not even present
ed his cedentials, but that on the 9th
er hand, the representatives of this
country and those Of Nicaraga and
Costa Rica bad been in consultation
and had practically agreed upon all
the points to be covered in concession
treaties, nothing really being left in
that connection but to put the agree
ment in writing. He said that the
governments of those two countries
had manifested disposition to make
all the concessions which the United
States could ask to aid in the con-
struction 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
untoward 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 with strong protest from the
friends Of the Nicaragua route, and
Senator Mitchell moved to report the
Hepburn bill as it passed the house.
Senator Kittredge moved to amend by
postponing action until next Monday,
but his motion was voted down. to
7. The question then recurred on Sen
ator Mitchell's motion which was car
ried by the same vote, reversed. Some
Of the members of the committee were
absent but as their positions were un-
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.
Niays-Hanna, Pritchard, Millard,
kittredge.
Senator Morgan said after the ad-
journment of the committee that he
probably would report the bill to the
senate tomorrow but that while he
would use all due diligence in secur-
ing consideration of the measure he
had had no conference with the Repub-
lican leaders Of the senate as to when
the measure should be taken up for
consideration. He said he had not
been authorized to present written
report and would not present any
beyond submitting the testimony taken
during the committee hearings.
The Hepburn bill authorizes the
president to acquire territory for right
of way for canal from Costa Rica
and Nicaragua; directs the construc-
tion of canal of sufficient capacity to
accommodate the largest ships from
Greytown on the Atlantic via Lake
Nicaragua to Brito on the Pacific,
under 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 Rica and Nicaragua
and appropriates $40, 900, 900 for begin
ming the work.