Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-13
FAVOR HEPBURN 5 BILL
Senate Committee on Isthmian
Canal Decides to Report the
House Measure.
The Action Taken After Brief
Report Made by Senator
Morgan.
Uncertainty as to Colombia's
Position Likely to Defeat
Panama Scheme.

Washington, March 13.-The senate
committee on isthmian canals yester-
day decided by a vote of to to report
the Hepburn bill providing for the con-
struction of an isthmian canal via the
Nicaraguan route. The action of the
committee was taken at a called meet
| ing held during the afternoon and came
after a brief report by Senator Morgan,
chairman of the committee, detailing
the result of conference with Secre-
tary Hay as to the status of diplomatic
negotiations with the Central American
republics concerning the canal.
He stated that the secretary had told
progress between the United States and
Colombia concerning the Panama route
and that the new minister from Colom-
bia 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 agreed
upon practically 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 the governments of those two
countries had manifested a disposition
to make all the concessions the United
States could ask to aid in the construc-
ton of a canal and that among these
concessions is one for perpetual right
of-way.
When the recitation of the report had
been completed Senator Hanna sug-
gested that probably the Colombian
minister had been detained by unto
card circumstances and proposed that
action by the committee should be de-
layed until an opportunity could be had
to ascertain Colombia's position This
suggestion met with a 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 Mon
day, but his motion was voted down,
by to Z. Senator Mitchelrs motion
was carried by the same vote, reversed.
Some of the members of the committee
were absent, but as their positions We're
understood their votes We're counted.
The vote for the Hepburn bill stood:
Ayes - Morgan, Mitchell, Hawley.
Plat of New York, Harris, Turner.
Foster of Louisiana.
Nays-Hanna, Pritchard, Miller, Kit
tredge.
Senator Morgan, after the adjourn
ment of the committee. said that he
would probably report the bill to the
senate today. While he would use all
due diligence in securing consideration
of the measure. he had had no confer
ence with the republican leaders of the
senate as to when the measure should
be taken up for consideration. He had
not been authorized to present writ
ten 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
ofway for canal from Costa RIGA and
Nicaragua; directs the construction of
q canal of sufficient capacity to accom-
modate the largest ships from Grey
town on the Atlantic via Lake Nicara-
qua, to Brito on the Pacific, under the
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
RIGA and Nicaragua, and appropriates
100000 for beginning the work