The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1902-01-18
WAS 4 NOT A AMENDED
THE NlcARAeuAh CANAL BILL
PASSED BY PRACTICALLY
UNANIMOUS VOTE.

,rIeScner or MINNESOTA anu IasstSer ot
Virginia Go on Record Against the
Measure-Debate Made Memorable
by Clash Between Hepburn Of Iowa
3 and Cannon Of lllinols Provisions
4 of. the Bin.
Washington, Jan. 10.-The Hepburn
Nicaraguan canal bill passed the house
by practically unanimous vote Only
two members out of 80 voted against
It. Messrs. Fletcher (Rep., Minn.) and
5Lassiter {Dem.. va.) were the two
voting in the negative. The opposition
to committing the government to the
Nicaraguan route attempted to secure
amendments to lodge with the presi-
dent the discretionary power to pnr-
chase and complete the Panama canal.
If it could be purchased for SAC, ,00, 900.
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 dwin-
died until Mr.. Cannon of Illinois, un-
der whose leadership the fight was
made, was unable to get the ayes and
coes on motion to recOmmit. All
other amendments failed and the bill
passed exactly as it came from the
committee. None of the votes except
that on the final passage of the bill
was a record vote.
: The debate which preceded the TAX
ing of the final vote was made mem
orable by q clash between Mr.. Hep
burn, the-author of the bill, and Mr..
Cannon, chairman of the appropria-
tions committee. On several previous
occasions they have measured swords
over canal legislation. Two years ago
q similar bill was passed by vote OF
224 to 36.
The bill as passed authorizes the
president to secure from the states
of Costa Rica and Nicaragua in behalf
of the United States control of such
a portion Of tte territory belonging to
said states as may be desirable and
necessary In which to excavate, con.
struct and prospect canal suitable
to the wants Of modern navigation and
commerce and appropriates such q
sum as may be necessary to secure
the control of said territory. -2s
President Given Full Authority. y
Section authorizes the president,
after securing control of the needed
territory, to direct the secretary of
war to construct such canal from the
Caribbean sea, at q point near Grey
town, in Nicaragua. by way Of Lake
Nicaragua. to q point on the Pacific
ocean near Brito, and also to con.
struct proper harbors at the termini
of said canal and to make necessary
provisions for the defense Of the canal
and harbors.
Sections and 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 camel the river
San Juan and Lake Nicaragua shall
be used as far as they are available.
Section authorizes the president
to guarantee to the states of Costa
Rica 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.
The last section makes present an.
preparation Of $1t,00O,OO0 to carry on
this work and authorizes the secretary
Of war to enter into proper contracts
deemed necessary therefor, such work
and material to be paid for as appro
priations may be made from time tc
time. The section fixes the aggregate
cost at $3.50, 100000, to be drawn from
u A. A.