The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-13
FOR THE NICARAGUA ROUTE
SENATE COMMITTEE TO REPORT
 TEE HEPBURN BILL.
Vote Stood Seven to FopE-The Measure Territory for Right of Way from Costn Rica and NiCaragun-A Confer ence With Secretary Hay Before ction Via
Was Taken.

Washington, March 12.-The senate | committee on isthmian canals decided | by vote of z to 4 this afternoon to report the Hepburn bill providing for the construction of an isthmian canal via the Nicaragua route. This action
 came after brief report by Senator Morgan, chairman of the committee, detailing the result of conference with
 Secretary Hay as to the status of dip-
 lomatic negotiations with the Central
 American republics concerning the
 canal He said that the secretary told
 him that there are no negotiations in
 progress between the United States and
 Columbia concerning the Panama route
 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
 practically upon all the points to be covered in concession treaties, nothing really being left relative to that but to put the agreements in writing. He said that the governments of those two countries had manifested disposition to make all the concessions the United States coud ask toward aiding the con- struction of a canal and that among these concessions was 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 ward circumstances. He proposed that action by the committee be delayed un- til opportunity could be had to ascer- tain Colombia's position. This sug- gestion met with strong protest from the friends of the Nicaragua route and Senator Mitchell moved that the Hep burn bill, as it passed the house, be re- ported. Senator Kittredge moved that it be amended by postponing action un- til next Monday, but his motion was voted down--four to seven.
 Senator Mitchels motion was carried by the same vote, reversed. Some of the members of the committee were ab- sent. but as their positions were under stood 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, Pritohard, Willard, | Kittredge.
 After the adjournment of the com lnittee Senator Morgan said that he would probably report the bill to the senate tomorrow, While he would use all due diligence in securing considera- ton of the measure he had had no con ference 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 l written report and would not present any beyond submitting the testimony taken during the committee hearings.
 The Hepburn bill authorizes the pres dent to acquire territory for right of way for a canal from Costa Rica and Nicaragua; directs the construction of canal of sufficient capacity to accom- nodate the largest ships from Grey own on the Atlantic via Lake Nicara- qua to Br'ito on the Pacific, under the supervision of the secretary of war; au- hori2es surveys of the harbors at the wo ends of the route; guarantees the ise of the canal to vessels of Costa 2ica and Nicaragua and appropriates 10 000.OOO for beginning the work.