The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-10
Only Two Members Voted
Against Measure.
NICARAGUAN ROUTE.
Opposition TO it Gradually Dwindled
Away.
ALL AM ENDM ENTs FAILED
The Final Vote on the Measure Stood Three
hundred and E ght to Two, aud
the Aunouuce meut Was
Greeted With Applause.
Hepburn and lau-
n1n flash.
Ill AM END M ENTs FAILED
tBy Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, D. c.. January a.-Tho
Hepburn Nlcaraguan Canal bill passed
the House late this afternoon by prac-
tically an unanimous vote. Only two
members out of 80 voted against it.
N1essrs. Fletcher CRepublicaa Min
nesota,) and Lassiter Democrat. vir-
glnia,) were the two voting in the Mega
tive. The opposition to committing the
government to the Nicara guam route
attempted to secure amendments to
lodge with the President the discretion-
airy power to purchase and compete the
Panama Canal, if it could be purchased
for $i0,o0J,00o.
The test came on the first vote when
the advocates of an Alternative route
polled 102 against 10 votes. at each sue
ceedinS vote their strength dwindIed un-
til Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois. uncer whose
leadership the fight was made. was uu-
able to get the ayes and noes on a mo-
ton to recommlt All other amendments
failed and the bill passed exactly as IL
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 taking
of the final vote was made memorabis
by a clash between Mr.. Hepburn. tho
author of the bill, and Mr.. Cannon.
chairman of the Appropriation Commit
tee. On several previous occasions they
have measured swords over canal iegisla-
tor Two years ago q similar bill was
passed by a. vote of s224 to 36-
TERMS OF BILL.
The bill as passed to-davsauthosizes
the President to secure from the States
of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in behalf
of the United States. control of such a
portion OF the territory belonging to said
States as may be desirable and neces-
sary on which to eXcavate. construct and
protect a canal suitable ~ the wants OF
modern navi1itIon and commerce, and
appropriates such sum may be neces-
sary to secure the control of said terri
tory.
Section two authorizes the President.
after securing control of the needed terri
tory to direct the Secretary of War to
construct such canal from the Carrie
bean Sea at i point near Greytown, il,
Nicaragua. by way of Lake Nicaragua.
to Il point on the Pacific Ocean near
Brito, and also to construct proper har-
bors at the termini of said canal. And
to make necessary provisions for the
defense of the canal and harbors.
Section three and four authorize the
President 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 III the con-
struction of the canal, the river San
Juan and Lake Nicaragua shall be used
as far as they are available.
Section five, authorizes the President
to guarantee to the States OF Costa Ric;L
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.
APPROPRIATION OF slo0Co,ooo
The last section makeSan appropriation
of ( To md
| authorizes the Secretary of War TO enter
| into proper contracts for material and
work as may be deemed necessary there
for such work and material to be paid
| for as appropriations may be made from
time to time.
The section fixes the aggregate cost at
| s1S0.O10.o00 to be drawn from the treasury
| on warrants of the President.
Mr. Adamson, of Georgia, the first
! speaker to-day, urged the passage of the
Hepburn liIl without amendment He
| argued that the time had come for ac-
| tion. and that eouivocation now cocid
| only result in delaying the commences
| rnent of the canal.
/ If the Panama Company had an offer
| to make, which we could accept. he said.
| there would be time enough to take ad-
vantage of 1t when the bill was pending
| in the Senate or later in conference.
Mr. Nooten, of Texas. also argued
that the bill should be passed without
| amendment. He regarded the Morris
amendment as a modern Trojan horse
| At this point upon the request OF Mr..
Davis. of Florida, the time for general
debate was extended until $50 P. NJ.
| Mr.. Sparkman. of Florida, spoke In IA
| vor of the Hepburn bill.
MIR CANNON HEARD.
| Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois. chairman OF the
| Appropriations Committee. then took the
| floor. His remarks were given close at
| tention. The building OF this canal, he
said. was a business proposition and
| should be considered from a business
| standpoint. Personally. he had favored
a canal for years, but because he had
not been willing to proceed without in
formation and against fixed treaty law.
F.! he had been called hard names.
Mr.. Cannon discussing the language
| OF the till, asked what was meant by
authorizing the President to obtain full
control over the land upon which tho
| canal was to be built Did it mean pur-
chase and ownership of miles OF proper
| ty owned by spectators. brth american
and Nicaraguan? With great emphasis.
Mr.. Cannon declared that in his iudg-
| ment under the general appropriation
| the bill contained and its "artful Lam
| guage.'. it would be claimed that it gavo
| the President full power not only to pay
| Nicaragua and Costa Rica. but the Mari
| time Company SPECTATORS. how much he
could not tell 1t might be- five. ten or
twenty-hve millions
DENOUNCED UNDUE HASTE
Mr.. Cannon denounced what he termed
the undue haste of those who wanted the
| canal between ..now and sunrise to-mor-
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