, 1902-03-15
N|CARAGUAN ROUTE
SELECTED BY SENATE COMMIT
TEE ON ISThMIAN
CANAL.
Vote Of Seven to -Four on the
Bill Providing for the Construction
Of CanaI-Action Taken at Called
Meeting Wednesday Afternoon.

Washington. March 1.-THE senate
committee on lsthmian canal has de
cided by a vote of I to 4 to report the
Hepburn bill providing for the con
struction of an isthmian canal via the
Nicaragua route.
h action OF the committee was
taken at a called meeting held during
Wednesday afternoon. and came after
a brief report by Senator Morgan,
chairman of the committee, detailing
the result of a conference with Secre-
tary Hay as to the status of diplomatic
negotiations with the Central Ameri.
can republics concerning the canal.
He stated that the secretary had told
him that there are no negotiations
pending between the United States and
Colombia concerning the Panama
route. and that the new minister from
Colombia had not even presented his
credentials. but that on the other hand
the representatives of this country and
those of Nicaragua and Costa RIGA 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 agreements in writing.
He said that the governments of
these two countries had manifested a
disposition to make all the concessions
the United States could ask to aid in
the construction 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
suggested that probably the Columbian
minister had been detained by unto
ward circumstances, and proposed that
action by the committee should be de
layed until an opportunity could be
had to ascertain Columbia's position.
This suggestion met with strong pro-
tests from the friends of the Nicara-
qua route, and Senator Mitchell NOV
ed to report the Hepburn bill as it
passed the house. Senator Kittridge
moved to postpone action until Mon
day, but his motion was lost. Senator
Mitchell'S motion was carried.
Some of the members of the commit
tee were absent, but as their positions
were understood their votes we're
counted. The vote for the Hepburn
bill stood:
Yeas-Morgan, Mitchell, Hawley,
Plat IN. ". Harris. Turner. Foster
(La.)
Nays-Hanna, Pritchard, Willard,
Kittridge.
Senator Morgan, after adjournment
of the committee, said that he prob
ably would report the bill to the senate
today. While he would use all due dill
igence in securing consideration Of the
measure. he had no conference with
the republican leaders Of the senate as
to when the s was to be taken
up for consideration. He had not been
authorized to present = written report,
and would not present any beyond sub
hitting the testimony taken during the
committee hearings.
The Hepburn bill authorizes the
president to acquire territory for right
of-way for a canal from Costa Rica and
Nicaragua; directs the construction Of
a canal Of sufficient capacity to accom-
modate the largest ships from Grey
town on the Atlantic, via Lake Near
aqua, to Brito on the Pacific. under the
supervision Of the secretary Of a
authorizes surveys Of the harbors at
the two ends Of the route; guarantees
the use of the canal. and appropriates
$40. O00, 900 for beginning the work.