Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-13
THE HEPBURN BILL
For Nicaraguan Canal to Be
Reported to Senate, Today.
Nicaragua and Costa Rica Willing to
Make Every Consessicn.
Nothing Decided As to When Senate
4 Will Consider Bill.

Washington, March 12.-The Senate
committee on isthmian canals has de-
cided by a vote of 10 4 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 meeting held in the
afternoon. 1t came after a brief re
Senator Morgan, chairman of the COM
mittee, detailing the result of a con-
ference with Secretary Hay as to the
status of diplomatic negotiations with
the Central American republics con-
corning the canal.
He said that the secretary told him
that there are no negotiations in prog
ress between the United States and Co
1ombia concerning the Panama route
and that the new minister from Colon
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 relative to that but to
put the agreements in writing.
He said that the governments of
those two countries had manifested a
disposition to make all the concessions
the United States could ask toward
aiding the construction of 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 Columbian
minister had been detained by unto
ward circumstances. He proposed
that action by the committee be delay
ed until 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 that
the Hepburn bill as 1t passed the House
be reported. Senator Kittredge moved
that 1t be amended by postponing ac-
ton until next Monday, but his motion
was voted down, to Z.
Senator Mitchell's 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 tor
the Hepburn bill stood: Yeas Morgan.
Mitchell, Hawley, Plat, n. Y. Harris,
Turner, Foster. La. Nays-Hanna, Prit
chard, Willard, Kittredge
After the adjournment of the committee
Senator Morgan said that he would prob
ably report the bill to the Senate tomor-
row. While he would use all due dill
gence in securing consideration of the
measure he had mad no conference with
the Republican leaders of the Senate "a
to when the measure should be taken up
for considerati ton. He had not been au
thorized to present n written report and
would not present any beyond submit ting
the testimony taken during the COMMITTEE,
hearings.
The Hepburn bill authorizes the Presi
dent to acquire territory for right of way
for a canal from Costa Rica and Mica
ragua: directs the construction Of a canal
of sufficient capacity to accommodate the
largest ships from Greytown on the At
lar1tic via Lake Nicaragua to Brito on
the Pacific under the supervision 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 Ricl and Nicaragua and
appropriates s1O,000,O0O for beginning the
work