The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-14
ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY
ONLY TWO VOTES AGAINST NICARAGUA
CANAL BILL.
HOUSE PASSES HEPBURN BILL
without Amendment and just as fl
Came From N Committee-A
Synopsis Of the Provisions of the
Bill-SeyeraI Amendments and a
Motion to RecommIt Voted Down
by Large Majorities-The Debate
Continued all Day and Mt Times
Becomes Quite Lively.

Becomes Quite Lively.
Washington, January S.-The open
session Of the senate today was devoted
to routine business. After an executive
session the eaate at 1: so o'clock ad-
-journed until Monday.
House of Representatives.
The Hepburn Nicaraguan canal bill
passed the house late this afternoon by
practically a unanimous vote. Only two
members Of 80 voted against IL.
Messrs. Fletch. republican of Minneso-
ia. and Lassiter. democrat of Virginia,
were the two voting in the negative.
The opposition to committing the gov
to the Nicaraguan route at
tempted to secure amendments to lodge
with the president the discretionary
power to purchase and complete the
Panama canal if it Gould be purchased
for $4,000. 900. The test came on the
first vote when the advocates on an al
tentative route pOlled 1O2, against 10
votes. AT each succeeding vote their
strength dwindled until Mr.. Cannon, OF
Illinois. under whose leadership the
fght was made, was unable TO get the
ayes n noes on a motion to com
All other amendments failed and the bill
passed exactly as ii came from the COM
mittee. None of the votes except that
on the final passage of the bill was Il
record vote.
The debate which preceded the taking
of the final vote was made memorable
by a clash between Mr.. Hepburn, the
author of the bill. and Mr.. Cannon,
chairman of the appropriations commit
fee On several nrayinIC noca Cinnc thap
ave measured swords over canal leg
1slation- TWO years age a similar bill
was passed by a vote of pa to Sc.
The bill as passed today authorizes
the president to secure from the states
Of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in behalf
of the United States. control OF such Il
portion of the territory belonging TIC
said states as may be desirable anu
necessary on which to eXcaVate, con-
struct and protect a canal suitable to
the wants of modern navigation and
commerce. and a~pprOpriates uch a sum
as may be necessary to secure the con-
troll of said territory.
Section 2 authorizes the president,
after securing control of the needed
territory, to direct the secretary OF war
to construct such canal from the Carib-
bean sea, at a point near Greytown. in
Nicaragua, by way of lake Nicaragua,
to a 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.
Sections 3 and 4 authorize the presi-
lent 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 canal the river San
Juan and lake Nicaragua shall be used
as far as they are available.
Section 5 authorizes the president to
guarantee to the states of Costa RIGA
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 a present APP
preparation of $40. 900. 600 to carry on this
work and authorizes the secretary OF
war to enter into prOper contracts Tor
material and work as may be deeme:l
necessary therefor. such work and ma
terial to be paid for as appropriations
may be made from time to time. Tho
section fixes the aggregate cost at
$3.50. 900. 900 to be drawn from the treas
ury on warrants of the president
Mr.. Adamson, of Georgia, the first
speaker today urged the passage of the
Hepburn bill without amendment. He
argued hat the time had come for &C
ton and that euuivOcation now could
only result in delaying the commence
ment of the canal. If the Panama
Company a an offer to make which
we could adopt, he said. there would be
time enough to take of 1t
when the bill was pending in the SEN
ate or later in conference.
At this point. upon the request of Mr..
Davis, of Florida. the time for general
debate was extended until 2:30 o'clock
D. m.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, chairman OF
the appropriations committee. took the
floor. His remark ks 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 avo
ed a canal for years, hut because he had
not been willing to proceed without in
formation and against fixed treaty law
he had been called hard names
Mr.. Cannon, discussing the language
of the bill. asked what was meant by
authorizing the president to obtain full
control over the land upon which the
canal was to be built. Did it mean the
purchase and ownership of miles OF
property owned by spectators both
American and N~icaraguan? With great
emphasis Mr.. Cannon declared that in
his judgment under the appropriation
the bill contained and its "artful lam
guage' it would be claimed that it gave
the the president full power not only to
pay Nicaragua and Costa Rica. but the
Maratime Canal Company and Euro
pean, American and Nicaraguan specu-
Iators-how much he would not tell.
1t might be five. ten or twenty-five
millions.
Mr.. Cannon denounced what he term
ed the undue haste of those who want
ed TO build this canal between o
and sunrise tomorrow" He said he
would like to see the protocol which ii
was said had been made with Nicara-
qua. Another thing he objected to was
the authorization the bill contained to
negotiate contracts for the whole work
In this connection he observed that the
opposition would blow its m long
and loud and perhaps not ineffectively
in the next campaign in favor of de
creasing the revenues. He himself, ir
he could have the power, would take off
every cent of the war tax. The pros
pect Of decreased revenue must he look