Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-01-10
In the House, Almost Unani.
mously--Only Two Votes
Against 1t.
ALL AMENDMENTS REJECTED.
During Debate, Preceding Final Vote,
Hepburn and Cannon Had Contro-
versy-some Features of the Meas.
ure-cost Fixed at s1so,ooo,ooo.

Washington, Jan. 10.--The Hepburn
Nicaragua Canal Bill passed the
House late yesterday afternoon by
practically a unanimous vote. Only
two members out of $40 voted against
it. Messrs. Fletcher (Rep.), MINES
ota, and Lassiter (Dem), Virginia,
were the two voting in the negative.
The opposition to committing the
government to the Nicaraguan route
attempted to secure amendments to
lodge with the President the discre-
tionary power to purchase and COM
plete the Panama canal, if it could
be purchased for S40,000,000. The
test came on the first vote, when the
advocates of an alternative route
polled 102 against ITO votes.
Strength Gradually Dwindled.
At each succeeding vote their
strength dwindled until Mr.. Cannon,
OF Illinois, under whose leadership
the fight was made, was unable to
get the ayes and noes on a motion
to recommit. All other amendments
failed, and the bill passed exactly a.
it 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 tax
ing of the final vote was made memo.
rable by clash between Mr., Hep
burn, the author of the bill, and Mr..
Cannon, chairman of the Appropri.
alton Committee. On several preyi-
GUS occasions they have measured
swords over canal legislation. Two
years ago a similar bill was passed
by vote of ga to SO.
Some Features of the Bill.
The bill as passed yesterday author
lied 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 be
longing to said states as may be de
siraDle and necessary on which to ex-
| eayaGe, construct and protect canal
suitable to the wants Of modern nav
igaLion and commerce, ana appropri-
ates such sum as may be neces.
sary to secure the control of said ter
ritory.
Section authorizes the President.
after securing control of the needed
| territory, To direct the Secretary of
| War to construct such canal from the
/ Caribbean Sea at a point near Grey
! town, in Nicaragua, by way Of LAKE
Nicaragua, to point on the Pacinc
! Ocean near Brito, and also to con
4 struct proper harbors at the termini
OF said canal, and to make necessary
provisions for the defense of th<scanal
and harbors.
President Can Order Surveys.
Sections 8 and A authorize the
| President to make such surveys as
may be necessary, and to employ
such persons IN constructing the cana
as may to him seem wise, and di
reefs that in the construction of tue
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.
S18o,ooo,ooo Total Cost.
The last section makes a present
appropriation of S10,000,000 to carry
on this work, and authorizes the Sec
rotary OF War to enter into proper
contracts for material and work as
may be deemed necessary therefor
such work and material to be paid
for as appropriations may be made
from time 10 time. The section fixes
( the aggregate cost at $3.50. 600 600 tC
be drawn from the treasury on war
rants on the President.