Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-10
HOUSE ON RECORD
As to Where the American 18TH
mian Canal Ought To Be
Constructed.
NICARAGUA ROUTE IS SELECTED
BY Final Vote of 3OS to 2-Some.
thing Further About the Car
negie Institution,

Washington, Jan. 1O.-The Hepburn
Nicaraguan canal bill passed the house
late yesterday afternoon by practically
| q unanimous vote. Only two members
out of 80 voted against it. Fletcher
(RepD of Minnesota and Lassiter
(Dem.) of Virginia were the two vOt-
ing in the negative. The opposition
to committing the government TO the
Nicaraguan route attempted to secure
amendments to lodge with the presl-
dent the discretionary power to pur-
chase and complete the Panama canal,
if il could be purchased for $4O,OOO,O0O.
The test came on the first vote, when
the advocates of an alternative route
polled 1O2 against ITO votes. At each
succeeding vote their strength dwin-
died until Cannon of Illinois, under
whose leadership the fight was made,
was unable to get the ayes and noes
on Il motion to recommit. All other
amendments failed, and the bill passed
exactly as il came from the commit
tee. None OF the votes except that on
the final passage Of the bll was rec
ord vote.
Cannon and Hepburn Exchange Sho.s.
The debate which preceded the TAX
ing OF the nnal vote was made MEM
Orable by clash between Hepburn,
the author of the bill, and Cannon,
chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee. On several previous occasions
they have measured swords over canal
legislation. Cannon was for delay and
a full knowledge of the Panama canal
situation. and declared the houses ac-
ton was being taken with undue
haste. He reprOached Hepburn for
not having his Hepburn's) speech
printed so that his opponents could re-
ply TO it, to winch Hepburn replied by
Offering to send the speech over to Can
non. During one of the exchanges be-
tween them CannOn's retOrt was that
IF the gentleman We're as ready at
giving Information as he is flip of
tongue he would be the better legis-
lator,'' When Hepbuhi closed the de-
bate he got even.'
Synopsis of the Measure.
Two years ago Il similar bill was
passed by Il vote of 224 to 81. The
bill as passed yesterday authorizes 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
necessary in which to construct n ca
nal suitable TO the wants of modern
navigation and commerce. and apprO-
PIRATES such a sum as may he neces-
sary TO secure the control OF said terri
tory. Section authorizes the presi-
dent after securing control of the
needed territory, to direct the secre-
tary of war to construct such canal
and proper harbOrs at it's terminii. and
to make necessary provisions for the
defense of the canal and harbOrs.
Sections 3 and 4 only elaborate Section
2. Section authorizes the president
to guarantee to the states of Costa
Rica and Nicaragua the use of the ca
nal and harbors. upon terms to be
agreed upon, and the last section
makes n present appropriation of $1O,-
100000 to carry on the work. the ag-
gregate cost being fixed at $1SO,OOO.0O0,
to be drawn from the treasury on war
rants of the president.