The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-13
REPORT FOR NICARAGUA
 s The Hepburn Bill Is En-
 dOTSed. SENATE COMMITTEE ACTS MT. Hanna's Plea for Delay
 Goes Unheeded. Senator Morgan Will Bring ths Measure Which Passed the Houss Before the Senate at To
 Days Session.
SENATE COMMITTEE ACTS

Washington, March 12.-The Senate Committee on Isthmian Canals has de-s cided by vote of to to report the Hepburn bill providing for the construc- ton of an isthmian canal via the Nicara- gnan route.
 The action of the committee was taken at a called meeting held during the after noon and came after brief report by Senator Morgan. chairman of the com mittee. detailing the result of confer ence with Secretary Hay as to the status of diplomatic negotiations with the Gen. tral American Republics concerning the canal. =
 He stated that the Secretary had told him that there are no negotiations in progress between the United States and Colombia concerning the Panama routes' and that the new minister from Colom- bia had not even presented his crcden- 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 prac- tically all the points to be covered in concession treaties. nothing really being
 
 agreements in writing.
 He said that the governments of those two countries had manifested disposi- ton to make all the concessions the United States could ask to aid in the construction of canal and that among these concessions Is one for perpetual right of way.
 Hanna Urges Delay.
 When the reading of the report had been completed Senator Hanna suggested that probably the Colombian minister had been detained by urtoward circumstances and proposed that action by the commit tee should be delayed until an oppor- tunity could be had to ascertain Colom- bias position.
 Senator Mitchell moved to report the Hepburn bill as it passed the House. Senator KittI edge moved to amend by postponing action until next Monday. but his motion was Iost-i to '. Senator MitchelFs motion was carried by the same vote reversed. Some of the members of the committee were absent but as their positions were understood. their votes were counted.
 The vote on the Hepburn bill stood:
 Yeas--Morgan. Mitchell. Hawley. Platt tN. Y.) Harris, Turner and Foster tLa.).
 Nays-Hanna. Pritchard, Willard and Kittredge.
 Senator Morgan, after the adjournment of the committee, said. that he would probably report the bill to the Senate to- morrow While he would use all due diIi- gence in securing consideration of the measure. he had had no conference with the Republican leaders of the Senate as to when the measure should be taken up for consideration.
 . He had not been authorized to present d written report and would not present any beyond submitting the testimony taken during the committee hearing.
 The Hepburn. bill authorizes the Presi- dent to acquire territory for right-of- way for a canal from Costa Rica and Nicaragua: directs the construction of & canal of sufficient capacity to accommo- date the largest ships from Greytown on the Atlantic via Lake Nicaragua to Bri- to, on the Pacific under the supervision of the Secretary of War; authorizes sur veys of the harbors at the two ends of the route; guarantees the use of the ca- nal to vessels of Costa Rica and Niea- ragua and appropriates sio.oOO.oOo for be- ginning the work.