The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
SUMTER S. G.. WEDNESDAY JANUARY IS 1902
NICARAGUA BILL CHOSEN.
Passed the House Thursday by
Nearly Unanimous Vote.

Washington, Jan: 9--'The Hepburn
Nicaragua canal bill passed the house
late this afternoon by practically a
unanimous vote. Only two members
out O. $40 voted against it. Messrs.
Fletcher, Republican of Minnesota,
and Lassiter, Democrat of Virginia,
we're the two voting in the negative.
The opposition to committing the
government to the Nicaragua route
attempted to secure amendments to
lodge with the president the discre-
stionary power to purchase and COM
.plete the Panama canal. if it could be
purchased for 40,0D, 900. The test
came with the first vote, when the ad-'
svocates of an alternative route polled
.102 against ITO votes. At each succeed
ing vote their strength dwind1ed until
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois, under whose
leadership the fight was made, was
unable to get the ayes and noes on q
motion to recommit. All other amend
ments failed and the bill passed exact
sly as it came from The committee.
None of the votes EXCEPT that on the
final passage of the bill was record
vote.
debate which preceded the tax
ing OF. the final vote was made memor-
able BY clash between Mr.-Hepburn,
the. author Of the bill, and Mr.. Can
non, chairman of the appropriations
committee. On several previous socca-
sions they have measured swords over
canal legislation. Two years ago a
similar bill was passed by vote OF
224 to 36. .z.s
The bill as passed today authorizes
the president to secnre from the
States Of Costa Rica and Nicaragua,
in behalf Of the United States, CON
sttrol Of such portion Of the territory
belonging to said States as may be
desirable and necessary on which
to excavate, construct and protect
canal suitable to the wants Of modern
navigation and commerce, and appro-
pirate such sum as may be necessary
to secure the control of said territory.
Section 2, authorized 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
sGreytown, in Nicaragua, by way OF
Lake Nicaragua, to point on the
Pacific ocean near Brito, and also to
construct proper harbors at the terml-
nal Of said canal, and to make neces-
sary provisions for the defense Of the
canal and harbors.
Sections 8 and authorize the
president to make such surveys as may
be necessary and to employ such per-
sons In constructing the canal as may
to him seem wise, and direct that in
the construction Of the canal the River
San Jaan and Lake Nicaragua shall
be used as far as they are available.
Section 5 autorizes the president to
guarantee to the States of Costa Rica
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 an approprla-
ton Of $40, ,000 to carry. on this work,
and authorizes the secretary of war to
enter into proper contracts for mate
rial and work as may be deemed neces-
sary, such work and material to be
paid for as appropriations may be
made from time to time. The section
fixes the aggregate cost at $50, ,0O0.-
600, to be drawn from the treasury
on warrants Of the president.