Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-13
Nsbraskan, Hanna, Kittredge and u. hard
Form the Minority. H..
MEASURE RETAINS ITS HOUSE cHARAcTt,
Bill Nay Be introduced in Senate Today by
Morgan.
ACTION RESULT OF CONFERENCE WITH HAY
Based on Unrestricted status of
Diplomatic Negotiations with Cen-
traI American Republic as
TO Panama OHer.

WASHINGTON. March 12.-The senate
committee on isthmian canals has decided,
By q vote Of to 4, 10 report the Hepburn
bill, providing for the construction Of an
isthmian canal via the Nicaraguan route.
The action Of the committee was taken
ct q called meeting In the afternoon and
came after a brief report bv Senator Nor
gan, chairman Of the committee, detailing
the result Of a conference with Secretary
Hay as to the status OF diplomatic negotia-
tons with the Central 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
route and that the new minister from Co
lombla had not even presented his creden-
tials, but that on the other hand, the rep
resentatives Of this country and those Of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica had been in con-
sultation and had agreed upon practically
all the points to be covered In concession
treaties, nothing really being left In that
connection but to put the agreements In
writing.
Agree 10 Concessions.
He said the governments Of those two
countries had manifested q disposition to
make all the concessions the United States
could ask to aid In the construction Of q
canal and that among these concessions
is one for perpetual right Of way.
When the recitation Of the report had
been completed Senator Hanna suggested
that probably the Colombian minister had
been detained by untoward circumstances
and proposed that action by the committee
should be delayed until an opportunity
could be had to ascertain Colombia's po-
hition.
This suggestion brought a strong protest
from the friends Of the Nicaragua route,
and Senator Mitchell moved to report the
Hepburn bill as It passed the house. Mr..
Kittredge moved to amend by postponing
action to next Monday, voted down, to Z.
Senator Mitchells motion was carried. by
the same vote reversed. Some Of the mem
bers OF the committee were absent, but
. a ;hair Rpsitiaas SsNnss qunAsrstood their
votes were counted.
Mtllard Votes an Negative.
The vote for the Hepburn bill Stood
Yeas--Morgan. Mitchell, Hawley. Platt Of
New York. Harris, Turner. Foster of Louisi-
ana.
Nays-Hanna, Pritchard, Millard, Kilt
redge.
Senator Morgan, after the adjournment oi
report the bill to the senate tomorrow
While he would use all due diligence in
occurring consideration of the measure, he
had had no conference with the republican
leaders OF the senate as to when the meas
are should be taken up for consideration.
He had not been authorized to present q
written report and would not present any
beyond substituting the testimony taker
during the committee hearings.
The Hepburn bill authorizes the president
10 acquire territory for right-of-way fol
q canal from Costa Rica and Nicaragua
directs the construction OF a canal OF sum
Client capacity to accommodate the larges
ships from Greytown on the Atlantic Wis
Lake Nicaragua to Brito on the Pacific, un
der the supervision Of the secretary Of war
authorizes surveys Of the haroors at the TIVE
ends Of the route. guarantees the use OF thu
canal to vessels OF Costa Rica and Nicara'
qua, and appropriAtes s1o,oOO.ooo for begin
ning the work.