The New York herald., 1846-06-05

=. Crttenden graduated in 1888, Alexander p.
Critenden graduated in 1886 and VIM. l.. Crit
tenden graduated in lS45. This last one was put
back one year, and suspended one year besides.
Would such favor have been shown him if he
had not been the nephew of the Chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs of the United
States Senate!
The relatives Of political editors have Jared
well. / will give small specimen. Rufus King
graduated in 1888, is son of Charles King of New
York, who edited the New York AMERICAN,
paper in favor OF the administration who ap-
Judge, and nephew OF COL j. W. Webb, appeint-
ed in 1881 at time when Webb was Jackson
editor. Two sons of VIM. Denman, editor of the
New York Truth Teller; one was a graduate and
received commission. The other has been Just
appointed n lieutenant in the mounted rifle reg-
ment. gN Hl sc fr., ,sz.s
Many of the above cadets have been turned
back one year: BY the official register of the of
ficers and cadets for last June, thiry-one years
have been lost to the government by this system
of turning back, an amount of time almost suffi-
cient for the education of eight additional cadets.
What great amount Of time must have been
lost in this wayl e5lsss -
There ought to be an alphabetical list Of all the
appointments made since the establishment
OF this institution, giving the State where
born the State from which appointed, and the
State of which citizen, and also the name of the
father or guardian, and his place of residence, at
the time Of the appointment of his son or ward.
It would also be necessary to state whether the
pdIcIt VI SudIuidl was uu Ollce-nOl0cr under tie
general government.
| am satisfied that majority of the members Of
Congress and government officials, from the foun-
datlon OF government to the present time, have
had one or more relatives at the academy 81
There is considerable trickery used in the an
pointment Of cadets. Those who "know the
ropes" and live III districts in which there are
numerous applicants, often get appointed from
districts in other States, from which, for various
reasons, there are few or no applicants.
1t is common thing to find three appointments
given to a family, and still more common to find
two. ft9 I fa4gA5f3es ,t.E +4
The army Register ought to give the names OF
the cadets, as the Navy Register for 1876 does
those of the midshpmen, with the State where
born, &c., SC. tna .vessff rtss.as sst.o..
The cadet appointments ought to be published
by law iii the official papers at the time they are
made, with tile name and address of the father
or guardian This would tend greatly to prevent
abuses. Many OF these cadets, who have influence
at court, have resigned their appointments on
finding that they did not stand as high IN their
classes as they expected, and have obtained re-
appointment The government has lost great
deal in this way. No young man ought to be put
back in his studies, or receive a re-appointment,
after having resigned, unless for sickness, or
possess sufficient mental capacity to 90 through
the first hals of the course (much the most difficult
part) with credit, he ought to be dismissed and
make room for those who can. sEtGA
We now come to specimen Of the impartiality
practised by the "powers that be" in the appoint
| inents, under the influence Of the "familv com
| pnct'' system which obtains here. This is ONLY
| a microcosm when compared with the monster
rs il really is. als ra ...s...sss tf ses