Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-04-13
Gen. Garfeld on Cndetshins.

| In the House, on the 24th uIt., a
resolution, reported by the Commit
tee on Military Affairs, requesting the
Secretary of the Interior to remove
General SehOepf from the position of
examiner of patents, for 'ilending
himself as medium through which
money should pass for improper pur-
poses" being under consideration,
Gen. Garfield said
Mr.. Speaker, do not desire to pro-
long this discussion, except to say
that I have never, since I have been
in this House, heard a statement
which has more surprised me than
the statements of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, Mr.. Kelley and the
| gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. May
nard. am now beginning my eight
year in Congress, and never, until q
few weeks before this Investigation
began, when saw an advertisement
in newspaper fer eadetship, which
| had cut ont, intending to make it
the subject of a resolution of inquiry
to be brought before the HOnse. when
[ was anticipated by another MEM
ber-never, until that time, had il
come to my ears that such a practice
ever existed or been anywhere con-.
templated. And do not understand
how it is possible for a member of this
House to hold such information in
his possession, and not feel himself
hound at once to deliver il to the
House, and to call for an investiga-
ton.
But I rose chiefly for another pur-
pose, and that was to say in.this con-
neetion. that / think, Mr.. Speaker,
this House will not have done itsduty
if it do not Immediately, or as soon as
practicable, reform this whole busi-
ness of appointing cadets to our two
Academies. We ought to have, in
addition to what was done this morn
ing, an arrangement, and I think it
is perfectly feasible to make such an
arrangement, that all appointments
shall be made as the result of district
competitive examinations, at which.
all boys resident in the district, of
proper age, shall have an opportunity
TO compete for a cadetship.
Now, if the House will indulge me
for a minute longer, will give my
own experience in this matter. Ny
predecessor in this House, Hon. John
Hutehins. instituted-and refer to
it the more freely because / did not
originate Tiny predecessor, say,
introduced the principle of eOmpeti-
tive examination in the district which
represent. Ihave followed it during
the time / have been a Representa-
tive, and ] desire to give the House in
word the result of that experience.
In the first year, when l came to
this House, it happened that there
were two cadets to be appointed, one
at the Military Academy, and one at
the Naval Academy. Five gentle
men, representing each of the coun-
ties in the district which / represent,
consented to act as examiners, and
meet at a central place in the district.
Printed notices were posted up in ev-
cry pOst-Office, and publication was
made in every newspaper in the dis
tTict, that on given day all boys
within the prescribed ages, who de-
sired to 90 to either of the Academies,
might present themselves for eXami-
nation. The result was that there
were thirty-seven boys examined.
Mr.. Morgan. / regret to interrupt
nv colleague, but L must call him to
order. He is not speaking to the res
Olution before the House.
Mr.. Garfield. Allow me moment
longer, and / shall have done. / say
that thirty-seven boys were examined,
and the best two were selected; and
those two boys achieved each the
highest official distinction in the Mil
itary and Naval Academies, when
they graduated last fall, and no one o.
the cadets who have been appointed
from my district, since / have been a
of the House, has fallen be-
low the first third in his class, and
mU(A less has one been rejected. /
know of several other districts where
4 similar custom has prevailed, with
similar good results in every case, so
far as I know.
1t is said that not thiTty-four per
eent. of the boys who go to West Point
ever graduate. They fail for various
reasons, simply because they are
picked up as mere Representatives of
political favOritism.
Now, 1 believe we shall not have
lone our duty unless we go to the
bottom of this matter, and place all
he appointments to these Academies
IN similar ground. Now, one word
n regard to Gen. SehOepf. He was
banked by the Legislature of Ken
ucky for his military services in that
State. His record was honorable in
he war. Still that does not cover the
ase now before the House. But 1 de
ire to ask the House one question be
ore sit down. When we have de-
ermined that the principal actor III
his business shall continue to be q
member of this body, what say you to
urning to an aeeOmpliee, and saying
hat ne is unfit to be employed in an
department of this Govern
nent?