The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-26

officers quietly go around and rectify the
mistakes that have been made and do the
many things that have been left undone.
The annual cost Of maintaining this great
nursery of immature snoblings is, according
TO Admiral Porter, 'no greater than that Of
keeping a small guuboat in commission for
the same length of time The estimates for
the Academy for the current fiscal year were
S26S, ,37547; but in addition TO these there
are nearly ninety naval officers on duty there
at on average salary of S25OO per year each,
who are paid from the general appropriation
''pay of the navy" which puts another small
item of 1925, 600 upon the cost of maintain
ing this institution, making a snm total OF
nearly $500,000. Besides the naval officers
doing duty at the Academy, there are
twenty-five civilian assistant professors, etc,
making total of 1OG instructors. assistants,
etc, for a school comprising only 175
scholars, who each receives a salary of 5000
per year for being taught
The staff officer brings into tho service, at
his parents cost, his education, collegiate
and professional and is ready on the first day
TO begin work; while the naval cadet receives
both pay and credit for service during the
whole four years of his pupilage in this great
national charity school. The total cost of
finishing each one of these Annapolis bene-
fciaries as a midshipmsn has risen from
S17, 900 to $25, 900, and even this muniicent
outlay has failed to secure them an education
(Which is to actual nautical experience what
book agriculture is to farming), as has been
clearly demonstrated by the late cruise of the
Sabine.
1t is quite time that the country at large
should know something more of the internal
economy of this national institution than is
to be had from the specious reports of the
annual Board of Visitors that sort of packed
jury which is feasted and feted in doing its
holiday visit to Annapolis, and which pretends
to pronounce upon the soundness of the fruit
laid before it by merely looking at its shining
rind, brushed up and polished for the occa-
sion. Let Congress inform itself fully-frst,
upon the standard of admission into the aca-
deny; second, upon the extent and character
of the curriculum of studies pursued there;
third, upon the number and professional ac-
quirements and previous practical experience
of the naval officers employed as instructors;
fourth, upon the constitution and mode of
working of the Academic Board; fifth,
upon the cost of maintaining not only the
Academy proper, its grounds and append
ages, but the expense attending the ships
kept there in ordinary and there fitted out as
scholarships, and the total outlay of money
upon them while cruising as practice
squadron, and the pay not only of all the
officers and men OF the navy and marine
corps en- duty at the Academy aud on board
these ships, but of the civilians who are en-
ployed there as assistant instructors, clerks,
servants, watchmen, laborers, ETC., and the
salaries of the cadets themselves; and sixth,
upon the actual results of the system of in
struction as exemplifed in the graduates of
the institution; testimony on this point to be
taken not from interested parties, but from
old officers of distinguished reputation and
known independence, like Admlrals String
ham, Shubrick, and Stribling. If this inves-
legation be thoroughly and faithfully made,
we engage that the country will be startled
by developments at variance with what it has
been led to expect from the glowing rodo-
montades of the late Superintendent of the
Academy, Vice-Admiral D. d. Porter.