The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-01
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81, 1877.


TThc Night Before New Years.
Watch meetings are being held tonight in the
Methods { churches and by some OF the temperance
associate MS while scores OF jOval companies are
seeing the old year out and the new year in with
bacchanan an honOrs.. Every decent.l0oking car.
rtage IN the city has been hired by those who are
going the rand rounds Of the receptions to-mor-
row, and the ladies' have made unusual prepara-
tions to receive visitors. The foreign dplomates
having Il ier Court suits brushed up and their
swords cleaned, whilethe officers Of our army and
navy ALSO getting ready to sport their full dress
uniforms.
The Secretaries Of War and Navy Bo.
fore the Appropriation Committee-The
Cadet Quea ton.
The Secretaries Of War and Of the Navy were to.
day before the Appropriation Committee to give
their views concerning the proposed reduction OF
graduates In West Point and Annap0lis on &C.
count Of the prospective increase Of cadetships
from the additional forty-nins Congressional
districts which will be- represented In the
next House. General Belknap, a. stated
IN yesterdays HERALD despatci opposed any
such reduction, asserting that employment could
be found for an additional number Of officers from
West Point. He made the startling statenene that
from forty 1ry oncers are killed annually by the
Indians on the frontier. There Is not sufficient
supply OF Onlcers from the additional reasons that
| many graduates from West Point DO not enter
| the army at all, but follow professional
pursuits in civil life in preference to the military
career, and that out OF ninety cadets who enter
West Point upon an average only about half that
| number graduate; the other half fall through.
Hence, said General Belknap, he was op-
posed to any reduction OF graduates by
lengthening the term Of study, as the army needed
larger supply Of officers than ut present obtained
| from West Point. He added that the Academy has.
| since the appointment OF Colonel Ruger as COM
mandant, attained q higher degree OF efficiency
| than 1t ever did before. The class that
| will graduate next year.. called the Centennial
class, would probably turn out moro Officers than
any class in preceding years. The Secretary OF the
Navy gave at length his views to the COM
| mittee. He was in favor OF q reduction
Of the number Of graduates from Annapo-
| lis by increase Of the term OF study from
| four to ak years. The reduction, however, would
| be much smaller than ID seems, because q larger
| number Of cadets would DO able to graduate after
six years. preparation than after four years. The
Appropriation Committee Is in favor of
the term OF study In Annapolis to six years. and
has embodied this plan into the Naval bill, which
Is In charge Of Mr.. Hale, from Maine. There
is no doubt that it will meet with the
approval Of Congress but the proposed
prolongation OF the term OF study would
not apply to those cadets who are not at present
at the Naval Academy, because that would seem
like bad faith towards them. Its application would
commence On those who enter the Naval Academy
next Summer.
Attempt to Release the Murderer OF
| Rogerski.
Five coiored roughs, all familiar characters to
the police and detective force, yesterday afternoon
appeared at the front entrance to the Jail and de
msnded atmittancc to the cell Of Tom Wright, the
murderer OF Rogerski. Having been ordered away
by the guards. they replied with defiant oaths and
threats, one Of the party drawing . razor and
another . dirk knife. They were finally driven
from the premises. TWO Of them were subse
quently arrested after severe struggle in which
Sergeant Johnson's right hand was badly injured.
| The other three will doubtless be captured. The
object Of the roughs was the release Of Wright