The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-05
WEST POINT.
THE BOARD OF VISITORS GETTING TO WORK
WHAT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DO.
Tnp A

THE BOAkD OF VISITORS GETTING 10 WoNlA
WHAT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DO.
WEST PorNr, June 4, 1875.
To-day was another dun day on the post, ana
the Board Of Visitors had plenty OF time, broken
up as they nave been with committees, TO begin
their investigation INTO the WAYS ana doings or
the gentlemen wno by reason Of the tact that they
wear shoulder straps and being well backed M at
Washington, rule the roost here with an IRON
hand. Heretofore Investigations by boards or
visitors have been mere iormallties but II Is I'M
derstood that the present Board intend TO make q
thorough examination into
TIE AFFAIRS OF THE ACADEMY.
or course nobody expecrs, however thorough the
examination may be- that anything so startling
as an irreg ularlty VIII be brought 10 light; but
There are those VINO think that great cnange Tor
the better might easily be made in the manage
meut OF many OF the details that 90 to make up
what is known as West Point policy General
Butler, who is a member Of the Board, and who
never does things by halves. might possibly, with
his usual keenness nnd out before the season IS
over material enough 10 make the report
Or the Board TINS year something more
tnan mere gltterng generality. Mr..
Thomas j. Dreamer happens 10 De ne onty
democratic member OF the Board now at the posi-,
anu II IS teasonAule 10 suppose that lie VIII not
All ow the usual courtesies extended 10 strangers
VINO come mere olncally once year To bind MN
70 auy abuses that may De Iouua TO exist. Ine
present Board Is remarkably strong one,
although there Is only one West Point grudu IN
It.; ana, II history tells the story truly he gradu-
ated over lorty Years ago. TINS member IS Gen.
eral Jacob Ammen, OF Maryland. Inousn one Of
TIE Oldest living graduates and Is WEI toward his
three score years and ten, ne u AS active rs
THE YOUNGEST MEMBER
lie has not been at the post in tmrty-two years,
and yet ne seems 10 thoroughly understand All
the modern exeeAenees Of West font-what y
lacking to MAKE 1t better. Another o. the Beard
Is General Baker OI Iowa, ~ eX-olheef Of inc
army, VINO did good serVlcs during tins war; ana
Admiral Rowan Is another, whose extensive eA-
perience IN the navy al the statement IS not para
dONlc1D WI Ue VI great value to the Otncr nrein-
ners OF tie Board when the report Is made con-
cernlng the condition or the n4seenJ army ut
West Point. Judging from present indications
anu rom the way tue Board has already begun It's
duties, no one viii have reason o complain mat
jOyug themselves at the pubnc expense, wlhouG
giving the government any return Tor BOARD bills.
The secretary Oh War, General BelKnap. is mere
to-day. win his wife and amlly. and although
suffering nom bad colo seems 10 DC TINS year
eyeu III better West Point mood tnan heretofore,
wnle may DC accounted Tor by the iact that he
has Wit him = Dlignt-eyeu boy paDy, wac, though
yet NOT thoroughly Initiated INTO UptOE's
tactics, has already become quite "A iaVorlte with
tue ofllcers ul tile pest. Ii 1, not yet decided
whether the secretary viii deliver the usual ad-
dress 10 :ne graduates, Tut IS on tue i'm INST,
when tac West POINTERS VINO fought IN the late war
against The Union are 10 come mere ana shake
hands vita tnelr old comrades who fought on the
and before tine lestytles OF the occasion Gie over
PROBABLY every MEMBER OF the Board Will nave
had his ful say ABOUT the late unpleaSantness,"
wny 1t should never nave occurred. and why, nav
ing occurred, 1t should be forgotten.
The examination OF the second class In philoso-
ply was completed to-day AUD part OF the nrss
class and the third this evening gave pontoon
exhibition drlu.