The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-25
West Point.

tary LINCOLN, thus showing that the subject
did not absorb an undue amount of the time
and energies Of the Board. But the docu-
| ment is remarkable less for what 1t contains
| than for what it ignores. Last years Board
OF Visitors raised several novel objections to
the conduct Of affairs at the Academy, some
Of them OF fundamental Importance. Per-
haps 1t Is natural that new Board should
seek to keep out of the ruts of its immediate
predecessor; still, the points discussed in
last years report were striking enough to
receive more notice than they get in the
present one.
The present Board expresses q great and
| no doubt well-grounded satisfaction with the
discipline, drill, order, cleanliness, and police
| administration OF the Academy, with the
mode OF examining candidates, and with the
| whole course Of instruction. 1t makes vari-
Gus recommendations the erection of a new
chapel for religious and graduation exercises,
to cost $4,000; an addition to the hotel, to
cost 81, 200; a new building for the philo-
sophical department, and new equipments
and tools for military engineering and sig
mailing; better floors for the cadet barracks
and engineer barracks, and drainage and re-
fitting for the band barracks; an appropria-
IlOu VI pSZ,oOf iOI tut utN uOSpiltil, ouc
| Of 81, 500 for a vault in which to keep Academy
records and papers; new brick cavalry bar
racks, to cost Sl2,5O0; swimming bath.
where swimming can be taught to cost 900
and many more" bath rooms for the cadets;
an appropriation Of $4,000 for fitting up quar-
tiers for bachelor officers; finally, an increase
OF the salary of the first assistant instructor
in ordnance and gunnery, and money for
Gen. HOWARD to expend in entertaining
Thus that portion Of its functions which
consists in being the medium for presenting
the demands OF the Academy for new ex-
penditures seems to have been performed
very thoroughly by this Board OF Visitors
Its other suggestions are meagre. 1t asks
the Academic Board to consider chow far it
may not be wise to find place for course Of
history, II not political economy, as Of prime
Importance to a more extended culture" and
1t also suggests lectures on hygiene, which
would probably be more practically useful
than those on political economy. But the
fundamental questions lately raised in regard
TO the Academy 1t wholly ignores.
Last years Board, for example, reported
that the very Superintendent OF the school
himself was holding his place in violation Of
the laws Of the land Even the cautious
majority employed the following language:
| "The Revised Statutes sections !, Slo 1914 1884,
provide that the Supe OF the Military Academy
shall have the rank OF Colonel OF Engineers In fact
however, the command at West Point constitutes mill
tary department, of which the Military Academy is q
portion, and the commanding General is the superin.
tendent of the Academy. We are not aware that the
law above quoted has been repealed but do nnd
| 1t enforced"
The minority, consisting OF Gen. d. G.
BUELL. and Messrs. HAsCALL and LEDYARD,
considered that this bold violation Of law de-
served still stronger condemnation:
| THE Academy ought to rest a foundation OF public
confidence which will make IL at no time unwise TO dis
cuss question Affecting Its healthy condition.
In 1866 the supervision of the Academy taken from
the Corps OF Engineers and the supernendency opened
to the army at large The result has not JUSTIFIED the
change. There has been virtually no supervisory
and restraining or governing authority outside So far
as responsibility Is concerned tho Academy has been
thrown into the category of general military commands
amenable only 10 the check OF ordinary inspection
and the operation of disointed DECISIONS and
from that intimate scrutiny and control which Its
| lar mission requires. The commander. or Su.
perintendent will naturally desire to surround himself
with relatives and personal favortes in star positions
That such not unknown to the cannot lie
denied but neither 1t be commended and 1t may be
allowable to question whether is advisable to announce
In this practical manner to the young who be-
ing educated for the public service, that the obig
OF public duty suggest objections to this intimate
| mingng Of family and official relation"
On this fundamental subject the present
Board is absolutely dumb. And even when
1t urges the need Of new quarters, it ignores
the following fact mentioned in the majority
report of its predecessor:
Tho Assistant Adjutant General of the military de-
pnrtmsnt does not belong to the Military Academy or.
ganzaton, and is in way essential to IT, This officer
occupies quarters required by the academic officers
there being not enough quarters for the proper
mediation of the academic staG OH duty there"
Last years Board attacked In the strongest
terms the violations of law prevailing in the
fiscal system OF the Academy. 1t found that
several buildings had been erected out Of the
proceeds of fund raised by charging the
cadets for their clothing more than it costs y
and for this there was no law or propriety,
said the Board, since the statute expressly
requires both the clothing and the mess pro-
visions to be delivered Mt actual cost Again,
they found that clerk who was paid $500 q
year and his quarters by Congress was al
lowed $500 moro from this illegal fund. The
cadet laundry fund had been raised by the
same process, and the printing fund had also
been accumulated by charging more than
cost Tor work Tho surplus balances OF the
various funds amounted year ago, tC
little less than $4,000, all of which is the
result of the percentage system"
The authorities concerned in these viola.
lions Of law seem to have busted themselves
to procure defence at the hands of the
present Board, and have succeeded. Its report
commends the quartermaster, subsistence
and laundry funds, MS "eminently wise and
proper" and calls attention to the undoubt,
eddy low price at which clothing and food
are furnished, as II that fact disposed Of the
question whether the law is violated. AS tC
the buildings, 1t uses this language:
1.-THE Board does not fully understand how the funt
originally accrued out Of which the buildings referred t.
wero erected but is informed that It probably had
origin In the sale OF hoop poles and other mbers from
the West Point reservation"
In short. this report originates little that Ii