National Republican., 1883-06-18

majority Of the corps by the recent act of
congress, which provides for only small
portion Of each class TO be hereafter received
into tho naval service, have combined to dis
turb the minds of the cadets, and restless |
feeling seems to have existed, which prepared |
them for those exhibitions Of temporary in |
subordination, which occurred in the early |
part Of tho year.
As TO the changes recently made at tho |
academy, those coming to our notice, and
especially tho two before mentioned, are we
submit, in the right direction and when
they shall have been maintained long enough
to pass through the transition period-which is
ever ono of some disturbance-the effects will
be beneficial to the service. In no instance
have we found any one to complain Of tho
discipline as oppressive, though some have
thought IL too lax.
The course of the superintendent seems to
us TO have been characterized by sense of
Justice, and untirng efforts in overy direction
to promote the interests and improve tho
character of the academy.
While bearing witness to tho zeal and
fidelity Of all tho authorities connected with
the academy, there are two changes In tho
maintenance of discipline, which, we sub
nit the interests Of the service require.
BY tho regulations of the naval aca lcmy
of Jan. l, 1876 paragraph 100, cadets we've de-
cared liable TO bo tried by court martial.
But an opinion was given by the attorney
BeneThl July ~, 400, 10 inc tUtCl NnuJ
while the cadet nc West Point was liable
to court martial" the cadet st Annapolis
was not liable except for the oiionse known
as "hazing," and since then no courts save
for this oflense, have been instituted for the
trial Of cadets at tho naval academy, and
punishments for oflenses committed have
been given by the order of the superintend-
ent or that Of the secretary Of tho navy.
To assist him in determining the guilt of
an accused the superintendent has convened
boards of officers and has taken his action on,
or after, their report. These boards have
neither the power or character of courts
They keep no record of their Investigations,
but merely report their finding and opinion.
Section 1924, Revised Statutes says: "The
navy of the United States shall be governed
by tho following articles" The articles of
war of tho navy providing for courts mar
tial and courts of inquiry for the trial of
military ofenses."
Tho ruling of tho department of justice to
the effect that naval cadets are not subject to
these articles, and consequently not in the
navy, will be a surprise to many persons who
thought that the naval cadet belongs to and
forms part Of the navy, and equally with the
army cadet had all the rights and safeguards
which the military law provides for the ad-
ministration of discipline.
The otlense of "hazing," owing to an
act of congress ISL alone, according TO the
opinion of the attorney general, triablo by
court martial, while gross and sometimes n
brutal one is, by no means, of the Same grav-
ity rs oifenses to be punished by the order of
the superintendent, or that of the secretary
of the navy.
And if it is necessary-and congress de-
clares IL is-that before condemning cadet
for hazing a trial Ishall be had before
competent court, it is certainly so, we sub
NIT, for such acts as not only unfit the
accused for honorable life in the navy, but
blast his character as a man and a citizen.
Falsehood, fraud, slander, and obscenity
are ofienses for which the naval cadet can be,
now, dismissed by tho secretary of the navy
without trial.
The other charge Is one within the power
of the Navy department to make, if, indeed,
| in many cases IL Is not within that of the su-
perintendent of the academy.
This change is that in any question Of an
alleged ofiense against the regulations tho
cadet shall not be called on TO criminate or
exculpate himself, but his guilt or innocence
shall be determined by others, or by his own
| voluntary admission; and whore an oiiense is
| supposed to bo committed IL shall not be
fastened on any one by calling up all who
may be supposed to have committed it, and
requiring them to certify on honor they are
not guilty, and thus, by elimination, detect
| those who are so.
We witnessed the exercises of tho cadets at
infantry and artillery drill, dress prradc,
gymnastics, in the steam engine room and on
board ship as seamen and artillerists, and in
all found their skill and knowledge entirely
satisfactory.
The administration and police is all that
can be desired
We recommend that the act of August,
1882 be amended as q similar act in relation
to cadets at West Point has been, SO as not to
include those cadets who had entered tho SER
vice before the passage of said act
After us careful an investigation as we
could make in the absence of oral exanina.
tion in all departments, except that of modern
language, we are entirely satisfied with tho
manner in which the studies are arranged
| and conducted.
We conferred with many of tho professors
and heads of departments and feel convinced
that in view of the nature and scope of tho
| school the course is compact, thorough, and
| adapted TO its end.
We feel called on to propose no change other
than that embodied in this report ON the
standard Of scholarship, and desire TO bestow
| the heartiest Commendation on all that we
have seen.
The board commend the economical admin
| istration of the financial affairs of the acad-
emy, and approve the present system Of pur-
chasing supplies by which large annual saw
| ing is made.
The library was found to be in most excel
| lent condition. 1t now consists of about
twenty-five thousand volumes of professional
scientific, and historical works, and the aver.
age yearly increase is about seven hundred
| volumes.
We recommend that the usual annual ap,
preparation for the purchase of books be con.
tinued.
The board have considered with some care
the question of scholarship in the academy,
and 1t is the unanimous opinion of tho Nom
bers that the standard is not too high. Thoy
find that the heads of the department have
been faithful and conscientious in their work
and the results satisfactory.
She recommended that the choice of the
branch Of service to be entered no made by
each cadet subject TO the decision of the
academy board at the end of the third year,
instead of tho sixth, as provided for by the
present law.
They also recommended that tho fourth
year be devoted to technical studies adapted
to their special courses, and at the end of the
fourth year those for whom there are no va.
cancies shall receive the customary diploma
and be discharged from the service.
In conclusion, we commend tho naval
academy TO your favorable consideration, and
We solicit for ii the liberal support of the
congress OF the United States,
Very respectfully, your obedient servants
j, Q, Howell, rear admiral; +. q. Lapham,
United States senate; Samuel A. Green,
Massachusetts,; George |. Richie, Pennsylva-
mia Edward V. Kinsley, New York john
w. Dinsmore Illinois, Thomas Updegrah,
Iowa; Aanson c. McCook, Now York Irwin
Mcdowell, major general, u. $. A.. X. q
Mills, Texas, and the Hon. William Il. Chand-
Ter, secretary of the navy.