National Republican., 1883-11-23
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
Facts Set Forth in the Annual Report OF
the Superintendent.


the Superintendent.
The superintendent of the naval academy
at Annapolis, in his annual report, states that
new course Of instruction for naval cadets
was adopted by the academic board in April
last and approved by the department, but was
not put fully into operation until the first of
October. Under this system the number of
studies pursued during the four years course
Is the same as in 1SS1-'s2, except dropping out
theoretical naval architecture (which was an
elective study, but tho studies have been SO
arranged as to reduce the number to be pur-
sued during any one year.
1t is believed that the change will be
beneficial to the cadets. Supt. Ramsay states
that ten cadets of tho third class [seven of
whom were dismissed and three otherwise
punished) were found guilty in September
last, by court martial, of hazing cadets of
the fourth class, on board the Constellation,
during the summer cruise. Necessary re-
pairs have been made to tho public buildings
as far as practicable, during the year. The
walls of the superintendent's quarters have
been rebuilt and rooted in the armory building
has been completed, &c. The uniform of tho
cadets, which has heretofore been made by
contract, is now all made at tho academy.
Besides reduction in price, uniformity in
cut, fit, color, and quality is obtained. Ninety
four candidates for admission appeared in
May last and 120 in September. One declined
appointment, five withdrew, one was refused
examination for bearing O bad moral character,
sixty-nine failed to pass the mental examina-
tion, and thirty-there were found physically
deficient. The physical defects of ten were
waived by tho department. One hundred
and fifteen were admitted. The great ad-
vantage gained by those cadets of the
fourth class who entered in time for
the summer cruise leads Capt. Ram
say TO recommend that all candidates be
directed to report for examination on the
eleventh of May in each year. He also
recommends that members of congress be
notified as soon as vacancies occur and of
vacancies to occur in order that selections for
appointment may be made in time to prepare
for examination. He thinks it would be
| beneficial to the navy and to the cadets if the
| law Of Aug 8, 1882, should be SO modified that
the selection of cadets to FIJI vacancies in the
lower grades of the line, engineer, corps, and
marine corps shall be made upon the compile
tion of the four years course instead of upon
the completion of the six years course
The change would send to sea in tho crus-
| ing ships only cadets to be retained in the
service and would give the navy more efii-
cient corps of junior officers. Attention is
called to the disparity of pay of those final
graduates, who, after completing tho six years
course, are assigned to the lower grades of tho
line and engineer corps and marine corps
When at sea an ensign receives $1,000 per
annum; and assistant engineer, LOO per
annum. and second lieutenant of the marine
corps, 81 400. An examination of the navy
register will show that, ut tho present rate of
promotion, it will be at least fifteen years be-
fore the senior graduate assigned TO the line
can receive the samo rate of pay as once was
at once received by those members of his
class who were assigned to the engineer corps
and the marine corps.