Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-17


THE EAZlNG NAVAL CADETS.
The President COmmutes Their SEN.
tences. Allowing Them to Remain
i'm the Service.
In the cases of the naval cadets who were re-
Gently tried by court martial at Annapolis for
hazing, found guilty, and sentenced to dismissal
the President has modified and commuted the
sentences to Confinement for thirty days and
deprivation Of one-h half OF the annual leave. The
cadets were Wiley s. Embrey, Geo. Richards
ChaS. W. Lyle, Richard Leigh, g. II. Shepard
Arthur l. Willard, Bernard Ii. Camden, Bion b.
Bierer and Timothy +. Maurin.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF SECRETARY WHITNEY.
Secretary Whitney reported to the President
upon these cases at some length. He said "These
cases Judged as hazing has heretofore been con-
one cnew toilet paper or perform the 'Jackass
tr,eS; ,aSao, ana things a,o, Oh that character,
or oree II No Doubt % m 9b Uq6a
custom to which each class has been heretofore in
turn subjected The thorough manner In which
the o1ense OF hazing has been taken hold or and
prosecuted at the Academy proper has, l am In
formed, caused its disappearance but this dealing
with each other on shipooard has continued. II
and 1t Will, 1 have no doubt, cause It's
disappearance on shipboard. Tue Department
deems, however, that some other punishment than
dismissal would be adequate as punishment for
these cases this year and SUFFICIENT TO prevent a
recurrence OF the difficulty. i am informed that
the suppOsition at the Academy has been that
the court-martial boards have no other
alternative In these cases, but TO either re-
commend dismissal or 10 drop the matter OF pun
ishment, and make no Recommendation on the
subject. / recommend tnat the sentences In all
or the cases be modlfied and that the officers OF
the Academy be reQuIred~t0 place In confinement,
upon the Santee, ali OF these convicted cadets for
thirty days, and that they be deprived OF one-haf
o. their annual leave. This should not be prece-
dent In future cases, full notice having been thus
ba nj vCf fbor
As hazing under the law"
THE PRESIDENTS POWER IN TIE PREMISES
The question having arisen as TO whether or not
the President could commute or pardon in these
cases. the matter was referred to Acting Attorney
General jerks who replied:
"Tne offenses charged III these cases are within
the power OF the President TO pardon or commute.
The law contemplates four stages In the proceed
1ngS-the nndlngs the recommendation, the ap-
proval, and the dismissal Until ala these steps
are taken the cadets are not out OF the Academy.
In these cases the dismissal, which Is the last step
mated pardon will relieve the offenders from
an punishment; eommutation Will leave them
In tine Academy, subject 10 such punishment as
may be prescribed therein"
THE PRESIDENT ON RAzrNG.
The President, in his order OF Communication,
said: "The ofense OF which the accused have
been convicted is an unmanly and cowardly one,
which for all reasons deserves the severest con-
demnation. Any cadet who hopes TO achieve an
that not only knowledge but gentlemanly be-
haviOr is necessary 10 his success, ought to feel
that he disgraces himself by the Unfair aud bully
Ing conduct which always characteriZes hazing.
The excuse sometimes suggested that those who
haze new cadets were themselves subjected TO the
same treatment upon their entrance TO the SER
vice is a foolish and unworthy plea, which ought
not TO be 1oT a moment regarded. The Congress
has shown its condemnation VI this Onense by the
enactnent OF law expressly Furnishing Its
commission by dismissal IRON the SERVICE and
preventing reinstatement as far as q law OF Con-
gress can do so. And while the constitutional
power OF the Executive TO pardon the oneuse or
commute the punishment still renains 1t Is mani
tnat its exercise is opposed TO the policy OF
law and should as general rule be withheld.
These considerations, and the further one that
am In entire sympathy with the purpose of the act
and entirely willing 10 AID In any manner the pre-
venti0n OF the practice or haZing, has made IL
ceedingly diffcult for me to CONSIDER the applca-
tions Tor clenency which have been addressed to
have not uone 50 without consultation with those
IN charge OF the Naval Academy, who, while de-
termined 10 suppress occurrences or this nature,
evtnce u generous consideration Tor the accused.
II appears that, Notwithstanding the law upon the
subject and the efforts made 10 suppress and pun
isn this onense, 1t has continued 70 quite an ex-
tent that perhaps its frequency with the knowl-
edge OF the cadets has oDscured It's serious nature
and consequences The proceedings which re-
suited In these convictions are by far the most
determined efforts which have been made to en-
force the law and prevent the commission OF the
onense which II denounces. The convicted cadets,
all or most OF them, stand well In their class and
bid fair, II given an opportunity TO complete their
course, 70 he useful W the service. The specinc
charges OF which they have been convicted though
bad enough and entirely inexcusable, do not In
voive any brutality or extreme violence. The
| consequences OF the punishment recommended
are lasting disgrace and the ruin OF honorable
careers am led 70 hope that II leniency Is shown
an these cases the punishment which the offenders
WILL still suffer. though less than dismissal, WILL
| their fellow cadets
| have, therefore, determined to modify and
| commute the sentence OF dismissal recommended
Il ga HS<< ned fpyf ba
oncers OF the Naval Academy 10 place each oI
| these convicted cadets In confinement upon the
Santee ior thirty days, and that they eacn be de-
priveo OF one-half OF their annual leave. In rull
iarness ana justice 10 all naval cadets, desire II
70 De oistinesy understood that the clemency
grained In these cases Il not to be considered 1
precedent Tor future Executive interference; that
| u u the purpose OF ali charged with duly In the
premises 70 suppress the practice OF haxtnGs that
Out sugnt interference with another cadet constt-
tutes the onenaes and tnat tue severest sentence
executed (3Rovnp t.ruver Avn