Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-06-28

Secretary of the Navy
WAsHTSGToS, June q. The Eecretarv
OF the Navy has received the report OF The
board Of visitors 70 the United State
Naval Academy. The board concurs An
the recommendation made by previous
boards that the age Of admission be fixed
from Is to IS years instead Of from Is TO
20 years. as at present, with the belief
that comparative equality Of age In the
different classes would have q beneficial
effect 10 the personnel Of the classes. The
board also suggests that the course Of
instruction be fixed At the former limit OF
four years. on the ground that the addI-
tional two years at sea are clearly q hard
ship, and Of no possible advantage 10
cadets not DESTROYS or able to enter the
service. Furthermore. reduction of the
course viii permit appointments to the
academy 10 be made every four years In
stead of every six years, and the benefits
OF the course viii be extended one-third
Ia benefit not merely to the cadet, but to
the government. which educates him.
The board recommends that appointments
Of cadets be made at least one year before
they enter the academy, 60 that they NAV
be better prepared for their studies. The
board Is strongly OF the opinion that ali
cadets should be actual residents of the
districts from which they are appointed,
SO that the advantages of the academy
may be widely diffused, andevery district.
II possible, represented.
10 regard to subjects Of study and stand
ards OF scholarship, the board saws that
the academy should be so modelled as
regards all Its standards Of requirement
as to secure the highest results to the
public service. Undue regard. therefore,
should not be paid to political clamor, so
far as it's possibilities for increased useful
ness are concerned. A high grade service
Is It's great desideratum, and ia these
days when knowledge is multiplied On
every hand. an advanced standard OF ad-
mission may reasonably be demanded, so
that this national school shall be second
to no other school In the older countries
of the world.
The board reports Il at the academy
grounds devoted to drilling purposes, as
also for park and recreation privileges,
are In admirable condition.
The building known as the students
quarters Is entirely inadequate for Its par
poses and is badly located. The sale OF
the unused hospital building Is recommen-
ded Additional houses for officers are
also required, and the recitation ball
should be either replaced by a safe hui d.
log OF thoroughly repaired
The board refers TO the inadequacy Of
the Wyoming as practice-ship, and re-
commends the use. instead, of a smaller
and lighter vessel, proportionally rugged
and armed with the latest type Of guns
and equipn ent; also that q torpedo boat
I've stationed at the Academy for the prac-
tlcal instructions Of the cadets. The dis
c'pline of the Academy Is highly com
mended. the existing rules having reme-
died defects that existed In previous sys
TENS The board was specially gratified
at the evidence of the thorough training
OF the cadets In drill and tactical evolu-
lions, and II approves the act of the su-
perintendent In offering medals for pro-
ficiency In great gun practice and small
arm target practice, the beneficial effects
Of which are already apparent. The es-
adjustment OF q permanent fund for an
annual medal for general excellence 10
athletic exercises Is also commended. 1t
is recommended that the commandant of
cadets receive the highest pay of. his
rank, aud that the cadets be relieved
from the payment of the wages of the
servants employed about their quarters;
also, that the powers Of the police force
be increased by Congress so that their eff
ficiency may be promoted A triple ex-
pansion condensing engine OF modern
and approved construction should, the
board says. supplant the autlquated en-
ginc now used for instruction In steam
engineering. The board says that the
course of study will compare favorably
with that of the b 81 educational ins'iiu-
lions of the country, aud supplies an ad-
mirable equipment to Its graduates for
honorable service 10 any capacity TO
which they may be called The board
compliments the psymastsr's division of
the academy. and says that the library
buildings are we'll kept. but 1t recon-
mends the removal of the present restric-
lions as to the binding of the books. In
closing their report the board says ii was
most favorably impressed with the efficient
aud officer-like manner In which all that
relates to the discipline and splendid con-
dition of the institution has been conduct
ed and pursued by the superintendent
Captain Willism It. Sampson, and his
very effective aides.