New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-12
THE NEEDS OF WEST POINT.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
AN INCREASE IN THE CORPS RECOMMENDED
EXAMINATIONS AT SEVERAL rLAcEs-cIvIL-
i.Vs NON crprA1N PRoFEssoRsmPS


EXAMINATIONS AT SEVERAL rLAcEs-cIvIL-
iASs FOR CERTAIN PRoFEssoRsHIPs
MODERN ORDNANCE NECESSARY.
Washington. Oct. 1.-THE Secretary of War has re-
eelved the report Of the Board OF Visitors TO inc NH
tary Academy of West Point through Major John NJ
Carson, OF this city. the secretary The hrst qucsuoh
considered by the Board whether or not the
strength Of the corps OF cadets now estaohshea
should be increased The Board nclnes 10 the belief
that an increase Is necessary In order to take fHu
advantage Of the capacity Of the Academy. Accord
ngly, II unanimously agreed to recommend toe pas
sage Of an act fixing the strength of the corps Of
cadets at maximum OF $50. In the selection OF can
didates FOR admission the Board recon-
mcnds that In addition to the present
allotment of one cadet to each Representative
and Delegate in Congress, two cadets be allotted to
each State at large TO be nominated by the Senators
respectively and that the President be authorized to
n0mipate from the country at large twenty " IS
held that members Of Congress should be required al
the proper time to nominate candidates to I'LL vacal-
cies at the Academy and falling TO do THIS appoint
ments should be promptly made by the President
from the list of eligible candidates fled at the War
Department.
The Board calls attention to the nsuficiency Of the
present preliminary examinations as shown by the
failure to graduate Of more than so per cent OF ule
cadets admitted Therefore they suggest the following
plan, originally recommended by Colonel Wilson, aud
amended by the Board:
That hereafter Representatives be required to nom
nate candidates not later than January l. anu; ANTI ~
all cases Of failure to nominate that the PIesdent
fSo NAV Young den linen m on that date
that examinations be held at certain conve N:n
not later than March TO- that the examination ques
lions be prepared by the Academic Board each SCI 70
be sent to the AdiutantGene That officers OF the
Army not TO exceed two at each point be detalel
be present at the examinations To see that eaen
receive and forward the papers wheh conp.G L, tb
the superintendent Of the Military Academy thaI VIZ. ne
exsmne and pass upon them the results to be re
ported by the Superintendent soon as practicable
S3iv S he 1oted Immediately by the Acknowledgement
in case Z failure Of their candidates ana Tequesteu -
name other candidates not later than May i, such
candidates to be examined in the manner heretofore
described, provided that i can be done prior 10 ag
utant Of the Military Academy not later Than july
l for examination at the Academy.
! AS showing the merit Of the competitive system OF
selecting candidates for appointment the Board presents
tables TO that under the competitive system W
per cent were graduated, while Of those appointed
directly only AZ per cent were graduated. The Board
strongly condemns the practice Of filling the professor
! ships at the Hcademy entirely with Army onlcers'
| The deficiency in English Is said to be painfully APP
parent at the Academy and 1t is urgently recommended
that more attention be given to the subject. NUM-
Der OF eminent educators appealed to were unanimously
|
ments Of modern languages, drawing and history, geog
raphy and ethics. Calling attention to omissions IN
the cavalry exercises the Board says the cadet receives
no instruction in the care Of horses lie never sees
horse groomed and knows nothing about sadding AM
bridling unless he obtained such Information before
entering the Academy 1t seems 20 the Board that III
structOn on these points Is essential.
| Short marches in summer during the encampment ar
| strongly recommended. Again the Board directs al
enton to the lack CT proper arms and equpmen
| for field exercises and particularly to the need TO
modem ordnance. Having in view tho failures OF Tor
mer appeals, the Board says
| Until the Government supply the Academy will
modern runs to take the place OF the antiquities nov
in posltlon in the seacOast and siege batteries, vi
recommend that these two worse than useless nat0erc
be dsmantled. and that wooden guns, fashioned arc
the latest approved models and furnished with moder
carriages and cranes be mounted IN their stead sue
n course would not avert the ridlculc TO wmch IN
United states is Justly subjected by m3lntalnln
obsolete armament in these two batteries for the In
struction OF future officers OF its Army but II woul
furnish evidence that cur military men are cognlza1
IL the fact that progress has been made III the aoEc.
zion OF great guns and that they fully appreciate Tn
| importance and vaue OF the improvements: in &C
dton 10 this wooden models OF modern fashion woul
nj least rive the cadets an idea Of the kind Of gun
likely TO be used in warfare and Of the methods en-
plCyed in serving them.
The Board recommends the erection Of large builC
ing To contain flats for the Of bachelor officers
An earnest recommendation Is also made that tn
| oioctric Isrht he introduced at the Academy. tn
poard condemns the present hotel arrangements say
ing that the lease system Is dlscredltaple 70 uS 10Y
eminent and the Academy. and recommends III
erestOn of n new hotel building which may be ootalnc
| nv contracting with an experienced hotel Keeper I
| build and ODerate a hotel at his own expense. /
conclusion, long argument IS MADE ~ favor oL y
organizing the Academy Board on a basis correspond
! ing To the reorganization scheme suggested for "
Marine band and legislation on this subject
earnestly recommended.