Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-12
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
Recommendation Made in the Report q
the Hoard of Nisitors.

Recommendations Made in the Report of
the Board of Visitors.
The report of the board OF visitors to the
United States Military Academy has just been
submitted to the Secretary of War and made
public. 1t contains a number of important
recommendations that, if adopted, will make
radical changes in the organization of the in
stitutIon. In regard to the question of in
creasing the corps Of cadets the board con-
cludes against the proposition for 1000 and
suggests 469 as a maximum. 1t is asserted that
this figure. if accepted, will give a maintained
strength of S7l. The present maximum strength
is 2s4. The present system of the appointment of
cadets is criticised, and it is especially recon-
mended that hereafter when Representatives
fail to appoint 10 ill vacancies at a certain
time the President shall make the selections,
thus avoiding the results of the prevalent
habit many Congressman have Of holding
vacancies open for certain persons. The
Presidents selection. il is urged, should be
made from list of eligibles kept at the War
Department.
DEFECTIVE ExAMINATIoNs.
The board says that in it's estimation the pre-
vailing method of admission examinations is
defective. The candidates in MANY instances
are poorly trained, and this accounts for the
large percentage of failures, but this cannot
account for the fact that fully so per cent Of
those admitted are graduated. The board at
tributes this mainly to improper care in the
appointment of candidates, and in MANY cases
it is plain that failure is due to the lack of train
ing rather than to the insufficiency Of any par
ticular school or system. The evil of this would
be modified by the holding of local examina-
tions. to save to candidates the expense of
travel in case of failure. In many cases the
lack OF qualification would be apparent to a
competent observer before the candidate left
home.
sideration of the method of instruction in mod
ern languages. advanced views being held
against the detail of officers to the head of that
department. The board urgently recommends
a successor to Col. Andrews to be selected from
civil life, unless an officer of marked ability in
This is based on the theory that there are
strong chances against good soldier being a
proficient hnguist.
CHANGES IN THE COURSE OF STUDY
The board recommends that changes be made
in the course of study, especially in this same
department Of modern languages but suggests
that the matter be referred to a board of expe-
rienced educators selected from both civil and
military life. The board praises the existing
systems of discipline and instruction. but makes
a number of minor recommendations relating
to small details Of administration. The sub
stitution of electric light for gas is urged. the
suppianting of present lot Of antiquated great
guns by modern pieces urged and the existing
hotel arrangements at the post condemned. The
board recommends the erection of a new hotel
under contract with a competent hotel keeper.
The report was prepared by Maj. Jno. NJ.
Carson, Washington correspondent Of the
the board, and is one Of the most elaborate of
late wears.