New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-10
COL. HUGHES,S INSPECTION RESENTED.
sUPEIINTFNDEMr WILSON OBJECTED TO us BIZ
ING MADE BY AN OFFICER NOT IN HIS
CORPS-dMPROYENENTS At WEST

| ING MADE BY AN OFFICER NOT IN HIS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AT WEST
POINT RECOMMENDED.
Washington. Jan. (Specall.-Colonel J' NJ "i'o"'
nrcrintcndcnt Of the United states Military Academy
| has resented an Inspection made by COioheI H. =
IInches Inspector general Of the institution at west
Point For some time It appears the work OF inspect
| ing the Military Academy has been merely formal
matter devolvng upon the MajOr-Gcneril command
ing the Army No closer scrutiny directed against
! the institution, and until last year. when OOhhei
Hughes visited West Point for the first time in an OF
| fetal capacity. attempt seems to nave been Hl"'c
| to examine into It's methods. The annual report OF
the board OF visitors IS popularity supposed To discuss
the needs of the Academy to crttcsc the system ana TO
| what extent il fulhls its purpose Tho SUGGESTIONS
| however embrace gcncrlitieS usually provided Tor
The bolrl by the Academy authorities. The reports oi
the general officers acting inspectors had this same
fault While they performed the duty in single
dav Colonel Hughes occupied six days. Colonel wilson
/. understood to take the position that the Academy
does not come under the Inspector Generals depart
mcnt and that post where he Colonel WILSON, Is 10
command should properly bo inspected by an officer OF
the Corps Of Engineers which corps Colonel wilson
{, attached.
Aftcr Colonel Hughes visited West Point recently
Colonel Wilson sent to tho War Department account
Of the Inspection and ntmatcd that the Of
acer exceeded his authority. Colonel Hughes
appear, 10 be sustained by populations AZ well
ms by the direct orders OF the secretary %
War Among the points assigned to Colonel Hughes.
who j, stationed in Sow York. for annual Inspection
are the Military Academy. Wilctts Point and other
places IN the Division II the Atlantic. These assign
mcu, are published tI, years report Of Inspector
General Brcckcnrid,c and were >gnaied on the rec
ommc dalton Il that officer by secretary Proctor
colonel Hughes, report. among other things, sayS
that better cht- needed In the cadet barracks, and
that it. fl, quite feasible to have electric lighting better
ordnance j, needed and Of a modern type. The same
horse, should not bo used for light artillery and cav
airy and the cadets should hnye instrucon IN the
care and management Of horses 1t Is suggested that the
harci. - the engineer company be heated BY steam
and that the ventilation Of this and the cavalry and
quaricrma.ter's barr,,ch, is quite primitive being
merely rs doors and windows. There j. an insufficient
supply + officers quarters. and Colonel Hughes ASKS
20 comparison ~ the building used by many OF the
lieutenant, with tho,, supplied by other colleges
Cornell fpr instance. II /. recommended
that there be- AT least half dozen more buildings
erected IN oder that the cadet, have tho Natur
day hail Ulay for relaxation, hc recommended thdt
Inspection on that day be held In the morning. Tie
usual recommendations regarding changes In the quail
Aeatons for admission To the Academy are subIolned
Colonel wilson's protest If any Official inspection
from A quarter other than his stan corps led Ia
ne submission ~ tie Ilucle, report 10 General scho-
Held who approve, Of most II the Items inserted by
Colonel Hughes, Ne heartily approves of an inspection
v the Inspector General department annually AT Wet
Point. A. Al other posts, The secretary - War is under
stood 10 accept TIE situation q affairs a' presented 30
General SehoNcl', iudor-cmcHt which leaves al que,
n. 81 the relation - the academy Supc nteudcut and
,ouunudart to .tlh.hcd custom and the subject ~
cAt book, and c,lr-c u Instruction to the board -
visitors Nj Other topc-, such rs Nh" care and
condition ~ the post. the roads the buildings, the
cemetery the expenditures for Instructor, and the d.
Gpluc # mcn. it +, held, properly belongs % the
Iu-pco tor General.
There has long been opposition - the Inspector
General. department on 'hc part Il officer whose
duty had previously removed them from contact with
the rigidlty Of the annual Inspection. This f. notably
.o whcrr engineer orccrs have come into tour, of
duty embraced IN the Inspector Generals Held n in
quIry The adyautag" u such inquiry, however.
cannot Do disputed Co. demonstrated lat year hy Colo
eel Uughc-. vhI discovered 200 men enlisted ar
urry soldiers" ~ West Point drawing pay and pension
such. when the only duty performed WI, that Of
sca,cngei~ The result was rev law, giving Them
a mon, distinctive place on the paw rolls and a moro
supr,prlte des gnntion. Orccrs who have nothing 10
,... by an inspection contemplated by the Inspector
General are APT u Pee charged with petty jealousy r
au Indifference fJr t!sc improvement Of the service
Colonel Wilson's administration ~ The Military
Academy la. been above criticism, and Ils fear
lr,.ucss - examination wa evidenced ~ u"
f.ritcs extended to Colonel Hughes on hi 'rcc"ut
yi,!t bat De- wa, disposed 10 regard the inspection IN
M, tho9Ou nc, ~ an Interference with his Oncr, not
t. ,1y reflection on hs honesty.