The times., 1899-06-29
TRAINING NAVAL CADETS
1t Is Proposed to Revive the Grade
of Midshipman.
Report of the Board of Visitors to
Changes Rccommendcd-The Com
structiOn of New Cadet Quarters
Urged-Cemetery to Be Removed.

The report of the board of visitors to
the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Md. en-
bodying various recommendations of the
full board, together with the findings of
the various committees organized for spe-
! cial work, was given out at the Navy De-
partment yesterday,
The report, which is addressed to Sec
retary Long. in part follows:
Annapolis, Md. June 2. 1899.
''Sir: The board of visitors to the Naval
Academy at Annapolis, Nd, met on the
2sth day of May and organized by elect
ing Hon. John Dalzell. Representative in
esq, Vice President, and Lieut.. William
F. Fullam. Secretary; and following Upon
its organization the President appointed
the following subcommittee:
'On State of Discipline-Messrs. Steele,
Symmes, and Harrison: on general man
agement, Messrs. Settle. Lewis. Brown
ing. and McCardy; ON buildings and
grounds and sanitary conditions. Messrs.
Mackay- Smith, Halle, and McCardy; on
projected improvements and improvements
in general Messrs McCardy, Symmes, and
Halle; on rules and regulations and Iec-
concentrations as to legislation, Messrs.
Harrison, Lewis, and Browning; on final
| report, the members of Congress of the
| board.
THE board met from time to time up
until the I'd day of June, and considered
/ the matters covered by the reports of its
subcommittee. The members of the
board also inspected the buildings and
| grounds of the Academy and examined
| into the matters relating to its adm,nis-
| tration. They attended also the drills and
exercises prescribed by the Superintend-
| ent of the Academy. AS the result of its
| deliberations the board submits the fol-
! lowing recommendations:
THAT in cases of future appoint
| ment of instructors, except instructors in
| foreign languages, preference be given to
! graduates of the Academy still in the serv-
| ice.
! That n firm of up-to-date accountants
be employed to examine the system Of ac-
counts in vogue at the Academy and report
a modern system of book forms and ac-
counts, from which Information may be
! had from year to year at any time.
THAT the sum of 5000, or so much
| thereof as may be necessary. be appro-
priated to purchase additional machinery
and apparatus for the engineering depart
ment.
THAT an increase be made in the an
nual appropriation for the purchase oi
That as the new buildings now in pro-
cess of construction take shape, an expert
should be employed to the end that the
sewerage system of the Academy grounds
should be reconstructed according to soms
definite scientific plan.
THAT the construction of new cadet
quarters should be begun as soon as possi-
BILE. and to that end prompt appropriation
should be made by Congress of the sun
a
of new quarters.
THAT the southeasterly line OF the Acad
emy grounds be extended so as to includ,
within the grounds the blocks of land de
scribed in the report and exhibit of tht
subcommittee. which is attached hereto.
THAT the Maryland Street entrance t
the Academy grounds shall be reconstruct
ed so as 10 give it a more imposing ap
pearance and to be in accord with the gen
eral improvements.
That the bodies in that portion of th,
grounds now used as a cemetery be re
moved to another portion Of the grounds
and the present cemetery grounds be util
lied as a site for hospital building.
That in any plans that may be adopted
for cadet quarters there be no insid
rooms
THAT the course at the Naval Academ
be made fye-year course. and that th
graduates De commissioned as enSlgnS O
their graduation. and that all members c
the Academy at sea at the time of tn
passage of this act be. commissioned a
ensigns without further examination.
THAT the age of admission be from fif
teen to eighteen years.
THAT the title of midshipman be re
vived, and that all cadets at the presen
time, and those to be appointed in tn
future, be designated as midshipmen an
not as naval cadets.
THAT the estimates for the maintenance
of the Academy be annually incorporate
in separate bill, and so submitted t
Congress, and not Incorporated in the Ma
val Appropriation bfll as at present.
THAT the entire personnel of the Acad
emy be a part of the naval service, sub
ject to naval discipline and that instruct
ors be commissioned and uniformed wheT
it is considered necessary or desirable I
have other than graduates of the Navi
Academy in the naval service. and tha
the Naval Academy be placed on CON
plete naval basis.
THAT the President be authorized t
make ten appointments at large TO tn
Academy each year
THAT May 80 Decoration Day, be OF
served by proper ceremonies at the Ma
val Cemetery adjoining the academi
grounds.
That the national colors be saluted b
uncovering the head, and not in the fash
ion now observed OF simply touching th
cap"
GRAVES OF coNFEDERATEs.