New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-17
NAVAL ACADEMY REFORMS.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO SECRETARY
LONG BY THE BOARD OF VISITORS

RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO SECRETARY
LONG BY THE BOARD OF VISITORS
Washington. June IS (speciaD.-secretary Long
has received the report OF the Board OF Visitors TO
the Naval Academy, which contains the following
principal recommendations:
First-That the course be five years a. the Acad-
envy after which graduates shall be commissioned
second-That the title of cadet" be changed to
Third-That the age at entrance be from fifteen
Fourth-That the Academy be placed on a strictly
naval and military basis as regards It's personnel
employees except a few labOrers be enlisted in the
Navy and regularly uniformed.
Fifth-That few civilian instructors possible
be employed. and that they be selected with great
care.
provision. with the proposed hve-year course will
the increase demanded by the Personnel bill
Seventh-That the flag be saluted by raising the
cap from the head instead Of touching the cap as
Eghth-That new quarters be provided for the
case there shall be no inside rooms
Ninth-That the block between the new grounds
and College-ave. and the two blocks between the
middle gate and the wall along King George-st
he purchased as proposed without delay and that
grounds and King George-st. be ultimately pur-
boundary Of the Naval Academv
Tenth-That the present naval cemetery be re-
leaving the present ground available for academic
buildings.
The changes proposed under Paragraphs l. and b
intended to increase the producing capacity or
the institution 70 meet the augmented demand for
more officers required for the rapidly growing
Navy. Under existing law the course al the Acad-
envy is six years four OF which are spent by cadets
Annapolis and al The age at admis-
sion IS now between fifteen and twenty years and
II is believed that higher percentage Of younger
BOYS would be graduated, and at the same time the
Government would gain two years OF their service
before they could reach the retiring-age limit. The
President has ordinarily only eleven appoint
ments in six years. from the District OF Co
lumbia and ten at large. The suggested modihca-
ton would increase his appointments 70 ffty-one
every five years and would give greater oppor-
tunfty for the Of Army and Navy officers TO
follow the profession Of their fathers.
The idea of reviving the term "mdshpman'
meets with naval approval The Board dis
cussed communication from Annapolis pastor
on the subject OF the cadets attending service in
the chapel instead Of being allowed, without proper
authority permission. TO attend churches IN
Annapolis After thorough consideration the Board
decided unanimously that the regulations Of the
Naval Academy they stand do interfere
with the religious liberty Of cadets that they are
wise and necessary, that there was no ground
whatever for the dissatisfaction Of clergymen and
that the whole subject was absurd that It ought
report OF the Board
The Board also received an ANONYMOUS com
munication COMPLAINING Of the Ill effects OF waving
the defects found at the physical examinations OF
come quite common Of late. this action having been
taken by the Navy Department In many cases
The Board did not report on this subject. being
willing 10 encourage the writing Of anonymous let