Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-12
ALLEGED HAzINC OF BOOz
Hous. Appoints Committee to Hear Evidence
on West Point Scandal.
REVENUE REDUCTION BILL DISCUSSED
Chairman Payne says That IL Wouis
He Unwise to Make Farther Cuts
while Mr.. swanson Argues
for the Income Tar.

the house today Mr.. Payne or new forh'
! chairman OF the ways and means commit
tee, spoke in behalf Of the majority and Mr
Swanson Of Virginia on behalf Of the minor
| ity. The house adjourned early to permit
| the hall to be decorated for the exercises In
connection with the centennial celebration
tomorrow.
| Before the revenue reduction bill was
| taken up a resolution was adopted for the
| appointment OF q special committee OF five
| members to investigate the death OF Oscar
l.. Booz Of Bristol, Pa. who died recently.
| II is alleged, as a result Of hazing received
| while a cadet at West Point
This course was taken over the head Of
the military committee, which reported In
favor Of allowing the War department to
conduct the inquiry.
The presentation OF the resolution and
the reading OF the reports Of the secretary
OF war and Colonel Mills aroused great In
terest In the house.
Mr.. briggs OF New York. the author Of
| the original resolution, protested vigor-
ously against the adoption OF the substi-
tute resolution, as It did not include pro-
visions for an investigation OF the general
subject OF hazing at West Point with a
view to putting a permanent stop to such
| practices. He declared that the practice
Of UNANIMOUSLY hazing "plebes" at West
Point was notorious. Mr.. briggs declared
that he would be in favor Of abolishing tho
academy II these brutal practices could not
be stopped. (Applause.)
Booz' sponsor Speaks.
| Mr.. wanger OF Pennsylvania, who ap-
| pointed Cadet Booz, spoke In favor OF
| congressional investigation. He said he
| did not presume to know the exact facts,
but reputable newspapers had made state
ments relative to the case which had pro-
foundly moved the people Of the country.
The gross outrages known to have been
| committed At the academy In the past, he
said. had aroused the conviction that the
officers Of the academy and Of the army
we're SO Jealous Of the fair name of the
academy that they guarded It as indis-
creetly as the officers Of France guarded
the Dreyfus scandal. He was not opposed
to receiving any information the secretary
Of war had on the subject, or to the pro-
posed inquiry by the War department. but
he insisted that only a congressional in
Qury would satisfy the country. Such an
| investigation would bring out the facts and
lead to action which would forever prevent
| cadets from becoming the victims OF haz-
ing in the future. Mr.. Wanger said at the
proper time he would offer substitute
for the committees resolution providing
for an investigation by a special committee
OF hve members of the house who should
have the power to send for persons and
papers and. II necessary. proceed to West
Point. and that the committee should re-
port within sixty days.
Mr.. Slayden Of Texas. a member of the
military committee. expressed the opinion
that the reports concerning hazing at West
Point had been grossly exaggerated.
| Clayton Defends Academy.
Mr.. Clayton Of New York, who was him
self graduate Of West Point. defended
the military academy. He said there was
no necessity for bringing up the Dreyfus
case. The record Of the academy stood for
itself
"why not investigate them?" asked Mr..
Wanger.
"The academy fears no investigation, -
replied Mr.. Clayton. 1.-THE son of a
washerwoman and a millionaire are on the
same footing when they enter the acad-
emy."
From his own personal experience, Mr..
Clayton said. he knew that the reports OF
hazing were greatly exaggerated. The sen.
timent OF the cadets was against brutality
or doing anything unfair. Hazing as it was
practiced years ago. he said. had been
stamped out
q thi' nay VI virginia IdNOTeu u COORTeS-
sional investigation, not he said. because
he believed there was any ground for the
, charges. but because he believed an inves.
tigation would viAdicate the academy ant
the cadets.
n In concluding tho debate Mr. Hull sale
a he had little faith In congressional investi.
I cations. 1t was erroneous to believe thai
4 the army was Interested in shielding Wes
Point and he told what had been done II
the last hve years to stop having. 'If tn,
q charges Of hazing should be proved" asked
Mr.. briggs. lis there any law which coult
|, reach the cadets who participated?"
The gentleman can answer that ques
tion as we'll as l." answered Mr.. Hull. ''Bu
II proven, II the War department does no
Y take steps to dismiss the guilty ones from
the academy, congress will" (Applause)
. Mr Waneer's resolution for a specia
committee of Ave to investigate the cas-
was then adopted without division.
War Reduction Bill Taken Up.
). Consideration Of the bill for the reduc
II tion Of the war taxes was begun. MI
n Payne OF New York, chairman Of the com
AZ mittee on ways and means opened the de
n bate.
n Mr.. Payne said that in reporting tn
a pending bill the committee felt as thoug
l. they had gone to the farthest limit In tn
~ amount OF reduction with due regard I
70 prevention Of deficits. The S65 900 900 re
ID naming after the reduction proposed by tn
committee took effect would not equal tn
extraordinary expenses sure to follow as
result OF the Spanish war. Among sue
n expenses was the interest on the bonds is
lie sued to prosecute the war, amounting I
'r So, 900, 900; the increased army. which bot
3 sides admit should amount to 900 me
Or for the next two or three years. This In
J. crease in expenditure would amount a
" least to $60,000,000. The increase In naya
l. expenditures for equipment. together wit
ID the pensions growing out Of the late wa,
le would add to our expenditures $40, 900 .OO
l. more
III while there Is no reason from any dc
% mestic causes to apprehend any disaster I
III business during the next few years" h
l. said, yet there Is a possibility Of foreig
Of complications which might have that re
le suit. OF course, depression in bushes
would mean a loss Of revenue. large Dol
90 tion Of our importations on which tariff du
= ties are paid is OF goods going directly int
~ ~ the manufacture Of articles both for ou
So domestic and foreign trade. Anything tha
q cuts off this trade In either direction woul
20 result In loss Of revenue.
80 Income Tax Not Practicable.
20 "Some members Of the minority of III
90 committee have proposed to abolish all III
IL war reyeuu. ana offer i'm Dlace theraof n