Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-12
OPPOSITION TO
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
Continued from Page {.
DEATH OF CADET BOOZE.

DEATH OF CADET BOOZE.
The Speaker appointed the following
committee to investigate the death of
Cadet Booze at West Point: Messrs.
March Rep), OF Illinois, chairman;
Wanger Qtep), OF Pennsylvania: Smith
(Rep), of Iowa; briggs (Dem), of New
York. and Clayton GDem), Of New
York.
A substitute resolution was reported
from the military affairs committee, re-
questing the Secretary of War to re-
port the result of the investigation he
is now making OF the Booze case to
the House, together with such recon-
mendations as he may see fit to make.
A NOTORIOUS PRACTICE.
Mr.. briggs On. W, the author OF the
original resolution, protested vigorous
ly against the adoption of the substi-
tute resolution, as it did not include
provision for an Investigation of the
general subject of hazing at West
Point with n view to putting n per-
manent stop to such practices. He
declared that the practice of infamous
ly hazing 'plebs'' at West Point was
notorious, He cited the case of Whit
taker, who was hazed in 1850, and
whose case led to Il Congressional in
Yestigation. Mr.. briggs declared that
he would he in favor of abolishng the
academy If these brutal practices could
not be stopped. (Applause.)
GROSS OUTRAGE.
Mr.. Wanger, of Pennsylvania, who APP
pointed Cadet Booze insisted on Il Con-
gressional Investigation. The gross
outrages known TO have been commit
ted at the academy in the past he
said. had aroused the conviction that
the officers OF the academy and OF the
army were jealous of the fair name
of the academy; that they guarded it
as indiscreetly as the officers of France
did the Dreyfus case Only Congress
sional investigation would bring out
the facts and lead to the action which
would forever prevent hazing in the
future. Mr.. Wanger had read letter
from an official OF the town of Bristol.
where Booze resided. which testified to
the young mans high standing ply
sicaly. mentally and morally. which
recited the charges of brutal treatment
and which called for an investigation.
WAR TAX REDUCTION.
The House Immediately went into
committee of the whole and took up
the consideration of the bill for the
reduction of the war taxes.
Mr. Payne On. W, chairman OF the
committee on ways and means, who
had charge of the bill, opened the de-
bate.
Mr. Payne said that in reducing the
revenue great care should be taken
lest the reduction cause a deficiency
Inc committee felt as though they had
gone TO the farthest limit. The sixty
nVe million dollars remaining after the
reduction proposed by the committee
took effect would not equal the extra
Ordinary expenses sure TO follow as q
result Of the Spanish war. including
interest on the bonds issued to prose-
cute the war, amounting to five mil
lions, and the increased army which
both sides admit should amount to one
hundred thousand men for the next two
or three years. This increase in eX-
penditure would amount at least to
sixty million dollars The increase in
naval expenditure for equipment, to-
gether with the pensions growing out
OF the late war, would add to our ex-
penoitures ten millions more
MIR, SWANSON. OF VIRGINIA.
Mr.. Swanson Va.), member of The
committee on ways and means fol-
lowed. Mr.. Swanson said that the
Democratic party fully recognized the
urgent necessity for q reduction Dur
Ing four years taxation had increased
over $260,000 600. and if this heavy bur-
den was continued, business and com
\ mcrce would seriously suffer He ex-
pressed regret that the Republicans
had failed to avail themselves og the
present excellent opportunity to devise
n more just, equitable and permanent
system of taxation.
He argued that there should be n
reformation of the tariff and an aboli-
ton of the custom duties which have
created trusts and monopoles. He also
insisted that this Government should
collect More revenue from capital, in
Z comes. and profits rather than from the
consumption and the business and oc<
eupation of the people, that taxes