Evening star., 1900-12-12
THE ALLEGED RooY'HAz1NG.
independent 1nvestigation by the
War Depa rfment.

IndeDendent 1nvestigattOn by the
War Depa rtmept.
IT was said at the War Department today
| that Notwithstanding the inquiry which the
House of Representatives has directed to
be ma aie into the case Of the late ex-Cadet
Booz through its own special committee
the departmen will Prosecute its own in
| vestigation through the board appointed
yesterday, headed by Major General
Brooke Confident in the vindication Of the
Military Academy at every point, the au-
thorities at the War Department feel that
they have everything to gain by the fullest
publicity of the conditions at West Point
and the methods pursued 5here. SO the
two inquiries will proceed side by side,
though on independent lines.
As bearing upon the present discussion
of the case of ex-Cadet Booz whose death
has been attributed to 'haZing.' a promi-
nent army officer today called attention to
the remarks made by the board of visitors
to the Military Academy in a recent report
to the War Department in regard to the
efforts made by the officials Of the institu-
ton for the suppression. and eradication
if possible, of the practice of hazing. EX
Senator Henderson of Nebraska was preSi-
dent of the board of visitors, and the re-
port made by him contains the following
statement in regard to the strict discipline
maintained at the academy:
During the current year policy combin-
ing strict discipline with largely increased
privileges has been followed with beneficial
results. In precision of movement and gen.
eral excellence in all drills and military ex
ercises in which instruction Is given the
discipline of the battalion of cadets has
been eminently satisfactory. In the higher
requirements of discipline the usual tits
factory response of cadets has been want
ing in the single matter of treatment ac-
corded new cadets by older cadets.
In the endeavor made to stop the prac-
tice Of hazing in the summer of 1899
spirit of resistance not creditable to proper
discipline was shown among older cadets
The spirit first manifested itself in two Sc
rious acts Of INSTRUMENTATION committed by
members Of the first class. Steps were i'm
mediately taken to suppress the trouble
and while they did not completely stop it
they did substantially control it. With wider
powers conferred by the War Department.
assisted by the growing opposition of the
cadets themselves to the practice. the au-
thorities Of the academy, 1t Is believed, will
be able to put absolute end to any treat
ment of the new cadets which would humil-
late them or endanger their physical we'll
being.
"One Of the main difficulties heretofore
encountered in efforts to detect the few ca
diets who have indulged in hazing arose
from an Interpretation that had grown up
among the cadets Of an academy regulation
relating to discipline. This regulation excused
cadet from answering question which
incriminated himself The cadet assumed
that he was the judge as to whether the an
swer was discriminating or not. There was
nothing in the regulations of the academy
to warrant this assumption. The result
however was a refusal on the part of the
cadets to disclose material facts and the
blocking Of Investigations. This regulation
has since been changed by the War De-
partment, so as to give the superintendent
of the academy the final decision as to
whether or not answers of the cadets are
discriminating
The War Department at the same time
amended the academy resula by giving
Ia int and
cadet Implicated in hazing home to await
there the decision of the department. We
believe that there IS not likely to be any
, further trouble in this matter and that if
1t should break out the authorities are in
position to suppress it.
The committee beg leave, in conclusion
to acknowledge their Indebtedness to Col
a. l.. Mills, superintendent of the academy;
to Lieut.. Col. Otto l.. Helm, ,commandant of
cadets. and to Prof. Peter S. Niche for the
great assistance rendered by them"