The Portland daily press., 1900-12-12
Mr.. Payne Of New York States the
NajOrity'S Position.
He is Answered by Mr..
Swanson of Virginia.
H0nse Votes TO Investigate
Hazing at West Point.

Washington, December 1l.-When the
House met resolution for congress
sional Investigation of the alleged hszing
OF Cadet Booz at West Point was intro
uced
Mr.. briggs OF New York, the author OF
the original resolution, protested vigor-
ously against the adoption OF the sub
stiSute resolution as 1t did not include
provision for an investigator of the gen.
eral subject of hazing at West Point with
view of putting a permanent stop to
such practices He declared that the prac-
tlce of UNANIMOUSLY hazing "Plsbs'' at
West Point was notorious He cited the
case of.Nhittaker, who was hazed In 1880,
and whose case led to a congressional In
vestigation. Mr.. briggs declared that he
would be in favor of abolif hing the
academy If these brutal practices oould
not be stopped. (Applause.l
Dir. Wanger of Pennsylvania, who APP
pointed Cadet Booz, spoke in favor of
congressional Investigation. He was not
opposed to receiving any information the
Secretary of War had on the subject, or
to the proposed Enquiry by the war de-
partment, but hs insisted that only a con-
gressionRl inquiry would satisfy the coun-
try. Such an Investigation would bring
out the facts and lead to action which
would forever prevent cadets becoming
the victims of hazing in tins future.
MIR. Slayden of Texas. a member OF the
military ommittee. expressed the opin-
ion that the reports concerning hazing at
West Point hau heen grossly exaggerated.
He said MIR. Driggs's reference to the
Whitaker case had been unfortunate.
whittaker's career after hs left the aoade-
my had shown him to be unworthy Of
oredence.
Mir. Clayton OF New York, who was
himself graduate of West Point. defend.
ed the military academy. He said the
record or the academy stood for ITSELF.
The academy feared no Investigation.
This son of a washerwoman and the son
OF a millionaire were on the same footing
when they entered the academy.
MIR. Hay OF Virginia favored a congress
sional Investigation because he believed
an investigation would vindioate the
academy and the cadets
In concluding the debate, Mr. Hull said
he had little faith In Congressional inves-
tigations; that of the war department,
hs thought, would be much more search
ing. 1t was erroneous to believe that the
army was Interested in shielding West
Point and he told what had been done
in the last five years to stop hazing.
"f the charges OF hazing should be
proved,'' said Mr.. Hull, land the war
department does not take steps to dismiss
the guilty ones from the academy, Con-
gross will" (Applauss,)
MIR. Wanger's resolution for special
COMMITTEES or i've Co investigate the case
was then adopted without division ana
the House Immediately went into COM
mites OF the whole and took up the con-
sideration of the bill for the reduction of
the war taxA. No arrangement about
the length of general debate was made.
Mr. Payne of New York, chairman of the
COMMITTEES on ways and means, who had
charge of the bill, opened the debate.
Mr.. Payne said that in reducing the
revenue, great care should be taken lest
the reduction Gauss deficiency.
In reporting the pending bill, the COM
mittes fsls as though they had gone u