The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-21
CADETS ABOLISH HAZING
deer EE SIGNED VOLUNTARILY By
-FOUR CLASSES.
Congressman Deeply Impressed by the
Corps fon-Investigation Near Its

Congressman Deeply Impressed by the
Corps, ction-Investigatton Near it,
End.
West Point, N. Y, Jan. 20.-The con-
gress investigation of the West Point
Military academy has borne fruit rather
unexpectedly. Last night, when the
congressman were hurrying their in
quiries to a termination, the cadets of
all four classes held a meeting in Grant
hall and unanimously decided to abolish
exercising and hazlng of every form, as
well as the practice of calling OUT
fourth class men. The communication
was addressed to Superintendent A. L..
Mills, who returned from Washington
yesterday morning, and he quickly
brought it to General Dick.
AS soon as Colonel Mills read the reso-
luton General Dick, addressing Col
onel Mills and the four cadets, said:
This action taken by the corps now
at the national military academy will
be received by the country with signs
Of appreciation and appreciation. What
you did here to-day will be an epoch
in the history of West Point, and per-
haps, in the history of all educational
institutions in this country; for when
hazing no longer finds place at West
Point it will certainly not find lodg
ment in other educational institutions.
"a hundred years Of history has
brought this institution perhaps more
closely than any other to the hearts Of
| the American people. What you have
done for it to-day will leave it still
higher in the good opinion that all true
| Americans have for it. We know and
! appreciate that men who come here sac
rifice everything else in a desire to
serve their country. This duty and this
sacrifice does not go unappreciated
among your fellow countrymen. 1t is
with design to add still greater lustre
and fame to West Point, that congress
has endeavored, by careful investiga-
ton to find means for the eradication
of anything which might seem 10 be
out of harmony with it's high purpose.
Your voluntary action will be made
permanent, congress will make perma-
nent what you have done; but, in an
ticipating the action of congress you
have added to the great regulations al
ready achieved here. In Diminishing
you, hope you will carry to your
classes the congratulations Of this COM
mittee it's well wishes for their future
success, and it's thanks.
And, Colonel Mills, in leaving I ex-
press the opinion of every member of
this committee when I return to you,
for many courtesies, our sincere thanks
and desire further to attest that in our
efforts here we have had the full and
hearty cooperation of yourself and
your associates. You have been very
kind in the aid that has been extended
to this committee While We are
anxious to leave we are not happy to
leave; we hasten away simply because
urgent duties call use elsewhere. While
our duties have seemed at times, I'M
pleasant we feel happy in the thought
that, in their discharge, we have served
this splendid institution of which you
are the head to some purpose. That |
you have accomplished much toward |
Graduating this one fault will be so |
stated in our report; that you nave
had the cooperation of all your fellow |
officers here we are also glad to testl- |
fly; and we shall go back to congress |
and through congress to the country, /
commencing the excellence of your In
stitution, and hope to convey to the
people some idea of the sense OF the |
obligation the people should have for
this excellent branch of our govern
ment.
"Recollections of our work here will
have its pleasant memories. We say
to all of you not a goodbye but
farewell, and wish for you and the
academy a long, happy and successful
career" (Appause.)
Ever since the members of congress
came here they have worked nearly
sixteen hours daily in public and ex-
ecutive sessions. The committee hold
the next meeting in the room of the
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce, at Washington, D. c., at 10
O'Clock on Tuesday morning.
They expect to make their report in
about ten days and, 1t is said on good
they will recommend that the
of tactical officers at the West
Point AGA denny be increased. 1t is also
reported that they will say that the
deaths of former Cadets Booz and
Breth We're not caused by the hazing
they received at West Point In the
case Of Booz the testimony showed
that he was not very strong at any
time and it is said, the members of the
committee believe that his health had ,
been injured by his treatment at the
hands of his fellow cadets in the acad-
envy. I
At the same time it is claimed that ,
the committee has failed to discover ,
any connection between the swallowing I
Of tobasco sauce and the subsequent ,
death of Booz from tuberculosis. !
The document abolishing hazins is as
ollows: :
TO the superintendent of the United :
States Military Academy: :
Sir: Having become cognizant of the t
manner in which the system of hazing i
Is practised at the military academy is l.
egarded by the people of the United h
States, we, the cadets of the United Y
States Military academy while MAIN h
aiming that we have pursued our sys- t
EN- from the best motives yet realz- s
ng that the deliberate judgment of the h
'eople should in a country like ours, il
re above all other considerations, do re- h
lffirm our former action abolishing the t
xercising of fourth class men, and do Fl
urther agree to discontinue hazing, |,
he recurring of fourth class men to eat h