The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-10
Mills TAKES THE STAND
Gives Testimony Before the Con-
gPessional Committee.
shows the Academy Regulations
Forbidding the III-Treatment of
Under Classmcn Questioned by
Dick and Wnnger-Subject of Hnz-
ing to BE Generally Investigated.

WEST POINT, n. Y, Jan. 9.-The Con-
gressional committee investigating the
alleged hazing of the late Cadet Bocz and
incidentally to enquire generally into the
subject of hazing. reached here at noon
today. Colonel Mills. Superintendent of
the Academy; Colonel Helm and Captain
Sands. the latter at the head of squad
ron of cavalry, met the Representatives.
and escorted them up the hill to the plain,
where battery of artillery gave them a
salute of seventeen guns. while the cav
airy lined up along the driveway over
which the carriages passed on the way to
the hotel
The opening session was begun in a
lofty room of the Academy building.
Chairman Dick called the committee to
order and Colonel Mills, the Superintend-
ent of the Academy, was the first witness.
Colonel Mills had come prepared with a
formidable array of documents and books
of army and Academy regulations. In the
same clear, exact way in which he went
over the same ground for the army court
of enquiry he went over it once more for
the Representatives.
He read from the regulations which rot
only forbid haZing, but forbid plebes from
submitting to hazing, and he again show
ed how, through his representations, the
War Department had changed the regu-
lations in such way that cadets who are
questioned regarding being hazed or haz-
ing others can no longer avoid answering
on the plea that the regulations exempt
them from giving testimony that will in
criminate themselves. Colonel Mills was
frequently questioned on particular POINTS
by all of the five members of the COM
mittee.
Representative Wanger of Pennsylvania,
who gave the unfortunate BooZ his west
Point appointment wanted to know all
about the demerit system 1t has been
said that Booz got unjust demerits from
arbitrary upper classmen, who did not
like him, and it was evident from Mr..
Wanger's questions that he intends to
sift this matter to the bottom. Chairman
Dick also took an active part in this line
OF questioning, Mr.. Wanger also asked
about the hospital records and was par
ticularly anxious to know if there was
any record kept Of the cadets who applied
for treatment and were not actually sent
to the hospital. Colonel Mills replied that
taken down and kept.
At the close CT Colonel Mills testimony.
Chairman Dick said that che committee
had thought it would be to their advan-
tage to look over the Academy grounds
and buildings. that they might have
clear understanding of the testimony to
be taken and asked Colonel Mill If they
might do so then and there. Colonel Mills
readily assented and that ended the ses-
sion of today so far as the taking of tes-
-tmony was concerned.
The committee held an executive ses-
sion this evening,
One thing seems to be generally believ
ed. and that Is that the Investigation
into the specific hazing cases OF Booz
and Breth, while it will be minutely
thorough, can hardly be otherwise than
in a measure perfunctory. The impress
sion is strong that Booz and Breth are
side issues now to the subject of hazing
in general and that the Representatives
themselves are strongly inclined to be-
lieve that the death of neither of these
two young men was the result of any
thing that happened to them while they
were here.