The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20
HAZING TO Be ABOLISHED
The Cadets Agree te Do Away
With the Practice.
"A Document Signed by the Presi-
denis of the Four Classes nt the
gresSicnuI Committcc-Repres
tives Greatly Pleased by the Action

WEST POINT, n. Y, Jan. 19.-Proceed.
ings of the Congressional investigating
committee which for the past two weeks
has been engaged in probing the alleged
hazing OF ex-Csdet Booz eliminated in a
happy incident tonight. which strikes witt
a determined hand at hazing and class
fighting An agreement was reached be-
tween the respective presidents of the
four classes early this evening to do away
with hazing, but the matter was with
held from the knowledge of the commit
tee until at the point Of final adjourn
ment.
AT II O'Clock the four class presidents
filed into the court room and took a po-
eition facing the committee. Colonel Mills
notified Chairman Dick that the young
gentlemen had a communication which
they desired to submit. Upon the motion
OF Mr.. briggs the document was read by
Colonel Mills. II follows:
ITO .he Superintendent of the United
States Military Academy:
''Sir: Having been cogniZant OF the
manner in which the system of haz-
ing as praeticed at the Military Acad-
emy is regarded by the people of the
United States. We. the cadets Of the
United States Military Academy, while
maintaining thGt We have pursued our
system from the best motives. yet
realizing that the deliberate judgment
Of the people should. in country like
ours, be above all osher considerations,
do now reafirm our former action
abolishing the exercising of fourth
class men, and do further agree TO dis
continue haZing. the requiring OF fourth
class men to eat anything against their
desire and the practice of calling out
fourth class men by class action, and
that We will not devise other similar
practices to replace those abandoned.
Respectfully submitted
For the first class. W r. Bettison,
President class 1901.
For the second class. B. o. Mahaf-
fey. President class 1902.
''For the third class. Quinn Gray,
President class 1903
Fer the fourth class. Joseph A. At
kins. representing class 1904
Dick said:
This voluntary act of the corps has so
impressed the committee that they have
every reason to believe that in spirit and
letter il will be carried out by the cadets
who are now at the Military Academy.
This action of the men is justly COM
mended by this committee and will be re-
eeived with feelings OF appreciation by the
people of the country.
Mr.. briggs moved that the resolution be
made part of the courts records. which
was concurred in by the other members
OF the committee. After thanking the Su-
perintendent fer the courtesy extended
the committee during its sojourn at West
Point. ana commending ~" --' repre-
eentafi~-- ll-. 1eE Iraats stlQd. the
~ fne in "Hsaine
1t' 1ll45c- morning
frt 4a aunker. cs NasE husstis.
'hfr1 lsss--lsas Lhe trst ~ ir.sss
-ls.tls ez .--ai7- He ririltcs tilai
De hai hasea fourth clHss f-a- who ser.
n1s more .hur ar-1eet ll het 7ul
saout hzff hf sa.. Inc committee
sensured him severely for indulging in
the pastfrne upon those who were far from
being his physical equal.
CaGet Charles Burnett, of Illinois, was
next called He is member of the first
class and President Of the Y. NJ. C. 4. The
Testimony OF this witness was long and
tedious and consumed the greater part OF
the day He told how new cadets were
received into the association, that no un-
due measures were taken to influence
them. and admitted that there was foun-
datioa for some of the complaints. but
that there were no good GROUNDS Tor many
Of them there. The witness having been
asked by Mr.. Dick If he had anything fur
ther to state, said that he did noe be-
lieve Congress and the people understood
West Point.
Mr. Dick replied: In response to your
own suggestion that Congress and the
people do not seem to understand West
Point, let me say 10 you that the cadets
al West Point seem until recently to
have failed to understand the people"