The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-31
NO INQUIRY REQUIRED
LITTLE HAZING, H ANY, AT THE AN
NAPOLIS NAVAL ACADEMY.
letter from Secretary Long Auent
the Proposed Investigation by
House Committee.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 3O.-Secretary Long
has addressed the following letter to the
House naval committee relative to the
pending resolution touching hazing at An
napolis:
"Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of resolution introduced by
Mr. Sherman relative TO proposed inves-
tigation of the practice of hazing at the
Naval Academy, and asking the views
OF the department thereon. In reply, per-
NIT me to inclose copy of q letter which
i wrote Mr.. Sherman on learning that
he had introduced this bill, also a copy
of a report TO me by the superintendent of
the academy, to whom / wrote in antici-
patton of the present request for the views
of the department in order that l might
have all available information in the pre-
misses.
II need not repeat that both the de-
partment and the superintendent would.
as stated in my letter to Mr.. Sherman.
welcome any investigation. 1t should be
borne in mind, however, that such an
investigation will necessarily tend very
much to demoraliZe the academy for the
time being, and probably for the rest Of
the spring term. interrupting the course of
study. / ought to say further that no
complaint has come to me during the time
l have been secretary of the navy so
far as / now recall, of any haZing at
the academy. This to is significant.
because parents and friends are always
extremely, and properly. sensitive In case
of any hardship or wrong, and had any
such case existed at the academy / feel
confident that complaint would have been
made. 1t is also noticeable that since
the introduction of Shermans resolution
no such complaint. indeed, no word at all
with reference TO any practice of hazing
at the academy, has come to me- cannot
help thinking that If there were occasion
for investigation L should have received
some suggestion of this kind, especially
West Point investigation and after Mr..
Sherman's resolution had called public at
tention to the Naval Academy.
II may be permitted TO say also that con-
sideration should be given the general rule
that an investigation is not usually or
dered unless the foundation is laid for it
by evidence on instances OF wrongdoing.
and il is presumed that the committee
would require this. / suggest further that
before final action the committee autFor-
izc me TO summon the superintendent to
appear before 1t, and that IL need be a
subcommittee of the committee visit An
narolis. where every facility will of course
be open co determine whether there is Jusl-
fication for q formal investigation.
II have written the above not with a
view to avert an investigation IL Congress
shall deem il desirable. in which case the
department, superintendent and all the Off
GERS will heartily cooperate IN making 1t
thorough and complete From the hest in
formation i can get, however, me practice
CT hazing has been, as the SUPERINTENDENT
states, so minimized by .he better public
sentiment of late years: ard the resulting
recent investigation at West Point Will I'M
doubt ally tend still further 10 emphasize
the sentiment of the public and of the stu
dents themselves against the practice. that
an investigation at the Naval Academy
does not seem TO be required unless founda-
ton therefor shall be laid as above sug-
gested."
In the letter 10 Representative Sherman
referred TO by Secretary Long the latter
says:
81 have asked the superintendent about
the matter and he tells me that he does
not believe that hazing as an institution
has existed at the academy for number
OF years. The regulations are very strict,
and l inclose a copy Of them. Even the
cadet code forbids laying hands on a
fourth-class man. Tagging, forcing fourth
class men to perform mental services or
forcing them to fight has never been a
custom. Commander Wainwright says
further that as TO the preparatory schools
he has never heard the slightest intima-
ton of any hazing there. Ii there were
il is a matter over which the Navy De-
partment has no control. as these prepaf a.
tory schools are entirely independent Of Il. =