The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-20
.HAZING AT The POINT
SENATE SHOWED DISPOSITION TO
CoNDoNE THE PRACTICE.
DID NOT ACCEPT THE REPORT.
SPIRITED DEBATE UPON THE Pro-
VISION AGAINST HAZING.

hcpOFt OF the conference OOmmtttce
ON the Military Academy Rejected
by Vote of AZ 10 1S-TlIImRn
Characterized Hazers as Brutcs
and Dogs and Suggested Apology
10 DOgs-HaIc Wants Rank of Vice.
Admiral Created and Two APP
pointed.
Washington, Feb. 19.-By the emphatic
vote Of IS to AZ, the Senate late this aft
ernoon rejected the conference report on
the Military Academy appropriation bill.
This concluded a spirited debate upon the
provision against hazing inserted in the
report by the Conference Committee of
the two branches of Congress.
Discussion of the provision, which was
precipitated at the close of yesterdays
session by Mr.. Daniel of Virginia, occu-
pied the greater part of to-day's session,
and the report of the conferees was re-
jected because it was regarded by a large
majority of the Senate as too drastic,
and, while no Instructions could be given
the conferees by the Senate, 1t was un-
derstood that to secure favorable action
by the Senate modified provision as
to the penalty for hazing would have to
be presented and agreed upon by the con-
ferees.
Mr.. Hale, chairman of the Committee
on Naval Affairs favorably reported from
that committee a bill to revive the grade
of vice-admiral of the navy and author
izing the President, with the advice and
consent of the Senate, to appoint two
vice-admirals from the list of active rear
admirals of the navy. He asked imme-
diate consideration for the bill
Mr. Butler of North Carolina and Mr.
Pettigrew objected Under the objec-
ton" said MIR. Hale, "the bill will go to
the calendar. give senators notice that
as soon as practicable | will call up the
bin"
Mr.. Warren asked unanimous consent
that the Senate meet at 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning to read the Omnibus
Claims bill. Mr. Pettigrew objected.
The resolution for the consideration Of
memorial resolutions at a special session
next Sunday went over for one day.
Mr.. Deboe addressed the Senate in ad-
vocacy of the construction of an isthmian
canal. He believed that the chnal was
demanded imDeratively by the material
interests of the United States. He argued
that it should be constructed by direct
appropriation from the United States
treasury.
Mr. Sewell called up the conference re-
port on the Military Academy appropria-
ton bill. He defended the action of the
conferees, holding that they had follow
ed instructions of both the Sendte and
the House. lie said that this country de-
manded law to prevent hazing.
Mr. Pettus argued that the provision
of the conference report, which debarred
a cadet convicted of hazing from ever
holding a commission in the navy, army
and marine corps, was clearly unconsti-
tutional.
Mr. Butler urged that Congress ought
not to be swept off its feet by popular
clamor. Me believed that in this instance
Congress was enactlng extreme legisla-
tion without due consideration. He said
hazing, in moderation. was not a thing to
be put down by penal legislation. In fact
he thought ii good practice, to a linn
tied extent and in certain cases. He had
known men in college who were the
better for hazing in moderation. 1t did
them good-took the cOnceit out OF them
lie thought the report ought TO be re-
committed to conference.
Mr. Tillman said that those cadets who
practiced hazing upon their physical in
feriors were "brutes and dogs" and he
doubted whether the provision against
hazing could go TOO far. This school al
West Point" he asserted, has become 4
disgrace in the eyes of the world on ac-
count of hazing"
Mr.. Daniel opposed the conference re-
port and said 1t illustrated the old maxim
that hard cases make bad laws" He
doubted whether there wasf any collec-
tion of 450 young men in the country
which was not infinitely worse than that
at West Point. Harsh punishment se.-
dom succeeds in bringing about reforms
Mr.. Daniel declared the proposed legis,a-
tion was more suitable to the middle ages
Mr.. Tillman denounced as brutes those
guilty of the horrid and villainous prac-
tices at West Point. Perhaps the term
dog sounded harsh, although" ex-
claimed the senator II am al
most ready to apologize to the dog for
making the comparison"
The vote was then taken on agreeing
to the conference report, and 1t resulted,
yeas 1S, nays AZ, as follows:
Yeas-Allen, Carter, Cockerell. Hanna,
Hansborough, Harris Kyle, McLaurln,
Money Nelson. Pettigrew, Sewell, Shoup,
Simon, Sullivan, Teller, Tillman, Warren
-18
Nays-Allison Bacon, Bate. Berry, But
ler Caffery, Chandler, Clapp, Clay. Cul-
berson, Cuilom Daniel, Deboe, Depew,
Dolliver, Fairbanks, Foster, Frye Cal
linger, Hawley, Jones Of Arkansas,
Kearns, Lindsay. Lodge. McComas Nc
Cumber. McEnery. Mcmillan, Martin,
Morgan, Perkins, Platt Of Connecticut.
Pritchard, Quarles, Rawlins Spooner,
Stewart. Thurston, Turley Vest, Wet
more Wolcott-42
Messrs. Sewell. Warren and Harris
were named as the Senate conferees.
At 5,55 o. m the Senate adjourned