New-York tribune., 1901-01-10
HAZING AT WEST POINT.
CONGRESS COMMITTEE PROBING COLO
MEL MILLS
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE ACADEMY
REPEATS HIS TESTIMONY GIVEN BE-
FORE THE ARMY COMMITTEE

West Point. Jan. s.-The Congress Investigating
Committee which is sitting the charges of hazing
at the West Point Academy which II is alleged
resulted in the deaths of Cadets Booz and Breh ar
rived here this afternoon and was with military
honoTs and salute of IL guns. The committee
convened at 2:30 O'Clock at the academic buiIdinp
and the only witness examined was Colonel A. L.
Mills, Superintendent of the Military Academy He
was requested BY Chairman Dick to give the COM
mittee general idea of the workings of the Acad-
emy and its rules and regulations
The superintendent gave a lengthy dissertation
during which he quoted freely from the .8Iue
Book. the United States Military Regulations and
the United States Articles Of War" Copies of ALL
three documents will be furnished the investiga tors
tomorrow. The witness went over great deal of
the ground which he covered during his testimony
before the Military Court of Inquiry on Decen,ber
2s General Dick interrupted witness about 4.so
O'Clock and requested that the committee he con-
Quoted through the barracks they could form
some idea Of the scope of their work while here
The investigation will be at O'Clock to-
morrow morning. and the committee will in all
probability hold night sessions in order to get
through the business at this post as soon as nos
sible.
Colonel Mills sworn by Congressman Smith
at the direction of Chairman Dick The latter i'm
mediately asked the superintendent to make a
statement In his own way which might aid the
committee in the present Investigation Colonel
Nllils' IN reply. made general statement of the
| P4Sii' VI duLuIIiSJTdJlOn or the Academy he
rules and regulations governing the institution as
well as those prohibiting the hazing or harassinp
oi cauets and the punishment provided for viola
| tlons according to the degree of the offence
May ask" said Congressman Driggs. 'if all
the cadets are supposed to know of all the repula
tions regarding hazing?"
Yes. sir; certainly" was the repIv
Inc witness then continued to read at length
, ttu,h the regulations and touched upon the pro-
hibitory rules governing tagging bv lower class
fAptS
! the bidding of upper classmen
WIN you kindly explain your demerit system ~
| said General Dick
Demerits are given for all violations of regula-
uonS. order or discipline explained the Witness
ana cadets are reported by their superior officers
| for all denquencies
| is there any appeal from these decisions ~.
! asked Colonel Clayton
| ies II the cadet is dissatisfied he can appeal TO
the superintendent, and if still 11nsatished ba can
| appeal to the War Department" REPLIED the Wit
| ness. ~ "
!
| SMOKING SHOCKS THE ARNTy Oz,E1cr,1e
! During the examination of the superintendant
the sergeant-at-arms handed around box of
| cigars among the committee. Mr. briggs took one
and when he struck match and lighted il many Of
| ti'e army oIcers who were sitting in the room
looked surprised while the women in the paI1ariae
showed signs OF uneasiness as IL there was car+i
| ~ some mistake made by the Brooklyn Congress
| Colonel Mills gave in detail the manner in which
ne records OF the cadets are kept the Academy
the medical records showed every ios4anHe WOW now
cadet had applied for or received medical treat
| how many cadets approximately retire from the
academy during the year, asked General Dick
me number varies" replied the witness. The
largest contribution is made after the January ex-
aInlhations, when many fourth class men withdraw
me number who fall out OF any class yearly
| IesSens toward the conclusion of the course
! chairman ''e
Deficiency in studies particularly in mathe-
In describing the privileges granted to cadets the
witness told the chairman tFat they differed, ac-
cording 20 the classes. and each class divided
INTO three grades according the standing of the
| cadets on the 4th Of each month. He also in
formed the committee that In camp or barracks
tentmates or roommates were generally arranged
ger the witness said chat there was no record kept
or the men who SIT together at the table but
In case they wished to know who We're at any
particular table stated period the cadets them
selves could give the desired information.
INSPECTING THE BARRACKS
The committee. accompanied by Colonel Mills
Commandant Heintz and Adjutant Rivers went
through the barracks and inspected quarters of
the men, Then they went TO the gymnasium build
ing. where they spent nearly half hour IN con-
versaton with Herman J. Koehler swordmaster
and instructor In gymnastics, who explained the
exercises through which newcomers required
10 at the Academy. Later they passed
through the cadet cOmmissary. the workings OF
which were thoroughly explained
The committee watched the cadets at SupDer
formation In the barracks square. and afterward
went to the mess hail. where they arrived d few
seconds before the cadets. All the members of the
committee watched the proceedings in the mess
hall with evident interest, and asked few QueS
uons of the cadets in charge of the several tables