Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-20
SENATOR'S MORE LENIENT
Majority Defend West Point Hszsrs from
Publcs Sewers Arrsignmsnt.
CONFERENCE REPORT IS TURNED DOWN
Provision for Permanently ExpeIIing
and DisbarrinH Guilty Cadets
Defeated by Vote of
~ TO ~.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.--By the emphatic
vote OF is to ~ the senate late this after
noon rejected the conference report on
the military academy appropriation bill.
This action came at the conclusion OF
spirited debate upon the provisions against
hazing, inserted In the report Of the
conference committee OF the two branches
of congress.
Discussion OF the provision, which was
precipitated at the close or yesterdays
session by Mr.. Daniel of Virginia. oc-
cupicd the greater part Of today's ses-
son and the report OF the conferees was re-
jected because 1t was regarded by a large
majority OF the senate as too drastic, and,
while no instructions could be given the
conferees by the senate, It was understood
that to secure favorable action by the
senate n modified provision as to the
penalty for hazng would have to be pre-
sented and agreed upon by the conferees.
Early in the day Mr.. Deboe Of Ken
lucky delivered his announced speech upon
the Nicaragua canal He reviewed at
length the proceedings which led up to tho
present situation and strongly advocated the
construction OF the waterway by the United
States.
An effort was made to obtain considera-
tion for the bill reviving the grade OF vice
admiral OF the navy for the benefit Of Rear
Admlrals Sampson and schley, but it was
unavailing
seweii opens the Debate.
When Mr.. Sewell called up the con-
ference report on the military academy
appropriation bill he defended the action
OF the conferees. holding that they had
followed the instructions OF both the SEN
ate and the house He declared that many
and II there was anything this country de-
manded II was a law to prevent such a
crime as hazing.
Mr., Pettus argued that the provision Of
the conference which debarred a cadet con-
victed OF hazing from ever holding a COM
mission In the army, navy or marine corps
was clearly unconstitutional Mr.. Butler
urged that congress ought not to be swept
on its feet by popular clamor. He said
hazing In moderation was not a thing to
be put down by penal legislation. He
had known men in college who were the
better for hazing in moderation. II did
them good, took the conceit out OF them.
Messrs. Hawley, Chandler and Lodge
expressed the opinion that the conferees
had gone too far and said that while
hazing should be suppressed no perpetual
stigma should be put on convicted cadets.
hA' bepcN III tne nhZlnR penalty
declared 1t had been adopted under public
clamor and that congress had acted upon
the impulse rather than upon Judgment.
He suggested that a conspiracy might be
organized against some cadet at the
academy 80 that by securing his conviction
for hazing he would be posted as crimi-
nal for life. He could not run for once
as the brand would stand against him, and
1t would be punishment almost equiva
lent to the Russian method OF banishing
students to Siberia and to the mines for
violation Of college regulations. /
Mr.. Allen OF Nebraska in opposing any
change In the penalty prescribed by the
conference report for hazing had read q
part OF the report Of the house commit
tee. which investigated the death OF young
Booz, which he declared had no parallel
for barbarity in prize fighting. in bear bait
ing or in bull fighting"
Mr.. Spooner said: "The practice Of ha p.
ing has been carried to an extent that Is
degrading. brutal and. In some respects tc
point near the danger line That il ha.
been permitted is no credit to the nstitu
tion."
TilImnn Calls II a Disgrace
Mr.. Tillman interrupted to say that those
cadets who practiced hazing upon their
and he doubted whether the provision
against hazing could go too far. This
school at West Point" he asserted, has
become disgrace in the eyes OF the world
on account of hazing."
Mr.. Teller said I'VE have got to stor
1t or eventually dismantle the institution
Mr.. Wolcott thought congress had en-
tered upon trifing business. The en-
actment of the provision would make OF
the cadets milksops and prigs. He related
some personal experiences OF hazing in his
college days and remarked that some Of
the hazers won name and fame, while 9th
ers went from bad to worse, some ever
landing finally in the senate OF the United
States. In conclusion he declared that fol
thirty-hve years every West Point cade
had been hazed and in turn had become {
hazer Despite that tho institution had de
veloped splendid lot OF fighting material
Congress was not justified in treating tn,
body OF cadets like lot of school children
and In bringing them up as weak and en-
ervsted soldiers.