The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-07
CAPITOL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Too Hard on Cndefs.-It is possible
that the amendment introduced by Sen
| ator Allen, to prevent hazing at West
Point, and passed Yesterday with the Mill
tary Academy Appropriation bill, may
have been too strongly drawn. This seems
| TO be the opinion of large proportion of
Senators and Representatives They
| think that the attempt to do away with
the orutalities among the cadets was
oVer-zeaious. shot beyond the mark, and
they promise all sorts OF complications
when The bill goes into the Conference
COMMITTEE The chief fault found with it
Is mat 1t may run foul of the Constitution.
as, in the form the amendment now
stands, 1t seems to be in direct violation
OF the provision in the Federal bill OF
rights, to the effect that all persons ac-
| cuscd of crimes shall be entitled to a jury
trial
me amendment to the bill as introduced
by Mr.. Allen is certainly drastic. 1t pro-
vides that if cadet shall directly or in
directly engage In hazing, or encourage
or countenance the same. he shall be sum
marty expelled from the said Academy,
anu snail never thereafter be eligible to
appointment as a commissioned officer OF
the army or the navy" 1t had also a
provision that all cadets entering the
Academy should take oaths that they
VIII not while students engage in haz-
ing, but this was stricken out, as not
belng consonant with, and rejecting upon.
the dignity Of the army
The greatest objection on the ground of
constitutionality applies to the last few
words OF the amendment. which make it
impossible for any cadet who has been
convicted OF hazing to ever gain COM
mission in the army or navy This is
pointed out to be an unYarranted restric-
ton on his rights, similar to the disfran-
chisement which follows conviction of
certain feIonies. This heavy punishment
Is visited upon the cadet in an arbitrary
fashion. not by any court or jury, but by
the authorities of the Academy. 1t is con-
sldered that this is a usurpation of power
which is unwarranted and cannot be con-
feired upon anyone being. in fact, con-
trary to the provisions of the Constitu-
ton.
Senator Pettus is one OF those who take
this view Of the case. Mr.. Aliens amend
ment. according to my opinion. is uncon-
stitutional 1t convicts young man of a
crime, Furnishes him for 1t in a most severe
way. robs him of the rights and privileges
OF the ordinary citizen, and yet this SEN
tence is passed upon him not by jury, but
by the authorities ot the Academy only.
The Constitution expressly provides that
all citizens shall have a trial by jury and
| do not thing that even to correct so
heinous an offence as hazing we have any
right TO destroy young mans hope of
promotion in his chosen profession
great deal of criticism was aroused by
the elimination of the oath. The general
opinion of Congressman was that enough
concession to the dignity and honor of
the army had been made and that the
young cadets should be bound by oath to
keep the law. seeing they had already
shown they could not be bound by the
sense of common decency. After all, the
only way to settle the matter" said one
of the West Point investigating commit
tee. is to send 4 lot of husky farmer boys
to the place who will do some fighting
and won't stand any fOoling from any
body on any excuse