Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-17
CADET EXAMINATIONS
BEING CONDUCTED BY CIVIL SER
VICE COMMISSION.
Thirty-Nine Young Men at Rooms in
This City-Why the Old Custom
Was Abolished.

In one of the fifth floor rooms of the civil
| service commission building thirty-nine
| young men have been struggling today with
| difficult problems in mathematics, prose
| composition in foreign tongues and the
| usual academic questions in American his
| tory, universal geography and English
| grammar. They are a portion OF the %
| youths nominated by members of Congress
| for cadetships in the Naval Academy, and
| are being examined as to their scholastic
| preparation for the course at Annapolis.
The roll of those at the desks included the
| names of Ralph Earle Sampson, a son OF
Rear Admiral William T Sampson IRE
tired, who has been nominated by Presi-
dent Roosevelt; John Woodward Philip,
son Of the late Capt. J. W. Philip, and OTIS
Woolworth Howard. a son of Gen. o. o.
Howard. Presly Morgan Taylor. son of
| Rear Admiral Taylor. is being examined in
Providence, r. 1. Young Sampson is APP
parently not more than Is years old. but
does not seem at ali daunted by the evil
dent advantage, in years of his alternate,
young John Philip.
The fact that these examinations for ad-
mission to the Naval Academy are con-
Quoted by the civil service commission is
not at all generally known. Indeed. the
commission has lately received a letter
from member Of the House committee on
naval affairs which indicates that the
writer in spite of his close connection with
the Naval Academy. did not know that the
entrance examinations were conducted by
civil service employees. But the commission
has been in charge of these examinations
for over a year.
The Old Custom.
The old custom was to examine the ap-
pointees to the academy In the city of An
napolis ard to detail officers of the navy
to the task. Year after year new objec-
tons to this proceeding presented them
selves. One commandant of the academy
objected to having his buildings set apart
for this extra use. Another could not spare
the officers to conduct the examinations.
Another thought it unnecessary that both
principal and alternate should travel hun
dreds of miles when only one could be APP
pointed. Another, the present commandment
Commander r. P. Observation-Disclosures
the license enjoyed by the prospective
cadets during the period OF their special
coaching in Annapolis was opposed to the
discipline of the cadets when admitted to
the academy.
A solution to the problem suggested it
self to Secretary Long and the other Off
Gals interested about two years ago. 1t
was then agreed between the Navy Depart
ment and the civil service commission that
the latter body should examine the pro-
spectiye cadets. With 200 local examining
boards throughout the country it was GER
tain no appointee would have to travel far.
Even if not appointed to the academy. the
cost of the examination to the applicant
would not be great. The rooms for the eX-
aminations were already rented by the gov
eminent. AS there would be gathering
of applicants in Annapolis for the exam
nations, the influences to which Com
mander Wainwright objected were entirely
obviated. Best of all. in the judgment of
the Navy Department officials, the exam
nations would be conducted and marked
by trained examiners and not by Officers OF
the navy. who undertook the work as an
unpleasant task, which must be performed
First Examination a Success.
An initial examination was conducted by
the Commission last August. In September
the Navy Department, through Assistant
Secretary Hackett, wrote the commission
to thank the board of commissioners for
''the prompt courteous and successful man.
ner in which the examinations were con-
Quoted
$50 far" the letter stated, 'the expert
ment has proved a success and the result
has been very gratifying, not only to the
Navy Department, but to the congressman
making the appointments"
Mr. Hackett further informed the Com
mission that IL entirely agreeable to its
program, the examinations for admission
to the Naval Academy would hereafter be
conducted on the following dates: A spring
examination on the third Tuesday in April;
a summer examination on August IL; an ex-
ira examination on September Is for such
candidates as failed to report for either of
ordered that each congressman should
name not only principal but five alter
Mates numbered alternate one" "alter-
nate two" etc.. in order that all vacancies
in the Academy might certainly be filled
every year.