Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-02-06
PRIoE ONE GENT
THEY ARE STILL IN DOUBT.
MIDSHIPMEN WHO WOULD
BE REINSTATED.
Bill Is Twice Stopped From Passage
In Congress BY Those Who
Would Know More of
Its Operation.

~NNtNANN%1h4N AnAtANNi WAS Guk6HutI-
ed here today when it became known
that the effert to pass the Senate bin
calling for the appointment TO the
Navy of the three midshipmen who
were dismissed from the Naval Acad.
emy Tor hazing had been held mp.
Twice last Saturday the bill came
up and twice was it downed because
OF the fact that objections were made.
Although il was bill introduced at the
lnstigaton of the President there seems
TO be considerable objection 20 the re-
lnstatement OF the Young men, partlc.
ularly as this is the first case wherein
IL Is desired to annul tine operation of
ball adopted for the purpose of pre-.
venting ha2ing at the Naval Academy
The pill came up on the first occa-
sion at the request of Mr. Brown, of
Wisconsin, who asked that it be given
| consideration. The bill was read
The report of what followed is from
the Congressional Record and is AZ
follows:
The Speaker-Is there ohjectionI
Mr.. Clark reserve the right to
object. to see if there is anything new
on the subject worth listening Co.
The Speaker-The gentleman reserves
the right TO object, pending an expla-
nation of the bill.
Mr.. Brown, of Wisconsin-Mr.
| Speaker, this bill is the same one in
most particulars that has been before
the House at different times during
the present and preceding sessions of
Congress. 1t authorizes the reappoint-
ment of certain midshipmen 60 the
United States Navy. These midship.
men were court martialed and expell-
ed from the service
Mr.. Hunter-What was the offense?
Mr.. Brown, of Wisconsin-The
otfense was violating the rules of the
Naval Academy by hazing lower class
men. / will say that this bill has
been carefully considered by the
Committee on Naval Affairs of this
House, and is reported unanimously
It is also recommended by the Presi-
! dent of the United States and the SEQ.
| retary of the Navy.
Mr.. Lacey-Let me interrupt the
gentleman. This bill was drawn by
the Judge Advocate of the Navy. was
/ it not?
Mr.. Brown, of Wisconsin-Yes, sir.
the bill was drawn by the Judg6-Au-
Yocate- General OF the Navy.
The Speaker-Is there objectionl
Mr.. FINLEY desire to ask the gen.
| tleman question. Since these three
midshipmen have been dismissed from
the Naval Academy, has there been
any further hazing at the Academy?
Mr.. Brown, of Wisconsin-There has
not. to my knowledge, sir.
Mr.. Finley-Does the gentleman not
think that the example made OF these
three young men has been beneficial
to discipline at the Naval Academy
Mr.. Brown, of Wisconsin, GER
tainly do; but 1 wish TO say in addi-
tion to that that the hazing done by
these three midshipmen was a slight
offense, consisting only of causing
the cadets hazed to go through certain
gymnastic performance
Mr.. Finley-Now. il the example
has been beneficial TO such an extent
| that haZiDg has been stamped out at
the Naval Academy, what assurance
can the gentleman give that to restore
| these young men to the service will
not dissipate the good already donel
Mr.. Brown, of Wisconsin, take il
| the gentleman understands that these
three midshipmen are not to be restor-
ed to their class-that is, they do not
take the standing taken by the cadets
who graduated one year ago. They, il
| appointed, go to the foot of their class
and are SIMPLY appointed to go to sea (;
but they lose their standing with their
class. Another thing, they cannot be
| appointed until after an examination.
Mr.. Finley-Mr. Speake4, much as
[ regret TO do so, think this is bill
| that should not pass. / should vote
against it, and therefore object.
Mr.. Kyle-I hope the gentleman will
| Withdraw his objection.
The Speaker-The gentleman from
i South Carolina objects.
Later in the day the bill was again
brought forward by Mr.. Brown, to
| which Mr. Sims said
| :" Mr. Speaker, shall object until
understand this bill better. We pass
ed a bill to prevent this offense, and
here we are going to work to rescind
| that action at the first instance of its
violation. The President himself says
that it was plain violation Of the
| law, though not an aggravated one.
| Now, we will have six suspension
days at the end Of this Congress, when
the House can pass the bill, if it is
disposed to do so. | voted for the
measure to prevent hazing, and here
upon the very first occasion where it
has been violated we are asked to va
cate action under it. have no feel
ing in this matter myself, and do not
know any Of these young men.
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