Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-15
Confers With Secretary Bona
parte Regarding Hazing.
THECASE OFKIMBROUGH
POWER OF NAVAL AUTHORITIES
TO DISMISS.
Attorney General Moody Asked to In
terpret the Law in the Case-Con-
gressional Inquiry Favored.

Secretary Bonaparte and Rear Admiral
Sands superintendent of the Naval Acad-
emy, are determined that the law prohibit
ing all forms of hazing at the Naval Acad-
emy shall be strictly enforced, in the spirit
as well the letter. so far their power
in the premises extends. In response to
summons from the Secretary of the Navy
Admiral Sands came from Annapolis to this
city this morning and had two conferences
with Secretary Bonaparte at the depart
ment, one just before the assembling OF the
cabinet at the White House and the other
in the afternoon after the adjournment Of
that body.
Admiral Sands stated that at a confer
ence with him several days ago every
det officer and cadet petty officer at Aa-
napolis voluntarily pledged himself TO Ie-
port Immediately every case of "interfer-
ence' coming under his observation, and
promised the superintendent hearty sup
port in his efforts to abolish hazing at the
cademy. Secretary Bonaparte was graft
fed to receive this information and again
assured the admiral that he would have
the departments hearty support in his ef-
forts to stop haZing. The Secretary fully
shares Admiral Sands conviction that he
can handle the situation at Annapolis with
out outside assistance.
The Hazing Of Kimbrough.
Although haZing was the general subject
OF consideration theconfeTence related
more particularly to the recent affair of
that kind at the academy. In that case it
10 charged that Midshipman Trenmore Cof
fin, jr., member of the third class
''hazed" Midshipman Jerdone P. Kim
brough, member of the "plebe" class, by
compelling him to stand on his head until
he was exhausted, and that A1idshipman
Warren A. Van Derveer of the second class,
officer of the watch. neglected his duty in
falling to prevent the misconduct.
Mdshfpmen Coffin and Van Derveer have
been suspended by the superintendent for
Their connection with the affair and their
cases are now before the Secretary OF the
Navy for final action.
Powers in Doubt.
1t developed today that the naval author
tiles are not entirely clear as to their pow
cr IN the premises, Secretary Bonaparte In
particular being in doubt as to his author
ity to "sunmarily dismiss the midshipmen
in quest on, under the circumstances, except
through regular 'court-martial proceedings
The doubt hinges on the question as to
whether midshipmen are Zine officers of
the navy" They are included in the list
Of line officers in section 1862 of the United
States Revised Statutes, and section 1924
Revised Statutes provides that no officer of
the navy shall be smissed in time OF
peace except through court-martial proceed
ings.
The case of Midshpmen Coffin and Van
Derveer has been investigated by board
OF naval officers at the academy but the
- young men have not been tried" much
less convicted in the usual legal acceptatioa
OF the term.
The Statute Against Hazing.
The latest statute against hazlng Is con-
at, ~, r.
3. 1903. That act provides that the superin-
tendent of the Naval Academy shall make
such rules, to be approved by the Secretary
of the Navy. as will effectually prevent the
practice of hazing. and any cadet found
guilty Of participating in Or countenancing
such practice shall be summarily expelled
from the academy. and shall not thereafter
be reappo.nted to the corps of cadets or be
eligible for appointment as a commissioned
officer of the army or navy or Marine
Corps until two years after the graduation
OF the class of which he was member"
r. The point has been made that this law
is inconsistent with prior statutes for the
government OF the navy. including sec
tions 1862 and 1924, L. s Revised Stat
utes, referred to, and Secretary Bona
ed to the Attorney General for an opinion
Congressional Inquiry.
The House committee on naval affairs
met this morning to consider the Loud
resolution calling for an investigation of
conditions at the Naval Academy. par
ticularly with regard to hazing. running,
fist fights and the like. 1t developed,
however, that the resolution, being one
directing a House committee to act had
been referred to the House committee on
rules. Unless the rules committee takes
action the naval affairs committee is
powerless. Sentiment in the House seems
20 be overwhelmingly in favor of an in
vestigation such as is proposed by the
Loud resolution.