The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-07-13
NAVAL ACADEMY
IS COMMENDED
REPORT SUBMITTED BY BOARD
OF vIsiToRs-No MORE
EAzlNo. N

Z WASHINGTON, July 13.-3TheI
board of visitors to the Naval Acad.
only have submitted their report to the
Secretary of the Navy, They are OF
the opinion that the discipline OF the
institution and the, morale OF the mid
shipmen are undoubtedly In high
state of perfection. They state that
they believe that the practice of haz.
Ing has been effectively ended. The
members of the board speak in high
.erms Of Superintendent Brownson
and ollictra OF tho academy, and make
the following recommendations
l. That tie revised statutes be
amended so that the nominations OF
candidates for appointment as mid.
shipmen shall be made a year In ad.
vance of the entrance of the midshlp.
men to the academy. An amendment
to the law is proposed which changes
the date after which nominations may
be made from March Of Tie year of
entrance. as under the present system,
to June of The year preceding the
date of entrance OF the candidates TO
the academy. This change Is recon.
mended in order that the members OF
Congress may nave more time to Sc
lect thoir candidates. and also that
candidates may have better oppottu.
mites for preparation for the exam,.
nations, with the idea Of eliminating
special courses and "cranlmlng'' fof
the entrance examination. II is be-.
lleyed also that tie longer time OF no.
tlce will result in larger number of
the candidates passing the examina-
tios, so that the quota will be more
nearly complete.
2. That the academic course be re.
stored to the tall four years and the
graduation occur in June instead of
February. The members OF the
board believe that the shortening OF
the prescribed course by emitting the
last half OF the final year deprives the
nidshipmen of important professional
instruction.
8. That the two years sea service
of midshipmen as such be abolished
and that the midshipmen, on compile.
zion of four years at the academy, be
commissioned as enstgns, to take rank
in accordance with the order of their
merit at the date of the examination.
Prior to the act Of March 8. 1873. the
academic course was only four years.
and attention Is called to the fact that
the graduates of TIE Military Academy
are commissioned after the four years
course.
1. That the maximum age for ad.
mission to the Naval Academy be
placed at 10 instead of 20 years.
8. That civilian professors and In.
structors be provided with quarters
or communication therefor, and
that they be allowed the priv.
iiege of purchasing coal and wood at
government rates; that provision be
made for their promotion and in.
creased compensation as they pro
gress in experience and efficiency.
G. That the appropriations for the
Naval Academy by Congress hereaf.
ter be made in an independent bill.
z. That provision be made SO that
a portion of each board of visitors shall
hold over through the following year.
1t is suggested that two OF the presi.
dental appointees be appointed for
one year each, two for two years each
and three for three years each; that
one Senator shall serve for one year
and one Senator for two years; that
ne member OF the House shall serve
for one year, one for two years and
one for three years. The board be-
lleves that at least the majority OF the
members in each year should have
had some previous knowledge or ex.
perience with Tho workings of the
scadeniy; that the lack OF such knowl.
edge or experience has been the cause
NJ embarrassment 10 boards of visitors
for years past, and they believe that
the efficiency of the boards OF visitors
would be materially increased by re-
tanning the services of a portion of the
for more than one year.