New-York tribune., 1905-12-26
AND NAVY NEWS.
From The Tribune Bureau.
uroeb5pofon npCeI

Vas
BONAPARTB ON HAZING.-Secretary Bona
parte. in his talks with Congressman and others
who have discussed the hazing problem, has e1-
pressed his determination to bring about such
state of affairs in the student body at the NaVai
Academy shall restore the Institution ana tne
midshipmen to their former position in the public
esteem. 1t is realized at the Navy Department
and by the officers at the academy that the Araeri-
sentiment is decidedly against the practiceS
which prevailing among the midship1nen' ana
that it is necessary to maintain such ooeolehce 10
the laws of the country and the regulations OF
the academy shall indicate that the oh1clals
still have authority on the reservation secretary
Bonaparte has been much impressed with the e&-
tent and character Of the subordinate system oL
discipline which has grown up at the aGauef n oniT2
finds that the senior cassmen exercise hoS Vi!S
control their juniors but that tneS @ fors
We're permitted' to tell the truth whenever called
upon for information about hazing-thls pelns e te
and second cIassmen Mr.. Bonaparte remarked
that when considered the TACT ina
men under such circumstanees OF % fsd bI,
placed under oath. this authority s!aneu 2s
haIieyes II is necessary to make some radical
changes in the student personnel OF the afqe1st st
it may entail upon the 1nidshpmen or to what
eXent 1t N may require ri He is out
for blood and he intends to restore oruer anu anu
W he and prevent 9 the exercise of
dictatorship of the senior classnen
test of methods Of visual signalling conducted
by army officials at expense of about $5'VVo
It has been found that at the coast forts 1t Is
necessary to maintain some means of signalling
which shall be less expensive to run than the
wireless telegraph apparatus. Several sets Of a
new system have been purchased for the artiler-
lists who have charge of the firing or the coast
guns but is found that each set costs the govern
$500 more, to say nothing of keeping at
call several experts required in the operation OF
the system. The communication is required in the
practice OF the coast guns. being the exchange OF
signals between those on shore and those attached
the boats off the coast who are on duty IN the
neighborhood of the target It is believed that r.
simpler and less costly means Of communication
may be adopted and employed. and It is proposed to
make series of experiments with that end IN view
One of trials will be in the hope Of developing
the acetylene lantern TO enable the sendlng
OF messages by day. This unusual use Of the lamp lamp
IN oroa6 Gaygo % "Ss I Sopns vhi1e attending
the exercises of the MASSACHUSETTS, militia this
(retired). formerly on duty in NeW-1ork in
charge of river and harbor work that If there were
a sufficiently black background for the lantern IT'S
flash might be projected for long distance: hqto
accordingly loaned his umbrella, which was placed
over or back of the lantern. and then walked a
distance of thousand yards from the operator
Captain Gibbs who was able 10 send nash so
II ta the 90 ncb uba mp re did not suce to keep
the flash distinct OF prevent 1t from being merged
the construction Of larger field of black behind
the lantern that arucie may pe uSeo IN uaS t
IMPOSITION ON sOLDIERs.-A movement is
foot to do away with the practice of deducting
l21s cents from the monthly pay of every soldier of
the active and retired list of the army. Recon-
mendations to this effect have been made from
various sources and Secretary Taft has been asked
approve of the project, to the end that authority
for paying the soldier his full wage may be incor-
porated in the next Army Appropriation act. The
money which has been obtained from the soldiers
in this way goes to a fund for the support of the
Soldiers Home in Washington and there Is now in
stitution more than 100000. drawing interest Of
advocating the abolition of the soldiers Individual
tax say that the income from the fund. with the
enough to support the institution which is large
truck farm and dairy establishment in profitable
operation. The tax, is regarded in some quarters
imposition, since only few of those who
addition this reason. it is something of nui-
b scconti1e oners 10 settle and transfer the
tax. There is the other hand. formidable op-
those who have Interested themselves in the project
will their plan favorably acted upon by
Congress.
GOVERNORS ISLAND HOsPTTAB.-The sur
geon general of the army has approved plans for
the construction OF modern hospital on Gov
ernors Island New-York. 1t is estimated that the
building will $4,000 In order to out such
q plan, however, Congress will be obliged to In
crease the estimate for hospital construction.
proved by Secretary Taft and proposed item
mate originally $4,000. materially reduced by
Secretary Taft account of the urgent necessity
of economy in military expenditures. and the pros
pect is far from encouraging for any increase in
the departmental figure when the subject UP
in the House Military Committee in connection
with the Army bill. Officers attached to the head
qua & 0I o tn9 9r me for E5 f
York post is greatly needed
PREMIUM ON DISHONESTY There are many
army officers who find themselves entitled to an
allowance of mileage which did not occur to them
being legally due them. This mileage comes
when officer who is leave of absence receives
an order 10 proceed to a station. In such
cases hitherto he has been allowed mileage for
the distance involved in travel in excess of the
distance between the old and station. This
under law enacted as far back 1876. and
lately Interpretation of that statute permits
an officer, under the circumstances described, to
receive mileage from the place he received the order
of transfer. In many this gives officer the
right to claim mileage than he receives, con-
sequenty there will be many claims for the addi-
tional allowance. and it rests with the Controller
of the Treasury to determine just how far back
into history these claims will be favoraby con-
sidered II is estimated by the paymaster general
that the government win be obliged pay 100000
to meet these unexpected demands. The law will
be changed in the present session of Congress
as to return TO the old method of limited allow
ance Of mileage.
MOVEMENTS OF yEss ssELs-The following
movements of vessels have been reported at the
Navy Department:
ARRIVED.
Pine Beach VA: the ' Denver at st. II Thonas the
Cleveland at Ponce; the Marcellus at Lambert's
the Chattanooga and the Newport San Juan
ss SAILED.
The Concord from Puget Sound Honolulu the Q Brien
from Yokohama for Cavite'