Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-12
FAVOR LONGER COURSE
REPORT OF OFFICIAL VISITORS TO
THE NAVAL. ACADEMY.

The board OF visitors to the Naval Acad-
envy have submitted their report to the Sec
rotary of the Navy. They are of the opin-
ion that the discipline of the institution and
the morale of the midshipmen are undoubt-
edly in high state of perfection They
state that they believe that the practice of
hazing has been effectively ended. The
members of the board speak in high terms
of Supt. Brownson and officers at the acad-
envy, and make the following recommended
tons:
1. That the Revised Statutes be amended
so that nominations of candidates for APP
pointment as midshpmen shall be made a
year In advance of the entrance Of the mid
shipmen to the academy. An amendment
to the law Is proposed which changes the
date after which nominations may be made
from March 3 of the year of entrance, as
under the present system, to June l OF the
year preceding the date of the entrance of
the candidates to the academy. This change
Is recommended In order that the members
of Congress may have more time to select
their candidates, and also that candidates
may have better opportunities for prepara-
ton for the examinations, with the idea of
eliminating special courses and examining
for the entrance examination. 1t Is believed,
also. that the longer time of notice will re-
suit In larger number of the candidates
passing the examination, SO that the quota
will be more nearly complete
Four Years Course Favored.
2. That the academic course be restored
to the full four years and the graduation oc-
cur in June instead of February. The mem
bers of the board believe that the shorten
ing of the prescribed course by emitting the
last half of the final year deprives the mid
shipmen of important professional instruc-
ton.
3. That the two years sea service of mid
-, l. ~;
midshipmen on completion of four years at
the academy be commissioned as enSlgnS,
to take rank in accordance with the order
of their merit at the date of examination.
Prior to the act of March 3, 1873, the aca-
demic course was only four years, and at
tention is called to the fact that the gradu
ates of the Military Academy are commits
stoned after the four years course.
f. That the maximum age for admission
to the Naval Academy be placed at nine
teen instead of twenty years.
). That civilian professors and instructors
be provided with quarters or commute ton
therefor, and that they be allowed the priv
ilege of purchasing coal and wood at gov
eminent rates; that provision be made for
their promotion and increased compensati ton
as they progress in experience and eff
cheney.
6. That the appropriations for the Naval
Academy by Congress hereafter be made in
an independent bill.
Continuing Board Recommended.
Z. That provision be made so that por-
ton of each board of visitors shall hold
over through the following year. 1t Is sug-
gested that two of the presidential appoint
ees 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 senator for two years: that
one member of the House shall serve for
one year. one for two years and one for
three years. The board believe that at
least the majority of the members In each
year should have had some previous knowl-
edge or experience with the workings of
the academy: that the lack of such knowl-
edge or experience has been the cause of
embarrassment to boards of visitors for
years past, and they believe that the eff
cheney of the boards of visitors would be
materially increased by retaining the serv-
ices of a portion of the membership for
more than one year.
The members of the board of visitors were
as follows: Senators Charles Dick and Jas.
B. McCreary, Representatives Edward Il.
Vreeland, Frank B. Brandegee and William
A. Jones, James C. Courts. Prof. G. M.
Pinkerton. Joseph G. Darlington, Capt. Jno.
Wilkes. DIR. S. w. Stratton, Col. VIM. r.
Nelson and Can't w. HI. JaQueS