Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-12-19
HATING MATTER IN HAND.
RELIEF PROMISED FOURTH CLASS
AT NAVAL ACADEMY.
The Board of Investigation Re.
sumes It's Sessions Old
Customs Are Being
Abandoned.

That Admiral Sands has the hazing
and fighting situation we'll i'm maud. ia
shown by the fact that the midship-
men have deliberately abandoned
since the investigation began some OF
their most time. honoTod customs in
relation ID the treatment IT under
classmen.
The word has gone forth from the
first class that fourth Classmen will
not in the future be required e cut
corners aud sit on the edge OF chairs
during meals This fact, coming di-
rectly after the abandonment by tho
upper classes uf their attempts 60 con
troll the testimony of the fourth class.
men before the board of investigation,
is positive proof that the midshipmeu
are strongly impressed by the investi-
cation.
The anuoyances to which fourth
classmen were subjected during
meals was one of the most disagreeahlo
features of the whole system Of ratio
aud it was one, moreover. that re-
quired the constant connivanco of mid
shipmen officers and also of the COM
missioned officers Co carry out. AL
midshipmen of the fourth class havo
been required to sit on the very edge
of the chair, TO use only oue hand in
eating, and in some cases 60 put thoir
head under the table TO eat.
A regular officer was in the room
during the proceedings and thcre were
midshipmen officers at the same table
in every case. There Is not the pos
sibility of n doubt that all in author
ity thoroughly understood what was
going ON. An order TO sit up properly
from the officer in charge TO tho
fourth classmcn would have resulted
in breaking up the custom Mt any
time. This is line of investigation
that might be pursued with profit
either 10y the present board FOR "a Con-
grossional committee. It would sure
ly result in clearer proof of Conni-
vance by certain officers than any
thing else has done.
a significant indication of the effect
| that She present investigation OF ha2-
ing and fighting ordered by Superin.
| tendeut Sands is having, became
| known today when the word was pass-
| ed from the FIRST class that they) tho
| fourth classmeu) who were Called
! were TO tell everything they knew be-
! fore the board of investigation. here
| tofore the fourth classmen had beoit
! threatened with the most direful con-
sequences if they told the names or
any upper classman who had bazed
them.
This is practical confession that
| there Is no use standing out against
the authorities when they are pursu-
ing the present line. If only one or
two witnesses we're called TO testify
the upper classmen could watch theic
chance and make such examples ot
them that subsequent witnesses woul
rather leave the Academy than say y
| word which incriminated anyone.
| This was attempted in Kimbrough'a
case, he being one Of the earliest wit.
nesses The members OF the fourth
| class ara now being called in such
numbers that it would be impossibl3
| to personally deal with each one.
The board Of investigation resumed
| its sessions this morning in Bancroft
Hall and it is likely, IL is officially
| stated. to continue Is work for several
! weeks IS some eight or ten mid.
! shipmen are being called before it
every day, it can easily call the whole
| fourth class of 200 aud more mem-
| bers. AS special precautions are being
| taken 10 prevent hRZing IL is mani-
festly impossible for the upper class
men to haze the whole class and
\ equally so TO pick cut any particular
man, as they are ignorant OF the tcsti-
mony in each case.
Asa matiersof fact it IS rather well
| known that the midshipmen are an
sweriDg the questions of the members
| Of the board without reseVe. IL is un-
| derstood that they are informed thaB
I IL they refUse 60 answer they will bo
/ assigned large number OF demcrits
and recalled the next day and assigned
more il they refuse again. About
| three d8~s Of this would mean dis
missal al 40 is believed that there
! have been no absolute refusals % an
| swcr questions. Neither can the witt
neeses escape answering ON the usual
| exc uss-thst OF self elimination, aB,
| Of course, no fourth classman eau
/ have part in the practice.