Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-13
HAZING IN THE NAVY
SENATE COMMITTEE MAKES FA-
voRABLE REPORT ON BILL.

The Senate committee on naval affairs
today authorized favorable report on the
Perkins bill to punish hazing at the Naval
Academy. The bill will be called up in the
Senate at an early day and urged for pass
age.
The bill provides that the Secretary OF
the Navy shall have the power and author
ity in his discretion. to dismiss at any e.nie
from the United States Naval Academy
any midshipman whose continued presence
at the academy he shall deem contrary 10
the best interests of the service: Privfded,
That before exercising the power ana aa-
thority hereby conferred the Secretary OF
the Navy shall inform, in writing. the mid-
shipman of his reasons for contemplating
it's exercise, and shall receive and cons ger
any written communication Whicn the Hiu-
shipman may see fit to submit IN the pren'-
Uses within such reasonable time as may
be fixed by the Secretary of the Navy anu
copies of the papers shall DE sunnitteo 90
soon as may be practicable thereafter 70
the President and also retained In the de-
partment for transmission to either mouse
of Congress IL called for.
Acts Repealed.
So much of the acts approved June xs,
1874, and March 3. 1903, as requires the
superintendent of the United States Naval
cases when it shall come to the knowledge
OF the superintendent that any midshipman
has been guilty of the offense commonly
known as "hazing," and declares the ind
ing of a court-martial so convened. when
approved by the superintendent final, ana
directs that any midshipman found guilty
by such court-martial shall be summary
dismissed from the academy. and also all
other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with
the present act are repealed.
The superintendent of the United States
Naval Academy may, in his discretion and
with the approval of the Secretary of the
Navy, cause any midshipnan I'm the acad-
envy to be tried by court-martfal for the Of
Tense of haZing, as provided by the act APP
proved June %, 1874, and such court-maI-
tial, upon conviction, may sentence such
midshipman to any punishment authorized
by the act or by the act approved March 3,
1903 or authorized for the offense of con-
duct to the prejudice of good order and dis
cpline in the case of an enlisted man by
the articles for the government of the navy
or authorized for any violation or breach of
the rules of the said academy by the rules;
and such finding and sentence shall be sub
ject to review by the converting authority
and by the Secretary of the Navy, in the
cases of other courts-martial.
The Offense Of Hazing.
The offense of "hazing," as mentioned in
this act shall consist of any unauthorized
assumption of authority by one midship-
man over another midshipman whereby the
aforementioned midshipman shall or may
suffer or be exposed to suffer any cruelty,
indignity, humiliation, hardship or oppres-
sion or the deprivation or abridgment of
any right privilege or advantage to which
he shall be legally entitled Provided that
1t shall be the duty of every professor, as
sistant professor, academic officer or in
structor as well as every other officer sta
toned at the United States Naval Academy
10 promptly report to the superintendent
thereof any fact which comes to his atten-
ton tending to indicate any violation by
midshipman or midshpmen of any of the
provisions of this section.
rms act shall take effect from the date
OF its approval. but no midshipman now
connected with the United States Naval
Academy shall, by reason of it's enactment.
De punished for any offense heretofore com
mltteo otherwise than in pursuance of the
sentence OF court-martial it, by existing
law, such sentence would be now necessary
Tor sucn punishment or punished more Sc
'erely than is now by law allowed for any
oHense heretofore committed