Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-22
NAVAL ACADEMY PROBE
INQUIRY INTO DISCIPLINE BY
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.

The subcommittee on naval affairs of the
House of Representatives. which has been
in session at Annapolis four days to inves-
tigate the subject of hazng at the Naval
Academy. is expected to adjourn Friday.
and the members are known to be perfect
/ " satisfied that Superintendent Sands and
the officers of the department of discipline
have the situation well in hand and can be
thoroughly trusted to deal with any further
outbreak of hazing
Chairman Freeland of the committee said
last night: MY opinion is that Admiral
Sands deserves the highest praise for the
manner in which he has dealt with the try
ing conditions at the academy l be-
lieve that the system of discipline which
ne mas inaugurated at the Naval Acad-
envy Will lead to the best results
The other members of the committee share
the opinion of the chairman to such an ex
tent that the early adjournment of the
committee has been decided upon
Chairman Vreeland thus summed up the
result of the Investigations of the board to-
night:
200 Cases of Hazing.
Eve have found that hazing has existed
at the Naval Academy for many years and
that there has been a great deal of the
practice during the present scholastic year
from September to December.
The 200 or more instances Of hazing
which have come to our attention vary in
seriousness. from making a man stand on
his head 9cO times successfully. to compel
mig an under classman to wake an upper
ciasSinan or tell him the days that remain
to graduation. The members OF the COM
mittee stand so straight in their opposition
to hazng that they lean backward. We
are determined that means shall be taken
to suppress hazfng and class fights Fights
DTOEOCatiOn will
casionally. and we agree with Admiral
Sands that each case should be judged ac-
cording TO its peculiar circumstances and
the conduct of each participant. The mem
bers of the committee are of the opinion
that some the cases of hazing which
have been brought to our attention are
serious enough to merit dismissal while
others should not be punished so heavily"
Early Adjournment Unexpected
The news that the committee would ad-
journ this week was most unexpected, and.
indicates, as stated. that any suspicion
that they might have had that the authori-
ties of the Naval Academy have not done
their duty or are not capable of handling
the situation has been dissipated. The
testimony has shown that Admiral Sands
and Captain Colvocoresses. who have filled
the positions of superintendent and com
mandant of midshipmen since July last
have been most active and direct in their
opposition to all Illegal customs among the
midshipmen
1t is known that the members of the
committee particularly approve of the
stand taken by Admiral Sands in refusing
10 make bargains with the idshipmen in
order to procure their promises to obey
regulations.
The witnesses before the committee yes
terday were Lieut.. Com. c. B. McVay
Jr., of the department of discipline and
Lieut.. c. p. Snyder. The latter was the
officer of whom certain midshipmen stated
that he made a remark that they had
understood to mean that they should haze
the fourth clasSmen. The officer denied
that he meant this, as he had IN the
trial before the court-martial Lieutenant
Commander McVay was examined as TO
the workings of the department of dis
cipline.
An obstruction to the smooth workings
or the anti-haZing program has occurred
IN the failure of the third class to pass
resolutions similar to those passed by the
second class. indicating that the members
OF that class viii adso cease the practice =
Not only Is this a fact but 1t is said by
midshIpmen that there is much opposition
among the members of the class to taking
the stand. 1t is argued by them that thew
are in different position from the seniors
who are now midshipmen officers and honor
bound to carry out the orders of their
superiors, and that, therefore the under
classmen are in no wise bound to follow
those above them. There is however q
sentiment a work among the members of
the class which may lead to a different
view