The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-04
DISMISSED MIDSHIPMEN
RECOMMENDED RESTORED
PRESIDENT SUBMITS DRAFT OF
BILL FOR THE PUR-
POSE.

Foster, Melvin and Dessausure the Men
Affected-Reduction to Next Lower
Class Would be Better for Interests
of Naval Service Than Complete Sew
erance from the Service by Dismissal
To Make Punishment Fit the Crime.
Washington, May 3.-Three midship-
men, dismissed from the naval academy
for hazing, have been recommended by
the president for restoration to the
academy with loss of one year. The
midshipmen are Worth w. Foster, a
member of the first class, and George
H. Melvin and Richard L. Desaussure,
members of the third class.
President Roosevelt to-day sent to
Senator Hale and Representative Foss,
respectively, the chairman Of the SEN
ate and house committees on naval af-
fairs, an identical letter accompanying
the draft of a bill providing for the res
toration to the academy of the three
midshipmen.
Ill Ills ISllCI lIlC lJACoAANA'N 9e"J -
after careful consideration Of the
history of the recent trials for hazing
at Annapolis I am satisfied that in the
case of each of these young men JUS
tice and the interests Of the naval SER
vice will be best served, by making the
punishment in effect a reduction to the
next lower class at the academy, in
volving loss of numbers with corre-
spending loss of rank and pay in his
later naval career, rather than a COM
plete severance from the service by
dismissal"
The president then points out that
under the drastic provisions of the old
law it became the duty Of the super
intendent Of the naval academy to
court martial midshipmen who commit
ted any act of hazing without regard to
its character whether grave or critical,
and if found guilty sentence of dismis-
sal was mandatory leaving the court
without discretion to f1t the punish
ment to the crime"
The president says it was subject to
those infexible statutory requirements
the midshipmen in question were tried,
found guilty and dismissed, the cases
not being brought to my attention too
late for me to exercise the pardoning
power
He then recalls that congress, by act
Of April last, has done away with the
infexible features Of the law and has
conferred measure Of discretion upon
the superintendent of the naval acad-
emy, the secretary Of the navy and the
president in the disciplinary adminis-
tration of the naval academy, and
adds:
THE acts of hazing disclosed by the
records Of the court-martial in the
cases of Foster, Melvin and Desaussure
were of such nature that, under this
statute of April 9, 1906, which may be
considered as giving the present views
of the congress in the matter, they
would have been appropriately punish
ed by reduction to the next lower class,
as provided in theenclosed bill. The
punishment of these young men in such
manner would be ample, it would be in
accordance with the spirit Of the new
enactment on the subject, and would
be a wise and discriminating act of
justice, preserving to them the career
of their choice, and to the navy their
much-needed services, for which they
are in part trained I, therefore, COM
mend the measure to favorable consid-
GRAFTON by the committee.
TT has been deemed advisable to- pro-
vide in the proposed bill that when
they re-enter the academy these young
men shall be treated as addition to the
number of midshipmen now authorized
by law"