Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-07
FOR The RELIEF OF HAzERS
President Urges Congress 10 Modify Law
Prohibiting he Practice,
SAYS PENALTY is TOO SEVERE
Dismissal for All Onenses, whether
Aggravated or Not, Having
Rad Eject on Naval
Service.
AVS PENALTY is TOO SEVERE

! WASH INGTON, ID. c., Feb. 6.-The presi.
dent today made public a letter urging
upon congress . modification of the Law
against hazing at the naval academy. Un-
less congress shall promptly amend the eX.
listing law against hazing, which makes
mandatory the dismissal of any midship-
man found guilty of any form of hazing
the secretary of the navy may be forced
to dismiss thirty-three midshipmen from
the naval academy within the next month,
In addition to the eight who have already
suffered this penalty and three whose cases
are awaiting action of the department. Sec
rotary Bonaparte, after urging up on men,
bers of congress the necessity of imme-
diate action, finally laid the whole matter
before the president.
1t is admitted at the Navy department
that if the present law IL allowed to stand
the service will suffer severely. The in
vestigating board of officers appointed by
the superintendent Of the naval academy
to obtain evidence against all midshpmen
guilty of any form of hazing has already
brought to light evidence resulting In the
trial Of fourteen midshipmen, of whom two
have been acquitted. eight dismissed, one
pardoned while under sentence OF dismissal
and another-Midshipman Miner Meri-
wether, jr., whose case is now awaiting ac-
ton by the department-has been found
guilty and recommended for pardon.
The investigating board has left with the
superintendent of the academy evidence
against thirty-three other midshipmen. who
will probably be ordered for court-nartial
The law will necsssitate the dismissal OF
each midshipman found guilty. Included in
the list are .midshipmen whose records are
members of the first class who will grad
uate next week, and number related to
prominent members of congress.
Text of the Letter.
The letter of the president follows:
have directed that a pardon be issued
TO John Paul Miller. midshipman at the
Nicted of "haZing and sentenced to dis
missal from the academy. In the discussion
of this case my attention has been called
forcibly to the unsatisfactory condition Of
the law on this subject. A midshipman
accused of hazing, whether the extent OF
by court-martial. The findings OF such
court. IT, approved by the superintendent
of the academy, are declared final and can
not be reviewed by the secretary OF the
navy, or even by me-. and neither the court
itself nor the superintendent nor the secre-
tary of the navy has any discretion as TO
the punishment TO be imposed. II is de-
clared that in all cases OF conviction the
offender shall he dismissed and be ineligiole
for appointment as a commissioned ofncer
of the army. navy or marine corps during
a specified time These provisions of law
seem to me neither Just nor iudicious, and
! am seriously concerned at the INJURY
which / fear may be done TO the discipline
Of the academy and even to the future
efficiency of the navy IL they are permitted
10 remain in force without amendment
/ heartily dlsapprove of the practice OF
hazing and in common with all those in-
terested in the welfare o: the academy,
wish to see this practice thoroughly eradl-
Gated there But the punishment of dis
missal is altogether disproportionate to the
culpabiity involved in some forms OF haz-
ing.
Tho president says further that in his
opinion 1t is an error TO try midshipmen