Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-26
Congress Is Determined:
to Blot II Out.
Drastic Measure Passed BY The
National House Saturday.
Punishment 70 30 Mstef Out in Accordance
With the Offence.

the Annapolis Naval Academy was
dealt with by the House Saturday in
the passage of Senate bill with a
House substitute.
The action was taken after Il pro-
tracted debate which placed in the
record the impressions of the special
committee which investigated the sub
ject recently and q severe criticism of
efforts to condonc haZinS by Hepburn
of Iowa.
Several amendments were proposed
to the measure but all were rejected
save one, making it the duty Of cadet
officers to report infractiOns of the
rules as well as other academy officers.
The bill repealS that portion of eX-
listing law which makes it compulsory
to dismiss midshipmen guilty of haz-
ing in any degree, and substitutes
punishment according to the nature of
the offence. Cruel and brutal hazing
may be punished by dismissal.
After clearing the pension calendar
of go bills, the House Saturday put
on its passage the Senate bill for the
prevention of haZing at Annapolis
Naval Academy. This order was made
by the adoption without opposition of
Il special rule presented by DalZell,
from the committee on rules.
The pension legislation was COM
pIeted in all hour and the hazing bill
was at once taken up.
Rixey (NaD proposed a substitute,
and Vreeland On y. chairman of the
special committee on hazinG, detailed
his impressions resulting from the in
quiry.
He reviewed the preliminary trouble
between midshipmen Meriwether and
Branch. leading to the fight which re-
suited in the death of Branch. Branch
he said. had insulted Meriwether by
criticising the appearance of picture
of his grandmother and of the spelling
of Il letter from her
II say that a boy who would not re-
sent such insult is not fit to carry his
country's flag or commission I'm the
navy" calculated Erceland, to the ap-
piause of members.
He felt in view of the purpose Of
the education at Annapolis that a
prison discipline was not the proper
one; that so far as possible the cadet
body should be self-governing. In, his
judgment the academy officials already
| had taken the necessary steps to- en-
| force discipline.
Vreeiand condemned the present haZ-
ing law, which left no discretion but to
| dismiss boy for hazing when 10
| demerits might be sufficient punish
rnent for the particular offence.
As to the sentence Of midshipman
Meriwether to confinement for a year
| ha ial l,f
to be extended.
minority report on the bill. explained
his views. The measure. he contended
was too great a modification of the
present law in the direction of lenicncy
1t would, he said, greatly encourage
hazing.
Rixey followed. stating that the situa.
| ton seemed to be that $40 young men a.
the academy were, guilty of hazing, thai
a very small minority ought to be dis
missed. that the balance instead of gOine
tscot free ought to be punished with some
thing more mild than dismissal. His sub
stitute vas to prevent any dismissal with
out the trial of the accused by court
martial.
| Mr. Smith, Ia, made the observation
answering Mr.. Stanley. Ky. that if po
| litcal interference with the Naval and
| Military Academies should cease the Off.
| GERS in charge could absolutely nboIisf
hazing.
Mr.. Dawson. Ia. who followed gave
weight to Mr.. Smiths opposition because
the latter was member Of the appro
priations committee and had had q per,
| sOnal experience of being hazed by tho
House during the week.
| A speech by Mr.. Hepburn, Ia. was a
severe criticism of what he said was Z
pcrversion of the real object of the train
ling at Annapolis.
| These cadets were being prepared nj
| tho expense of the nation to command
| the ships and men of the navy. They
| were, a matter of fact. living in con.
| slant and open rebellion of a plain Law
of the land with (which they were more
familiar than with any other.
The result of such a course of training
he said. was shown by the incf1icgcncy OF
naval officers. He called attention to 4
list of % shipsmhich had met disaster by
bad navigation and added a reference tc
the recent mixup in New York harbor
| Yet, he said. there was no punishment
ever inflicted on a naval officer. The,
were tried by their friends and former
classmates.
] A defence Of the cadets was made BY
! Mr. Padgett Tenn. a member OF the
special -hazing eomniitee.xwho .minimizcd
the general charge. due to the pranks oi
i boys.
| Mr.. Weeks. Mass. who graduated from
the Naval Academy % years ago. advo.
| Gated the passage of the bill. He, said ir
the past an epidemic. of hazing had re.
suited in two efforts at legislation. Boil
laws were seemingly dll-considered. were
drastic to the last degree and had dom
1 no good. This measure. he said, defined
i bazing and provided graduated punish
ment
| An effort by Mr.. Underwood. Ala. tt
amend the bill so as to require cadet.
upon entering the academy to rpledg.
themselves not to participate in ha2ing
failed.
| Mr.. Hepburn secured the adoption of or
amendment requiring cadet officers a:
i veil as instructors and naval officers t.