The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-03-27
May Not Dismiss Cadets
for Hazing.
ACTION BY THE HOUSE
Portion OF Existing Law Making Ex-
pulslon Compulsory Stricken From
Bill Which the House Passes
After a P~r0sraCted and Warm
Debate.
Debate.
Cer the Associated Frol

Washington. March -I-Hazin9 Ell
the Annapolis naval academy a.t+
dealt with Iy the House today IL the
passage Of a Senate iii with a House
substitute. The action was taken ar
ter a protracted debat which placed
ian the record the impressions Of the
special committee which Investigated
the subject recently. and "a severe efi-
tiCism Of efforts ia candonc haying. by
MI Hepburn, ot iowa. Several amend
H3"ntS were proposed 10 the measure.
but all WEI" rejected save one. making
ii the duty of cadet officers - re-
port attractions 1T the rules as Well
as other academy authorities.
The bill rcDeals that portion II the
existing law which makes it compTi-
sorry to dismiss midShipmcn guilty Of
hazin@ i'll any degree and substitutes
punishment according to the nature 81
the olfense. Cruel and brutal haZing
may le punished by dismissal.
Previous to the haIing bill consid-
Grafton. 30 pension bills were passed.
When the haZinE bill was taken W
Mr.. i,iEey Na.) proposed q substitute.
and Mr.. Nrecland IN. ", chairman
Of the special committee on hazing,
took II door to detail his impress
sions resulting from the inquiry. lie
reviewed the preliminary trouble be
tween Nidshipmen NierriWether and
Branch. leading to the fight which re-
suited in the death OF Branch. Branch.
he said. had inSulted M~erriWcther By
criticising the appearance Of 4 picture
OF his grandmother and IF n spell
ing in 2 letter from her.
II say that a boy who would not
resent such an nsult is not fit to ar
~ his country'S flag or q commission
in the navy calculated Mr.. Nrceiand.
to the applause of members.
MIR. Pcarce (Md.) sought to get the
source Of the committees information
on this point.
MI. yrceland objected 10 being
cruss-queStionCd, after he had stated
the information came from the super
i~ntcndent Of nlidshiDnnen and WAS n
tireIy reliable, He felt that in view Of
the education at Annapolis a prison
discipline was not the proper one. that
50 far as possible the cadet body
should bc self~-goVcrning. In his judg-
lnent the academy officials already had
taken the necessary STEPS to enforce
discipline.
Nj. Nreeland condemned the pres
ent haZing law which left no discrc-
ton. but to dismiss a boy for hazing
when ten dement's might be 4 Suifl-
vient punishment for the particular
offense. AS 20 the sentence Of lid
shipman MerriWethcr 10 confinement
for a year, he declared q presidential
pardon ought to be extended.
Mr.. W. w. KitcIIin "a. Co. who
made q minority reDort on the bill.
explained his views. The measure, h
contended, was too great a modiIica-
ton Of the present law in the direc-
ton Of lenicney. IT would. he sid,
greatly encourage hazIng. Mr.. ltiEeS
followed, stating that the situation
seemed 20 he that $40 young men at
the academy were guilty OF hazilg,
that a very small minority ought to
bc dismissed; that the balance. instead
of going scot free OUGHT to be pun
ishcd with something more mild than
dismissal. Ills substitute was to pre-
vent any dismissal without the trial
of The accused by court martial
An effort by Mr.. Underworld Ala.),
to amend the bill So as TO require
cadets, upon entering the academy.
to pledge themselves rot to participate
in hazine, failed.
Mr.. Hepburn secured the adoption
of an amendment requiring cadet of
.Gccrs. IS WcIl as instructors and naval
officers. to report infractions Of the
hazins regulations. after which the
bill was passed.
The House adjourned at As
o'clock.