Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-06-10
TWO ITEMS DISCUSSED.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS or
BOARD OF VISITORS COM
MEHTED UPON.
Turning Over Public Fnncii0n 10 Private
InsfiiHfi0ns-pT0pety Owners
Said 10 Be Pleased.

Two @f the recommendations ~ fbe
Board ~ Fisitfors 20 the naval Aead.
amy. that ~ which = new method ~
admitting midshipmen and that 10 re-
gard % the limits of the Academy
grounds, arc Of deep interest - An
| napolitans and are being seriously
| discussed here.
~ the recommendation IN regard -
admission j. put into effect, IL would
cripple the preparatory schools for the
Academy now n0unsbing IN AnnapO-
lis and result in the Withdrawal Of
thousands u dollars each year. OpiD-
ions are conflicting IN regard 10 the
desirabilify ~ taking additional ter
fitOry into the Academy grounds At
present.
IN regard 10 admissions the Board
~ Visitors resolved 10 recommend
that the certificates Of accredited
schools that the candidate bad accom-
pIishcd scholastic work equivalent
70 that required in tine entrance ex-
aminatiOns 80 the Naval Academy
should be sufficient 10 admit him
upon passage Of the physical cxami-
nation, and that the general exami-
nation should be 50 severe a. former
ly. The position Of the board is that
ability to accomplish the work Of the
course during the FIRST term should
be the condition Of remaining in the
service.
should this recommendation be
carried ont It would result in a great
~ decreased number Of youths who
would come 10 Annapolis for pTepara-
tiOn for The Academy. When part Of
the mental examinations for entrance
were held under civil ervIce rules in
different parts of the country, IL was
thought that the number might be
Iessened, but owing to the greatly i'm
creased number OF midsbipmen and
the preference indicated by many Of
the candidates for preparation here,
the nubmer who prepare here has
actually increased. However, If the
certificates Of different schools
throughout the country were received
in lieu of the entrance examination,
there is no doubt that great damage
would be done to the local institu-
tiOns and the loss of tho amount
spent by the candidates by way of
board. etc, would be a severe one TO
the city.
There are two large preparatory
schools for candidates here, that Of
Robert l.. Werntz and OF Joseph X.
Wilmer and John f.. Chew. Both
have been very successfuli u Use rrop-
aration of candidates for tise A.,-.
Academy. These institutions not oEir
prepare for admission TO the Acad-
envy, but go over part of the work of
the Academy course, candidates often
spending a long period here for that
purpose. IL is claimed for these
schools that on the average those pre-
pared here are more successful in
their work at the Academy than are
those who do not have this prepara-
ton.
It is urged against the proposal of
the Board of Visitors that it would be
equivalent to turning over public
function, that of admitting midshipmen
to the United States service to pri-
vate institutions, which il would be
impossible TO supervise. 1t is BE-
lieved that it would result in the prac-
tice OF issuing entrance certificates by
some institutions, much the same as
fake medical and legal diplomas are
issued.
There was much surprise at the
failure of the board 10 recommend
that the government acquire the por-
tion of the territory within the city
limits of Annapolis which were in
cluded as part of the Naval Academy
grounds in the original plans of the
new Naval Academy. However, most
Of the property owners in that section
are pleased al the boards intimation
that this area will not be required at
once. There are a few who would
rather have the United States acquire
the property If they would pay
good price for IL, but the majority Of
the residents of the section live in
their own honses and would prefer not
% sell at any price which they are
likely 90 receive.