Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-08
COURT PROBES SYSTEM
IOF PREPARING EXAMS.
Heads Of Academic Departments
Witnesses Before Court.
END OF INQUIRY NEAR.
Prof. Smith Tells That Scholastic
Standards Are Lower Than in
Former Years.

Further evidence Of the system en-
ployed in the several academic de-
partments in the preparation OF exam
ination questions at the Naval Acad-
envy and measures taken to prevent
them getting in any unauthorized chan
nels. was adduced by the naval court Of
inquiry this morning
Prof II. f. Smith. head of the mathe-
MATES and mechanics department. who
was on the stand yesterday afternoon,
finished his testimony and he was fol-
lowed by Commender John i. Hines,
head of the department of navigation.
and later by Commander H. B. Price,
acting head of the department of cleo
trical engineering and physics.
All of the other department chiefs
have previously testified and il is now
likely that a number Of the assistant
instructors will be called 1t is not
thought the court will finish its work
this week after all
With the exception of two or three
midshipmen who may be called as wit
nesses. the naval court OF inquiry en-
gagged in an investigation of frauds in
the recent annual examinations at the
Naval Academy. has completed it's
work along that line, and has turned its
attention toward probe of the meth
ods employed in the several depart
ments of instruction in the prepara-
tion of examination papers. from the
time the questions are propounded the
care exercised to safeguard them and
see that none go adrift or get away
through illegal channels. until they arc
actually delivered in the examination
rooms TO the members of the classes
who are to take the tests.
This phase Of the inquiry was pro
vided for through an application Of
the precept from the convening author
ity In this connection two Of the de-
partment heads gave testimony yester-
day, thus making five in all from whom
the court has heard on the subject as
three others were before the court as
witnesses III connection with the goug-
ing scandal and az the same time were
| questioned as 10 the other issue inyolv-
ed The three latter were Commander
f. A. Traut, head Of the Department Of
Modern Languages, which has been the
storm centre of the investigation
| Commander John T Tompkins, head OF
Electrical Engineering and Physics,
both Of whom are in command of bat
tleships that sailed with the midship-
men on their annual summer practice
cruise and Captain Lloyd II. Chandler,
now commandant of midshipmen and
formerly head o. the Ordnance and
| Gunnery Department
The two presiding instructors to tes
| tify yesterday were Commander w W.
| Phelps, who performed the dual duty
of head of the Seamanship Department
and officer in charge of ships during
the past academic year. and Professor
of Mathematics Harry f. Smith. head
of the Department of Mathematics and
Mechanics. Their testimony was sub
stantially the same on the main points
at issue, both stating that only certain
designated assistants in their depart
ments have anything to do in the prep
aration of examinations; that the ques-
tions propounded have to pass their
sanction finally, and that when the COP
les are run off on the mimeograph ma
chine, they are sealed in large enveI-
opes, and slowed away in the depart
ment safe until the hour of examina-
tion arrives, when they are distrib-
uted among the desk chairs of the mid
shipmen in the class rooms
Commander Phelps when questioned
whether he considered tie examina-
TORS given at present are more severe
than in former years. replied in the
negative He added that any boy with
the proper public school education
ought TO be able TO get through the
course at the Naval Academy by tho
proper application to his work Com
mander Phelps stated he does not know
what dope the term used by the mid
shipmen, is. but said that he consid.
cred the duty of the instructors in his
department to help the midshipmen il
every way possible in connection witt
their work, not. however, to the exten
OF giving out advance tips as to wha
any questions of the examination
would be.
Professor Smith, among ether things
IN his estimony, read a letter prepare,
by himself and recently sent to Super
intendent Fullam, in which he outline,
several points locking TO the mainte
nance of high standard in scholas
tic work. He pointed out that re
cent examination in mathematics 70
third classmen was much easier. a
compared TO a similar examination 6v,
years ago, yet there was a larger mum
Der of failures on the former He lai,
particular stress upon alleged politiea
influence brought to bear By midship
men in connection with failure in thei
work. and how such things have ma
teriai effect on the Academy stand
ards. The letter goes on to say tha
the midshipmen should be impresse,
with the importance of hard work. ant
attaining the passing mark at all timet
and discard the idea of political infu
ence TO help them along.
Mathematics, Professor Smith saws
is a most important branch of a mid