Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-24
POWER TOPUNISH
TAKEN FROM OFFICERS
Authority to Discipline Naval Cadets
for Major 0ffenses.
is VESTED IN OFFICE OF THE
Secretary Of the Navy Since Septem-
Der, 1913, it Now Appears.

IL became known yesterday that vir-
tually all power to discipline for ma
joT offenses has been withdrawn from
the authorities at the Naval Academy
since September, 1913. and vested in
the Office of the Secretary of Navy.
Naval officers connected with the
Academy declare that the reason for
this is found in sympathetic attitude
on the part of officials toward political
influence and that the result has been
serious relaxation OF general discip-
line, eliminating in the eribbing scan
dal of last May and June
Secretary Daniels declares that the
change was made in the interest Of
discipline, because the Academy an
thorities were showing too great len
iency in de iling with serious offenses.
Academy officers point out that the or
der which required them to report
without action any serious infractions
Of discipline, such as drunkenness and
hazing, robbed them of their prestige
IN the eyes of the midshipmen and ef-
fectively projected a wrench into ad-
ministrative machinery
Secretary Daniels yesterday made
public letter addressed and read TO
the brigade of midshipmen in Septem-
Der. 1913. regarding the occurrences
which resulted in this order that Sc
rious breaches of discipline be refer
red to the department This letter
which explains regTetfully why the
Secretary cannot order the immediate
dismissal fo six midshipmen who be-
came drunk during the summer prac-
tice cruise, was made public sester--
day in support of the Seer stary con
tention that he had taken a hand in
the discipline in order to strengthen
rather than to relax it. II 'ads, in
part, as follows:
"The Secretary emphasizes 10 the
brigade of midshipmen that the con
tinued presence in their midst OF these
six offenders whose conduct Justly
warrants their dismissal is rot
through any toleration of their con
duct on the part of the department.
but because customary, though wholly
Inadequate, punishment had b on as
signed before the facts came 20 the
knowledge of the department, and
back Of which the department has not
felt that IL was at liberty TO 90.
Indeed, the department has consider
ed means by which it could bring
about their dismissal without disre-
garding established presidents
"The Secretary reiterates that the
failure TO dismiss these six midship-
men is not through any condonement
or tolerance on the part of the de-
artment of their disg tacesul conduct.
b'-t is due 10 unexpected and unfore-
seen action on the part of officers not
connected with the Naval Academy
Sters 10 prevent future similar action
have already been tax m
II will be noiiced that this letter
aE'i Il. action it snsl1s Of are IT date
shorty before the orJpr prohibiting
intoxicants in the officers mess was
l'aleA Naval fiji .rs point out that
il would have been simple matter
for the Secretary to direct that all
cases of drunkenness be referred to
the department without depriving Off
GERS of the Academy of the authority
the possession of which makes possi-
bic the enforcement Of the fundament-
al principles of discipline