New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-10
THE POLITICAL PAY TABLE
How It Affects Affairs at IVES
Point and Annapolis.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The signing Of the bill to increase u
number of cadets in the Naval Acsdem!
Annapolis from 1000 70 LOO is grstlfys
but il is to be regretted that no change "
made in the method of appointment !re
system OF selection of the material out
which TO make officers upon whose ability
conduct the fate Of the nation may one q
turn there is a fatal defect.
A system providing that all OF the |"
material out OF which the goyernmen, Is .
make army and navy officers must y"
through a political gateway IS inherently /"
While many of those holding the power q
tribute their recommendation twhIen "
equivalent 20 appointments with fuH g,
sciousness OF the responsibility inv'i~
there arc also many Senators and 0onsr'
men who give little heed to the ior'una
The country, but instead Use the po'r
selection TO pay political debts. S''a
waste ensues a waste OF money on inc ~
Of the government in carrying on u >
academies for a year or perhaps iohs'' "
diets in whom failure is inevitable; ""
of opportunity to get the right klnd Of W
because under the plan Of political prev
ment the most able youth IN Congress"
.rict may have absolutely no chance Wv
either to West Point or TO Annapolis ~"
ing no friend at court -
The ordinary records Of The two aes'..A
reveal the defects OF the system: ~ w
Point about SO per cent Of the eade" %,
out. At Annapolis in ordinary times ~
Is per cent of the midshipren drop oS' =
ING the first year and 20 per cent d'oP :.
during the four years cour;e' lne'' ~
do not. however, include the recent up'"'
at Annapolis, resulting in the failure -
proximately eighty men Of all four e.'.
though the average percentage reqD"
the course of study was only 90 PEI :.
But the influence OF politics does n0' :.
with the appointment OF the cade,, Nv,
with his failure. The powerful poliucs H.,
that puts young man into either sea. -,
may often be raised 20 keep MN Vl. 4
he has been tried and found "an".s
times 25-cent telegram may set al Wv -
chinery Of vast political organlEsuVI
motion TO save a failure from dism'S' -,
I. has been estimated, uno'ieisily, ". 80 .
costs the government upward OF sivy
give a cadet in either West Point OF nAs
lis his course OF four years. An es'n' :.
$40 900 was thought high. AsSum",
ever, that the four years course eo' w.,
no more than a course in Harvard OF n
is still too valuable a thing 70 be leis -
exigencies Of politics. The waste o. ,,j
that ensuos is the lesser OF the wv ~
attached; the weakening OF the arm! 10
navy is the greater evil, Tor 'he III
extends beyond the men tnen'e"'
into the ranks. -. SO
These appointments belong TO we
people, and the doors OF the TWO seor ,-
should be open to the young men ~ e'. -, )
gress district and in each TERRITORY -
competitive examinations have demvS
a. at they above all others are oes' - 81 -
Recognizing their responsibility ss..-c.
right of every yourg man 10 sppV": a,
some Congressman have selected ~ b
0idates b. holding public eNsmins'v,sk 3
the law governing appointments ny. ~, ,css
changed that every official holahs 50
70 recommend should follow TINS ~ 49,. 81
course would bring out the very ~. y
teral in each district, would sti," s,,. 81
ambition Of many youths, wouio IA ..
academies from the burden OF desos 40
when unexpected vacancies DID 0'' =" 90
would be available list Of men V
ability from which 20 make SELECTION, 70
A few years hence the boys no" .,.ns !
Point and in Annapolis will DC 70 .rr, 8
not only the disbursements OF vAs' Rat W
Of property aggregating millions, ,,,psss
will be charged with various grave ~
bfities wherein failure may pro-, ,'rt "
widespread disaster. Is 1t not his ,n,,msni'e
We withdrew matter OF sneh vi" ,sbl. "
Importance fro n tho political pay ,ries
restored this right of selection iO'
the people themselves ,er WOOD !.
Chairman Conference Committee on
Preparedness. -
New York, March !, 1915 49,