Lieutenant DORTCH. It also covers material such as dishes, silver, and mess equipment. Mr. DITTER. How does the subsistence fund, or allowance, rather, provided for the midshipmen compare with the experience of the Naval Establishment on subsistence for the enlisted personnel? Admiral SELLERS. I could not give you that offhand, but it is my impression that the enlisted men are fed in the fleet for a sum which varies around 53, 54, or 55 cents a day, according to the port which the ship happens to be in, and the markets which are contiguous thereto. Mr. DITTER. That estimate is about the same, is it not, at most of the shore stations? Admiral SELLERS. I should say so; yes, sir. Mr. DITTER. How does the midshipmen's mess or subsistence estimate compare with that of the officers' mess, the officers of the fleet and at shore stations? Admiral SELLERS. You are asking me for certain statistics that I am afraid I could not give you accurately. It has been some time since I have been on board ship. Mr. DITTER. Could that comparison be established here, Admiral, by inserting in the record a table of what your experience has been? Captain WILKINSON. Mr. Ditter, you appreciate that the officers' messes are not supplied at the cost of the Government. Mr. DITTER. I am not casting any reflection on the officers in that inquiry. Captain WILKINSON. Yes, sir. Admiral SELLERS. They try to run the officers' mess so that it will not cost more than $30 a month. Sometimes the junior officers' mess, having less pay, run their mess at $25, and the warrant officers run theirs at less than that. INCREASE IN COST OF SUBSISTENCE Mr. DITTER. Has there been any increase in the past year in the cost of subsistence at the Academy? Lieutenant DORTCH. Yes, sir. Mr. DITTER. Has food increased any in cost? Lieutenant DORTCH. Yes, sir; as high as 30 percent and over. Mr. DITTER. Can you estimate the percentage of increase in the cost of food at the Academy for the past year? Admiral SELLERS. Why, over 30 percent in some cases. I would say the average increase is about 15 percent. Mr. DITTER. That means, in other words, that you are feeding them less, because you are getting the same amount of subsistence, and you cannot buy as much for the dollar as you were able to buy a year ago? Admiral SELLERS. No; I would not say that is an accurate statement, because, as you know, a menu is a very elastic thing, and you can get very good results by varying the menu. Mr. DITTER. Let us say a less delectable food. Admiral SELLERS. Well, food is a question of taste. Lieutenant DORTCH. The prices of meats have; yes, sir. Mr. DITTER. What has been the increase in the cost of meat? INCREASE IN COST OF CLOTHING FOR MIDSHIPMEN Mr. DITTER. Has there been any appreciable increase in the cost of other items that the midshipmen have been required to provide, such as clothing, for instance? Have you heard any of the midshipmen complain that their clothing item is not sufficient? Admiral SELLERS. No; they never complain. Commander Gibbs runs that. Commander GIBBS. There has been about a 10-percent increase in the cost of clothing, I should say, over the previous year. Mr. DITTER. Has there been any request for an increase of allowance by any of the midshipmen for their clothing? Admiral SELLERS. No, sir. Commander GIBBS. They have not; no, sir. Mr. PLUMLEY. What good would it do them if they had made an application for an increase in allowance? Admiral SELLERS. The midshipmen are a very uncomplaining lot. They take everything as it comes. However, we are alive to their interests all the time. PROMOTION OF INSTRUCTORS Mr. DITTER. Under the examination of the chairman you made some observations in which you suggested the promotion of several instructors to professors and made the observation, I believe, that these men were selected? Admiral SELLERS. Yes, sir. Mr. DITTER. In the matter of their promotion, was that correct? Admiral SELLERS. Yes, sir. Mr. DITTER. Into whose hands does the duty fall of making the selection; who determines the men who will be promoted? Admiral SELLERS. We have what is known as the board of civil faculty, which goes into the matter very thoroughly and acts upon the recommendations of the heads of department and takes all the different factors into consideration, such as length of service, ability as an instructor, and so forth. Mr. DITTER. Do the officer-instructors in any way have any voice in who will be promoted in the civilian group? Admiral SELLERS. Yes, sir; the heads of departments. Mr. DITTER. The officer-instructors as well as the civilians? Admiral SELLERS. Yes, sir: the heads of departments, whether they are officers or civilians, constitute the board on civil faculty. Doctor Alden is civilian head of the department of english and is on the board of civil faculty. Mr. DITTER. Are those selections subject to review in any way whatever? Admiral SELLERS. They are subject to review by the Superintendent and approved by the Navy Department. EFFECT OF REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF APPOINTEES TO ACADEMY UPON OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COST Mr. DITTER. Admiral, to what extent could the maintenance costs at the academy be reduced if the number of appointees were reduced by one? Supposing, instead of providing for the number that we presently provide for as appointees to the academy, we reduced it by one, to what extent would that effect a saving in the cost of operation and maintenance items of the appropriation for the Academy? Admiral SELLERS. That is a very difficult question to answer, and would require an enormous amount of figuring to work it out beause there are so many different factors that come into that. Mr. DITTER. Could a reasonably fair estimate be secured without an unusual or extraordinary amount of labor? Captain WILKINSON. I can give you some sort of an approximation of that now, if you like, sir. Admiral SELLERS. Yes; go ahead. Captain WILKINSON. In reduction by 1 appointment it would represent 100 less in each class. Mr. DITTER. But I should like to have that resolved into dollars and cents. COST OF EDUCATING MIDSHIPMEN Captain WILKINSON. The cost of educating one midshipman per year, exclusive of the overhead, is $1,713.88, actual as of 1937. Mr. DITTER. What goes into that cost? Have you a table by which you arrive at that figure? Captain WILKINSON. Yes, sir. Mr. DITTER. Could we have that inserted in the record? Captain WILKINSON. Yes, sir. Mr. DITTER. Mr. Chairman, may I ask that that be inserted in the record? Mr. UMSTEAD. Yes. (The table referred to is as follows:) Fiscal year 1937 4) Interest on cost of buildings, grounds, docks, sea walls, etc., at 4 percent_- 5) Depreciation on buildings, etc., at 1 percent.. Station ship, pay of officers, enlisted personnel, and general stores___ 4) Salaries of executive officers, medical staff, officer instructors, and administration_-_ $743, 847.98 165, 299. 56 1, 214, 725. 43 1, 720, 401. 00 974, 086.00 67, 643. 00 24, 641. 75 1,718, 544. 72 531, 146. 25 280, 703.00 178, 917.00 7, 619, 955. 69 3,844, 273. 97 Items (e) to (k), total.. 3,775, 681, 72 Lege number of midshipmen_-_ Cost of educating 1 midshipmen (based on items (a) to (k), inasive) st of educating 1 midshipman (based on items (e) to (k), in'nsive) ___--- 2, 203 $3,458.90 $1, 713. 88 Captain WILKINSON. That takes care of maintenance and repairs, rrent and miscellaneous expenses, the cost of transportation of didates, pay of midshipmen, rations of midshipmen, civilian in 38929-38-14 structors, commissary and laundry, and it takes care of everything except interest on the cost of buildings, depreciation, pay of officers and enlisted personnel and the administrative staff. Mr. DITTER. And by reducing the number of midshipmen appointees by one, we reduce the number in the Academy as a whole by 400? Captain WILKINSON. By 100 per class, approximately 400, ultimately after 4 years' operation of the reduction at a saving of $1,713 for each midshipman, assuming that items (e) and (f) of the table. really part of the overhead, could be proportionately reduced, which is doubtful. That saving would not take effect except as to the 100 per year when the reduction of appointees was in effect. Mr. DITTER. In addition to this item of $1,713 for each midshipman, could we reduce either the civilian personnel or any of the other items going into administration, maintenance, and administration of the academy, if this number were reduced by one, reduce the general overhead? Admiral SELLERS. Well, undoubtedly there would be a saving. For example, the pay of the midshipmen would be reduced. Captain WILKINSON. That has been taken care of in this statement. REDUCTION OF STUDENT LOAD PER INSTRUCTOR Mr. DITTER. For instance, Admiral, if I may suggest it, the student load per instructor would be reduced, would it not? Admiral SELLERS. Yes, undoubtedly. Mr. DITTER. Therefore a saving might be effected in the matter of the civilian and officer instructor group by reducing the week's load on those instructors? Admiral SELLERS. Yes. Captain WILKINSON. The civilian instructors are already provided for, sir. Mr. DITTER. But if we reduced the number of students, we could automatically reduce the number of men provided to teach those students, could we not? Admiral SELLERS. The cost of the civilian instructors is in there already, already in the computation. Mr. DITTER. Is the cost of the officer instructors in that computation? Captain WILKINSON. Not the officers, no, sir. Admiral SELLERS. No, sir. Mr. DITTER. Then we could reduce the cost of the officer instructors, at least to some extent, and in proportion to which the number of pupils or midshipmen was reduced, the general wear and tear over all on the use of the facilities in the Academy could be correspondingly reduced, could it not, Admiral? Admiral SELLERS. It would seem so, yes. Mr. DITTER. Has the number of civilian instructors and officer instructors remained constant, Admiral, during your administration at the Academy? Admiral SELLERS. No, it has not. The first year I was there we took on some extra instructors. Our records show it has been steady at 70, 71, 69, just about the same for some time. Mr. DITTER. Just about the same? Admiral SELLERS. Yes. This year we lost one very fine instructor who died. POSTGRADUATE WORK AT NAVAL ACADEMY Mr. DITTER. Now, Admiral, is there any postgraduate work being done at the academy? Admiral SELLERS. Oh, yes. 1 Mr. DITTER. What percentage of the work that is being done at the academy is postgraduate work? Admiral SELLERS. None in the Naval Academy proper, over which I am Superintendent. Mr. DITTER. That is what I meant. Admiral SELLERS. You see, I am Superintendent and have the academy under me. Mr. DITTER. I am inquiring now as to whether any of the instructors or any of the educational work at the academy is directed toward postgraduate work. Admiral SELLERS. No, it is all academic work in the academy. ESTIMATE OF SAVINGS IN COST THROUGH REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF MIDSHIPMEN Mr. DITTER. Admiral, will you see that you have inserted in the record what in your estimation could be saved in the way of appropriations and costs which are incident to and growing out of the operation of the Naval Academy, if the number of midshipmen appointees were reduced by one? Admiral SELLERS. Yes, sir, we will figure that out for you. (The statement requested is as follows:) There has previously been inserted in the record an itemization of costs involved in the education of a midshipman. Exclusive of the interest on cost of buildings, grounds, etc., depreciation on buildings, pay of officers and enlisted personnel of the station ship, and the salaries of executive officers, medical staff, officer instructors and administration, the cost of educating one midshipman for the year 1937 has been given at $1,713.88, as computed from the cost of upkeep and operation of the Naval Academy and academic departments, transportation and mileage of candidates, the pay of midshipmen, the rations of midshipmen, civilian instructors, and commissary and laundry operating expenses. In estimating savings that could be effected were the number of midshipmen reduced from 4 to 3, the items of maintenance and repair costs for the Naval Academy as a whole and for the operation and equipment of academic departments would be but little, if any, affected by the reduction, such items being overhead expenses that would not be materially reduced. Likewise, the number of civilian instructors would not be reduced below the present number. From the foregoing and basing computation on those items directly and materially affected by a reduction in the number of midshipmen, i. e., transportation and mileage of candidates, pay of midshipmen, rations of midshipmen, and operation of the commissary and laundry, the estimated saving per midshipman is $1.113.60 and the savings by a reduction in appointments from 4 to 3 are as follows: First year-100, at $1,113.60 each- Third year-300, at $1,113.60 each__. Fourth and subsequent years-400, at $1,113.60 each. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS $111,360 222, 720 334.080 445, 440 Admiral SELLERS. The estimate for 1939 and the allocation of the appropriation for 1938 are based upon the obligations and expendi |