Mr. ANTHONY. I offer this amendment to come in as a new section: Am! beirfurthm resolved That in all appointments of cadetsto the Military Academy after the present Yourthe person authorized to nominate shal nomi Halonot ess than 5 candidatesfor each vacancy, l of whom shall be actual residents of the congres lgonal district. Territory or DistCol. on l ltlodto the appointment; and the selection of one shall be made from the enpdidatss aocording to their IGSSOOUV merits and qualifications under such rules an regulations as the SecyWar shall from time to time preseribe but this shall not apply to the appointment of cadets authorised by the POTUS This is in accordance with the recommendation of General Delafield, the head of the Engi neer corps, and is also in the spirit of the recommendation of every Board of Visitors of the Military and Naval Academies for a number of years. General Delafield, in his last annual report, says: “The difficulties that have been exerienced for years past in training the minds and odics of the young gentlemen sent to the Academy to prepare them for usefulness as membersof the military profcssion arise mainly from the qualifications of the candidates being so exceedingly limited. While at the present time it may not be expedient to increase the standard for admission. I dourgently recommend that as election from at least 5 candidates to be nominated for each appointment may be authorized by law, when every section of the country would more certainl have its due proportion of graduates entering the rmy annually. Should this grinciple beauthorized by law, the examination of the candidates could be ordered i n severalsectionsof the country. at convenient military posts and thus save a great annual expensenowincurred by partially educating and returning deficient cadetsto their distant homes.insuro a mac greaterproportion of members who could muster ths courseof studies and avoid the numerous audlrequontdisehargesfrom the academy forinnbility to acquire the reduisite information and proficiency for a graduate of this institution.".The principle of this amendment was adopted by the Senate at the last session of Congress, but it failed to receive the assent of the HoRep. The amendment is now modified in such a way that I hope it will secure the assent of the other brunt: of Congress. It has been recommended by all the Boards of Visitors; it is recomniende, so far as I know, by all the military Officers and the naval officers and by all the educators of the country. It is a principle which has been adopted in ever other military country. Ithas prevailed in tranee for more than 70 years, and military men know how much it has done for the renown and glory of the French poWQI. It has been adopted in England since teCrimeanwar from the observation of the superiority of the French service OVer the English. A commission was a pointed to inquire into that evident superiorit, and upon the report of that commission the competitive system was adopted in the English service. It prevails in Austria; it prevails in Prussia; it prevails in Italy, and, so far as I know, in all military countries except Russia. What the practice there iIs do not know.