MILITARY ACADEMY.—­The military academy at West Point is maintained for the education of officers for the army.  Each member of Congress appoints two cadets to the academy, and the President appoints four from the District of Columbia and eighty from the United States at large.  There are also appointed two from each territory, two from Porto Rico, and a certain number of enlisted men from the army.  The academy is under the charge of an army officer, appointed by the secretary of war.  Each cadet receives from the government an allowance sufficient to pay all necessary expenses.

NAVY DEPARTMENT.—­The secretary of the navy presides over the navy department.  He has control of all affairs relating to vessels of war, the naval forces, and naval operations.  He has charge of the Naval Observatory at Washington, and of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.  There is an assistant secretary of the navy.

The naval department issues sailing charts, sailing directions, and other publications for the use of seamen.  Among these is the nautical almanac used in navigating ships.

BUREAUS.—­The naval department has a number of bureaus, which are in charge of competent officers detailed from the naval service.

The bureau of navigation gives out and enforces the secretary’s orders to the officers of the navy, enlists sailors, keeps the records of the service, and has charge of the naval academy.  It has charge of the training and education of line officers and enlisted men of the navy.

The bureau of yards and docks attends to the navy yards, docks, wharves, their buildings and machinery.

The bureau of ordnance superintends the forging and testing of cannon, guns, and other military equipments, and the construction of naval torpedoes.

The bureau of medicine and surgery has charge of the naval laboratory, the eight naval hospitals, and the purchase and distribution of surgical instruments and medical stores for the naval department.

The bureau of supplies and accounts purchases and distributes provisions and clothing for the navy.

The bureau of steam engineering superintends the construction and repair of engines and machinery for the vessels of war.

The bureau of construction and repair has charge of all matters relating to the construction and repair of all vessels and boats used in the naval service.

NAVAL ACADEMY.—­The naval academy at Annapolis is maintained by the national government for the purpose of educating and training officers for the navy.  It bears the same relation to the navy that the military academy bears to the army.  At the academy there are three midshipmen for each member of Congress; the President appoints two from the District of Columbia and ten a year from the United States at large; and fifteen enlisted men of the navy are appointed each year on competitive examination.  The academy is under the charge of a superintendent, appointed by the secretary of the navy.  Each midshipman receives from the government an annual sum of money sufficient to pay all necessary expenses incurred at the academy.