NEW HAVEN, March 7, 1896.

Yesterday the number of candidates for the university nine was reduced to twenty-four, who will probably remain with the squad until those to go on the Easter trip are selected. This includes those trying for battery positions. As a whole the men are altogether too slow and do not seem to be able to judge the ball accurately, fumbling being a common fault. This weakness is especially characteristic of the candidates for infield positions, particularly catcher and shortstop, which will be hard to fill acceptably. As yet no one has been found who could be depended upon at either of these places. Trudeau, pitcher on last year's nine, can be relied upon to do good work this season, if any one is found who can give him proper support behind the bat. Practice will be continued in the cage a few days longer and then if the weather is favorable the men will go out to the Field where much needed batting practice can be commenced.

The action of the faculties of the academic and scientific departments in not putting any obstacles in the way of sending the crew to Henley this spring is in keeping with the policy which they have always followed of exercising a supervision over undergraduate affairs without actually interfering in them. Their decision was unanimous and is practically unreserved. Every one who goes under leave of absence must have all his work completed and his examinations satisfactorily passed before the date of sailing-Saturday, June 6. At the mass meeting of the university held last evening the final step towards entering the Yale crew was taken by ratifying by a practically unanimous vote the plans which the Navy management had arranged, and Yale's entry in the Henley Royal Regatta will be forwarded shortly. There has been no reduction in the number of candidates for the university crew as yet, twenty men still being at work. All of these have rowed before, four being members of last year's university boat and the remaining on different class crews. It is generally thought that the men sent over to England will be fully up to the standard of Yale crews of previous years. The training table will not be started until just before the Easter vacation, when a reduction of the candidates will take place.

The final competitive debate to choose the Yale speakers for the coming Yale-Harvard debate will be held about Easter and will be open to all members of the university. The announcement that the Harvard Freshman Debating Club is prohibited in the future from holding joint debates with like organizations in other colleges is generally regretted here as terminating one of the existing opportunities for friendly intellectual rivalry between the two universities.

The ninety men now in training for the track athletic team are being coached by Trainer Murphy and Captain Sheldon. The long distance runners are taking out door exercise in squads, and the bicycle men take a sharp ride each day. There is some promising material among the distance runners. The association will send a team of four men to compete in the relay race at the games of the Holy Cross College at Worcester on March 12.

Plans have been prepared for a new dormitory building, which are to be submitted to the corporation. The question respecting the erection of the building has not yet been decided. The matter will be dependent on their action. The plans call for a dormitory 120 feet long by 46 feet wide and five stories in height, not including a high studded basement. It is roughly estimated that the new structure will cost about $100,000.

YALE NEWS.