New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-03
ACTION ON THE CANTEEN QUESTION.
no LIQUOR CAN BE SOLD IN PROHIBITION
STATES EITHER BY POST TRADERS
OR CANTEENS.

OR CANTEEXs.
Washington June (Speciall.-Thc Army canteen
question was disposed Of by the Senate this afternoon
flor n debate which afforded many curious contrasts
of opinion The conference report was OF course
allowed Conference reports seldom defeated,
ard pday the opposition to the canteen system, rs
-, red by the committees OF both houses, was beaten
b. ;ic overwhelming vote OF 80 TO 8. 30 inc prac-
t,a reform wrought by the creation OF Inc post can
iecn as testified to with great unanimity by Army
officers. will be allowed to remain until the next
ARMY Appropriation bill offers another chance to the
nrohibition or nothing" contingent OF the Senate to
mt Itself again on record. Under the provso IN
serted by the Conference Committee no liquor is 10
be sold at all by the post traders, ana none oy inc
canteens in any state which has prohibition law
One of the contrasts offered by the debaters was the
marked divergence Of opinion as to the caneen sys'
tenn between senator's from the socaled prohibition
states Mr. Allison, OF Iowa, and Mr. Plumb. OF
Kansas were strongly In favor OF agreeing TO the
compromise entered into with the House, while Mr..
Hale OF Maine and Mr.. Blair, who. II not from pro
hbition state is at least prohibition leader, opposed
the maintenance of the cantcen as al outrage on
philanthropic sentiment. The practical benefits OF
the system easily outweighed Its imagined conn'ct
with theoretical prohibition, however Great credit
fr the successful solution OF the problem Is due 10
senator Allison who managed the Army bill rom the
beginning. The Senators voting against concurrence
in the report Messrs. Blair ColqWtt' DiAon'
George Hale Sanders Teller and Turpe.
Mr. Allison opened the debate lie presented the
report and said that the secretary Of war claimed thai
,ba reform recently instituted, OF substituting the
canteen for the suffers store was well received III
the Army.
Mr. George asked why the rule shonld be restricted
to enlisted men, and should not apply also ID ocer'
Mr. Allison replied that the senator must answer that
cue.,i MI him.e elf. III Comic encc Committee found
sissippi had himself voted for it.
Mr. Blair argued against the report, and rcad leu
ters from soldiers and others against the cahteeh
system.
Mr. Hale predicted that If this canteen system went
into effect IL would become obnoxious that IL woua
last but a little while such Ia" couid not NC
continued In the face OF public opinion and in tho
,,ce ~ what would he the result to the Amy Itself
Mr. Eustls asked Mr.. Allison whether lie thought 1t
conducive 10 discipline in the Army &c have us rules
not uniform-whetlIcr there should be rule Of pro
hibition and rule of non prohibition applicable 10
the same troops; whether tile Iowa ide" was 10 DC
thrust down the threats If scnatos In regard to the
Army, as IL had bceh ue "''0i "'' -" '0e " WV
police power.
Mr. Allison replied that in the matter in question
there was no uniformity now. 1t was within the
mower Of a commander at any post 10 prohlot or 10
allow the sale Of any kind Of intoxicating liquors.
Mr. Plumb suggested that the movement against
tho canteen system In the interest OF Tile posi-
traders The secretary Of War. the Adlutantueh-
cral and other army officers regarded the cahteeh
s,ton with great favor and said that It's results lad
been good. Under the posttrader system s1urIs
could cct all the liquor they ~anted ana tilft ket
nothing in return for tbs money they spent ouI te
vile staa furnished to tlrm while, Under the cantcen
system II the soldier d. buy Liquor, the pTunt AZ
least came back the ahape OF increasing tle COM
rauy', fund 70 be applied To- the purchase Of things
which inc soldiers needed for their comfort. Inc
whole matter he said, A fight between the post
trader and the cantcen and the good women Oh u:
couny had been dragged into II In favor OF the pos
trader-who was the curse OF the Army II ne hdu
his way about il he would hot stop with the man VINO
Rad si3 "a month, but would make II apply 70 cN'rS
man In The Army. from the General down. -,
Mr. Hale rcpLcd that the movement aSainSI thc
cautccn was an honest and serious one ana ala hot
originate with the post trader, WHO was goinR 10 los
his proft.. II serious and grave question: nc
s,id whether the Government should now lor ule
0rs time embark in the selling N liquor 10 Us solls
Mr. Allison defended. with warmth, INC ao'0n oi
tho Conference Committee. " The secretary OF war,
he said is endcavorlng 10 enforce reform whereDv
a HIGHER tone OF morality prevails. deseruohs arr
Iesrncd and esprit du corps = nalntalheh hieei
than II has hitherto been. And now We are 20 DC
betod on the cross reads Of public opinion as pcIS
IN ftvoT II allowing dor the first time In thH history Oh
Tho 1,oycrnment The officers " the Army to sell
uuuor | repre- en- state Tat has declared over anu
over again I'm favor ~ prohibory law. oeSIrr.
so far a. can. 10 stand I'm proper rlauohs 10 nv
sentiment Of my state the subject DelcNe ~.
doing 50 in pr scntins this solution OF the uiH'"''
question: