The Portland daily press., 1890-06-03
HOW SOLDIERS WILL GET THEIR BEER.
Not From Canteens In States Having
Prohibition Legislation.
Mr.. Hale Speaks In Opposition to the
New System
The Senate Adopts the Conference
Report, Canteens and All.

etary standard, he preferred gold but be-
lieved that silver and gold might be main
tanned on parity by proper legislation.
The conference report on the army appro-
preparation bill was taken up and the ques-
tion in regard to the provision as to can
teens discussed, the conference report being
to the effect that no intoxicating drinks
should be supplied in canteens or traders
stores in states or territories where prohibi-
tion legis lation exists.
Mr.. George asked Mr. Allison why the
rule should be restricted to enlisted men and
not apply to officers.
Mr.. Allison replied that the Senator
must answer the question for himself. The
conference committee found the provision
in the bill, The Senator from Mississippi
himself voted for it. The conference COM
mittee had no right to set aside the action of
the Senate.
Mr.. George said that if he had voted for
such proposition 1t was done unconscious
ly. He did not think he voted for distinc-
tion between officers and enlisted men ON the
subject of temperance and sobrety. He be
believed 1t great deal more important to
have sober officers than sober men.
Mr; Blair argued against the report and
read letters from soldiers and others against
the canteen system.
Mr.. Hale said that every Senator who had
experience of conference committees knew
that it was difficult for the conferees of
either house to have their way entirely. He
regretted, in this case, the concession made
teen system went into effect it wovld become
so obnoxious that it would last but little
while. Such law could not be continued
In the face OF public opinion.
Mr.. Eustis asked Mr.. Allison whether he
thought it conducive to discipline In the ar
my to have rules not uniform and non pro-
hibition applicable to some troops, and
whether the Iowa idea was to be thrust
down the throats of Senators in regard to
the army as it had been the other day in re-
gard to the police power.
Mr.. Allison replied that in the matter in
question there was no uniformity now. 1t
was within the power of the commander at
any post to prohibit or allow the sale of any
kind of Intoxicating liquors.
Mr., Dawes. suggested that troops sta
TONED in Louisiana should not be required
to eat the same food or sleep under the same
number of blankets as troops stationed in
Alaska.
Mr.. Plumb suggested that the movement
against the canteen system was in the in
terest of post traders The Secretary of
GERS regarded the canteen system with great
favor and said its results, whenever tried,
had been good. 1t was sanctioned by the
law and experience of European armies.
Under the post-trader system. soldiers conld
get all the liquor they wanted and got moth
ing in return for the money they spent, but
the vile stuff furnished them; while under
the canteen system, if a soldier did buy
liquor, the profit at least came back in the
shape OF an increasing company's fund to be
applied to the purchase of things which the
soldiers needed for their comfort. The
whole matter, he said, was a fight between
the post-trader and the cante9n, and the
good women of the country had been
dragged into 1t in favor of the post-trader
who was the curse of the army.
posed by Mr.. Hale and adopted by the SEN
ate. did not abolish the post traders, while
the amendment reported by the conference
committee did exclude the post trader. Even
II the post traders and canteens were both
abolished. the soldiers stationed in the
there for liquor and would not only drink
more, but would have the temptation to de-
sert increased and aggravated. The amend
mittee Carried out the @ same H principle pre- pre-
cisely as was carried out in the law passed
by the Senate the other day. If he had his
way about it, he would not stop with the
man who had SIG month, but would make
1t apply to every man in the army, from the
general down.
Mr.. Hale said the movement against the
canteen was honest and serious, and did not
originate with the post trader, who was go
ing 30 lose his profit.
Mr.. Plumb-"There is where it comes
FROM"
Mr.. Hale-"The Sen ator from Kansas has
lived long enough to know there is honesty,
sincerity and philanthrOphy in the world,
and he will have hard time in persuading
and women all over the country, who look
upon this caDteen system as a backward
step, that they are being bounded on by the
post-traders. The post-trader is bugbear,
got up in the imagination of the Senator
from Kansas. The real issue is this new de.
parture of legalizing the setting up of the
United States government as seller Of Ii
quor to the soldier"
Mr.. Dawes said Mr.. Plumb's argument as
to the profits from the sale of liquor coming
back to the soldier reminded him of the old
topper who bought barrel of whiskey, and
who every time he took drink charged him.
self six cents for it, saying that when he had
emptied the barrel he had more profit from
that barrel of whiskey than he made from
his farm.
Mr.. Plumb accepted the Illustration and
suggested that Mr.. Dawes was the corner
grocer who objected to that system, just as
the post trader objected to the canteen.
Mr.. Dawes-sThis sudden and suspicious
concern about the post-trader is too new and
too thin. 1t has been suggested to the SEN
ator by army officers, bent not only on main
tanning the canteen, but who want the SOL
diers to make a profit out Of by selling
liquor to them themselves"
Mr.. Plumb-"The Senator from Massa-
chusetts can make more misstatements than
any man l ever knew and think he makes
them knowingly. If he knows anything
about this business, which should be par
d0ned for doubling, he knows that officers
have no lot or part in canteens. His accusa-
tion against persons as good as he should not
be made"
Mr.. Hale said the question was one not to
he settled nv nprsnnal a1luc ciou Tt woo q co
ri0us and grave question whether the United
States government should now, for the first
time, embark in the selling of liquor to its
soldiers: 1t was not question to be settled
by taunt, Sneer or personal illusions.
Mr.. Allison defended with a show of much
warmth the action of the conference COM
mittee. He referred to the fact that the SOL
diers at Fort Meyer could come into Wash
ington City every day. and get drunk under
had absolute control OF the liquor traffic. He
suggested that those who were so Jealous in
the matter of temperance should bring for
ward a measure to prevent that evil. He
said: II make no allusion to this building. |
speak of the. District of Columbia, where
the soldiers of the army can get drunk with
out Limitation as to opportunities"
Mr.. Dawes-"Could they not get drunk
under your system?"
Mr.. AllisOn-"Not in pr0hibtory states.
am not arguing for the amendment, nor do
lieve the Secretary of War is adverse to
temperance principles? The Secretary of
War is endeavoring to enforce reform
whereby higher tone of morality may pre-
vail and desertions may be
lessened, and the esprit du corps
maintained higher than hitherto. Now
we are to be gibbetted on the cross roads of
public opinion as being in favor of allowing
officers of the army to sell liquor: Mr..
President, represent a state that has de-
clored over and over again in favor of pro-