Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-06-03

Even II post traders and eanteens were botl
aboliAhed, soliieRs stationed in the neigh
borhocd Of towns and cities would 70 ther<
for liquors and would not only drink mors
but would have tn, temptation to deserl
increased and aggravated. The amendment
| - reported from the conference committee
carried out the same principle, precisely q
il vas carried out in the lav passed by the
Senate the other day. II hs had his way
about it he would not stop With the mar
| who had el6 month but would make Il
apply to every man in the army from the
general down.
Hale saia the movement against the
canteen was honest and serious and did moi
originate With the post trader. who was 60.
ing to lose his profts.
Plumb-There 10 where it comes from.
Hale-The Senator from Kansas has
lived long enough to know that there ID
honesty. sinceris, nd philan,hrophy in the
world. And he y 4. ..GT. hard time in per.
suading thousands ar' thousands of honest
men and women ali o,c. The country. who
look upon this canteeu sy stem ~ = back
ward step. that they are being bounded on
by pest traders. The post trader is q bug
bear, got up in the Imagination Of the Sen
! at0r from Kansas. The real Issue 10 this
new departure of legAlizing the setting up
of the Uniled Slater government as q seller
OF liquor to the soldier.
Dawes said that 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 4 barrel Of whiskey,
and every time he took drink he charged
himself SIX cents for it, saying that when
he had emptied the barrel be had more
profit from that barrel of whiskey than he
made from his farm.
Plumb accepted the illustration and sug.
gested that Dawes was coraer grocer, who
objected TO that system, Just as the Post
trader objectedss to canteen.
Dawes. This sudden and snspi-
cious concern about the Post trader,
wash too new aud toothing. 1t
had been suggested to the Senator by two
army officers who were bent not only on
maintaining the canteen. bat who wants the
soldiers to make profit By seliug tlse liq.
uor to themselves.
Plumt-The Senator from Massachu-
sets can make more misstatements than
any man l ever knew; and think he
makes them knowingly. II he knows any
thing about this business, (which should
be pardoned for do1bting) be knows that
officers have no lot or part in canteens. Ills
accusations against persons as good as he
should not be made.
After further discussion Plumb suggest
ed to Hale that he should write out su:h a
proposition AS he should like to see applied
to himself as well as Others.
Hale replied that the question was one
n 10, h., ooff1aI hxy u
was the grave and serious question whether
the United States government should now,
for the first time, embark in the selling of
liquor to its soldiers. 1t was not Il question
to be settled by taunt, sneer or personal al
lusions.
Allison defended with much warmth the
action OF the conference committee. lie
referred to the fact that the soldiers Mt
Fort Meyer could come into Washington
city every day, get drunk under the dome
Of the Capitol, where Congress had the ab-
solute control of the liquor traffic suggested
by those who were 90 Jealous in the matter
of temperance should bring forward a
a measure to prevent that evil He said; l
make no allusion to this building. speak
Of the District of Columbia, where soldiers
of the army can get drunk, without limita-
tion as to opportunities.
Dawes-''Could they not get drunk under
your system?"
Allison-"Not in prohibitory States. l
am not arguing for the amendment nor do
l care anything about it. Does anybody
believe the Secretary of War is adverse TO
temperance principles? The Secretary Of
War is endeavoring to enforce a reform
whereby higher tone of morality revails,
desertions are lessened, and the esprit du
corps is maintained higher than hitherto
Now we are to be gibbetted on the cross
roads of public opinion as being in favor
of allowing, for the first tire in the history
of the Government, officers Of the army to
sell liquor. Mr.. President, l represent
the State that has declared over and over
again in favor of prohibitory law. desire,
as far as can, to stand in proper relations
to the sentiment. of my State on the SUBJ
ject. believe ] am doing so in present
ing this solution of the difficult question.
After further discussion the question was
taken and the conference report agreed to,
yeas, So; nays, s, Hale voting nay.
Edmunds offered a re solution instructing
the committee on fisheries to make an early
investigation into the administration of the
au ah5 III tNt OHitcu 5tattb ElsH SOuliuls-
sioners office, esrecsally in reference to
the charges to the force AMI compensation
of employees and as to alleged favoritism
or other undue administration.
The resolution went over till tc-morrow,
and the silver bill taken up. Harris ad-
dressed the Senate.
At the close of the speech the silver bill
went over till tomorrow, and after brief
executive session the Senate adjourned,