The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-19
THE POST cAyrEEy SYSTEM.
Strong Testimony 70 the Wisdom OF suppl
ting Beer as q 9ubstitnte fnr NYhlskex.

THE POST CANTEEN SYSTEM
Strong Testimony to the Wisdom or suppiy.
tag Beer as n Substitute for Nvhiskey.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 1s.-Ths declaration Of
surgeon.General Sutherland. in his annual
report. that "one thing is certain drunkenness
ID on the decrease among our troops" will be
welcomed BY all except those who want this
result to be reached In their way and no other.
The Surgeon. General naturally ascribes the
improvement to the post canteen system. as
carried out under the superintendent OF the
Government. and he says that every medical
o'lcer but one who has made report on this
system has approved oft
The canteens IRE allowed to sell light beers.
but are strictly prohibited from selling any
strong liquor. or oven wine. Moreover. the
salo OF beer Is governed by the most careful
restrictions. paragraph 800 Of the Army Regu-
lations reading as follows:
The sale or Of ardent spirits or wines In cantsens
light been Pt 70 % soa
IL IN sssd Sd ia Nc spsf
's III ss g:
Msnon u ss'Ins fs nd To
Proo%,0,s s,nBsI.nSs and d:e!pn. smons them: ms
Gs.S OF known treating must not be per-
1t can hardly be surprising that q system
thus guarded has produced great improve
ment. And yet In the last Congress appropri-
Attons directed to the continuation Of the can-
teens were bitterly opposed. these institutions
being stigmatized rs Government gros shops.
The House. led by few members represent
Ing that sentiment at ono time actually passed
o law prohibiting the sale Of beer in the can
teens. Yet there was abundant testimony be.
fore 1t that the effect would be to drive men to
the neighborinR whiskey shops with their
fiery potions that send them back drunk and
to avoid the penalties OF a debauch ~ N'''''''u
ence: ana from more than sixty Posts where where
one. it is said. has reported This Year against
them. II should be renarkcd that these institu-
tSe it the
charges little luxuries for which they formerly
paid much more to. the post trader. And be-
baceo and tho light drinks. tho eanteens furnish
stationery, and the various small stores used
r Ds hey so
ere cards. dominoes. and checkers at the tables:
sometimes there nre, billiards and pool and
they aro oarreas on the aovern
ment furnishes rooms. the men supply labor.
h st pa N tSe the pe trader
Interest accordingly is to purchase at their heir
Yet il in. order to get the slight stimulant Of
a glass of beer they are obliged to 60 else
where. their interest in the canteen must be
nation at the lack Of trust p nut in them e ~
going elsewhere for Other. purchases. But the
system and the a Of the S post s trader
or Of the shops rather than bulge
the. prohibition States. where under the law
beer beer cannot be- sold at the army. canteens.
selves during the past fiscal year. although
their profits have been small compared with
ehese hss been ste REF
geon- General. It may be interesting to quote
ing at Fort Leavenworth
law Y .et at na1sh In the
s.S wlsh Sssn
ni,. e n: p;oSiSion state esnss.n not
srs ID .y
sn$ss A. T ,ns duty ssS
the hon:e there BE- no Wor.s resHi..
Il opinion T
conduct of the caneen has been satisfactory to me-
al, An analogous experience was that Of Fort
clared that the canteen. when. we were al
lowed to sell beer. was a grand temperance
success. For six month"; no man was under
the influence OF liquor, Since the sale OF beer
was stopped the guard house has never been
without occupants" the soldiers getting whis-
key elsewhere. in spite OF the prohibition laws.
commanding the First Cavalry. speaks thus
of the canteen:
The financial operations OF the canteen have been
very satisfactory giving layge returns each organ
izAton composing It at the least expense 1t enables
the soldier to live almost sumptuously giving him
the welfare and discipline of the command has been
excellent In fact there has been bad infracon OF
the regulations since the post tradersbp here has been
the men are tried have entirely disappeared As an in.
teresting comparison the records OF this post show
that the number OF men confined and cases triod by
courts martial has decreased more than onehalf since
the post trader resigned.
It would be easy to multiply citations from
nearly or quite all tend in the same direction
Indeed. it is easy to understand how great an
IL gained in having even the social
and the drinking OF the men un-
der the watchful eyes OF those who are inter-
ested In their sobriety and discipline. rather
than to have them resort to out of the way
taverns where strong liquor Is sold and where
the interest OF the proprietor is to have them
spend as much money as possible. Since tho
oficcrs OF the garrison are responsible for tho
management OF the canteen as of other parts
Of the Government posts. they take care that
1t does not encourage intoXication. 1t Is pos
sib!e not only to warn men in season. but to
fix by rule the amount Of beer that shall DO
sold to any ono man., 1t is probable that tho
present system will be maintained, and that
any renewal OF last years attempt to over