Evening star., 1898-06-29
NOllQUOR AT THE CAPITOL
Ihe House Committee Reports Against Al
lowing Its Sale.
FaTorS the Exclusion Of Intoxfcnntn
FROM Government Reserya-
lions and Buildings

Inc House committee on the alcoholic
liquor traffic has reported a bill fayorabIv
making 1t unlawful. to sell. give away Or
otherwise dispose of Intoxicating uouor
upon any government reservation or public
building under the control of the govern
ment
The report of the committee was written
by Mr.. Ellis, and says:
But few bills before the present Com
sress have had the support of so many De-
titioners as the one under consideration.
Your committee, after giving the matter
earnest and careful consideration. have
reached the unanimous conclusion that but
lew II any reasons exist why the United
States government should engage in the
ilquor traffic, even to the extent OF legalir-
ing or permitting the sale of intoxicants
"lthin its immigrant stations, soldiers
MONIES, military posts or any other build
lnSs under its control, including the Capitol
or other government buildings within the
Dlstrct OF Columbia, or any reservation
upon which any OF said buildings are sltu-
ated.
numerous reasons exist why the govern
ment should not only discourage bat abso-
iutely Prohibit the sale of all intoxIcants
In all buildings and upon all grounds with
IN the scope of this bill To the average
mind 1T seems inconsistent that the Com
gress of the United States should enact lavs
promoting the sale of intoxicants within
certain specified distance of a school
house or church in the District of CoIuw
RIA, or within one mile of the Soldiers
Home OF the District. And Notwithstanding
all this painstalung care on the part of our
national lawmakers. IL is not necessary ro
go outside of the four walls of the build
ing wherein these laws are enacted in order
10 purchase any and all kinds of intoxicat-
ing liquors. IL may be said 10y some that
snch sales are violation of existing laws
but III order to remove any doubt that may
exist the American Congress should 1ot
hesitate to pass a law which would saw 10
our country in no uncertain terms, intoxi-
cShts are not necessary incentives to need
ed and wholesome legislation
During the Fifty-fourth Congress a hilI
passed the House making IL unlawful 10
sell any kind of intoxicating liquors in the
SapitoI building, but it did not become a
law, Notwithstanding the fact that the vote
py which 1t passed the House was almost
unanimous.
The testimony given in the hearings be-
lore the committee will allow US TO reach
out one conclusion, and that is that the
so-called canteen system adopted by GER
tam Soldiers Homes and military posts ts
detrimental, not only to the discipline and
general welfare of these institutions hut
has general demoralzing effect and no
corresponding benefit. o. .. Howard ma
Jor general of the United States army 1re-
tlredl, who has given The question much
consideration from the standpoint of a mil
itary man, says:
Ever since the prospect of sending an
army to our southern border and proba bly
TO Cuba has been made apparent to me- my
Hlnu mas reverted to the necessity Of Iet-
ting every officer and soldier know that
alcohol will not help the digestion and that
alcoholic drink will be the best po,;sfbIa
means TO produce unfitness for service un-
ntness to endure the miasma of swamps
and the dangers from yellow fever. / have
oonversed with excellent physicians who
say that there need be no unusual exposure
IN the campaigns proposed or prospective
IL proper hygienic precautions be taken
which includes abstinence from liquors."
The report cites statistics complied by
Ella NJ Thatcher. national superintendent
soluiers ana sailors department of the
Woman's Christian TEMPERANCE Tnion.
upon the effect of the canteen system IN
support of this argument