The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-25
ARMY POST GANIEEN
Why it Was Instituted, and
How Operated.
SUPERVISION MOST RIGID
Where the American Tommy
Atkins Stakes His Thirst.


the attorney general an option upon the
ant8-canteen law before making any move
| in the direction OF enforcing the law iself,
contend that he adopted this course not
| only o satisfy his own mind as TO the
meaning of rhe law, but because he want
ed a foundation for an appeal TO congress
| at it's next session for a lfberalizing
amendent. In the same line was MS
circular calling upon post commanders
everywhere for reports upon the opera
ton OF the canteen system These re-
ports, as far as they have come in, show
q large majority OF the commanders to
hold opinions favorable to the system. 1t
does not seem to have occurred to the
secretary's champions that he could nave
presented a more striking exhibi to con-
gress by adopting the idea Of Adjutant
General Cortn, expressed when the ques-
ton first arose, that the purpose OF the
law was manifest on its face, whatever
construction might be given technicaily
to it's terms, and that the canteen ought
to be abolished. If the order had gone
forth to close the canteens, and then ne
post commanders had been called upon
for reports comparing conditions at their
post with and without the canteens' con-
gress would have had something much
more satisfactory on which to base any
| revision of Judgment. The course adopted
by the secretary will lay whatever ne
may do hereafter open to the charge OF
prejudice.
AS this subject Is one which Is likely
| to be kept for some time before the pub
! lie eye, an explanation of the canteen
system may be an aid to the understand
ing Of the average newspaper reader In
civil life. The canteen is often con-
founded with the post exchange. whereas
| il Is only a part of 1t. The exchange Is
a cooperative store andttttttttttteaoNN
a cooperative store and club combined.
run by and for the soldiers. There is a
shop in which the men can buy clothing,
pocket knives. various articles OF food.
etc, as In a general store in small vii
lage, There Is reading room in which
they can have access to newspapers and
magazines. There may be a billiard room
and provisions for other games and
amusements. Apart from all these, and
not permitted to mix with them in any
way, Is the canteen, or beer room. No
distilled liquors are sold there; the SOL
der Is not permitted 10 play a game or
read the newspapers there; he may not
carry a bottle of beer away with him,
but is required TO drink whatever he
wishes on the spot He is not even al
lowed to take a sandwich from the shop
in which such things are sold, and eat
it in the room where he drinks his beer.
The entire exchange is under the general
supervision of an exchange officer, who
| usually engages a sergeant or other nom
commissioned officer to take charge OF 1t
in person. This personal manager Is held
responsible for the preservation of good
order there. II he finds that a soldier is
inclined to drink too much beer, it Is his
duty. to refuse to let him have any more.
and IL the man protests too violently the
sergeant can turn him out or even order
him to his barracks.
The purchases and other business de-
tails connected with the conduct OF the
exchange are under control of an eX-
change council, consisting OF the post
commander, the exchange officer. and one
other. They meet from time to time and
discuss ways and means. The capital on
which the exchange Is run comes out Of
funds accumulated from the surplus Of
each company. The rations are issued by
the commlssary officer Of the post not
to the individual soldiers. but to the COM
panies. The allowance is very liberal; in
| the matter OF -four. for instance, II Is al
ways designed 10 furnish a ration about
! one-third greater than the amount which
| IL is estimated the men will want. The
company commander consults with the
baker and the cook, and from the ration
! issue keeps each supplied with such ma
! terial as Is needed. considerable sur
plus Of provisions remains from each
issue. and this Is either turned back to
the counrnissary in exchange for cash. or
sold to the exchagne or some other out
side purchaser. The money thus obtained
goes into what Is known as a company
| fund, and the fund of each company -
| assessed, according to the strength OF
| that company. to supply the capital for
founding or charging the exchange. From
time to time. as the profits Of the ex-
| change accumulate. dividend is declared
each company receiving a proportional
share on the same basis as that on which
it's assessment Is computed. Nm indi-
! vidual soldier has any claim upon suCh a
| dividend The company Is the unit, and
| whatever money 1t receives goes back into
its fund. and Is finally spent either IN pro
vsiing del.cacies for its mess table or IN
some sFecial publication.
For the protection Of the enlisted men
| against frauds in the handling OF their
fundss. there is a council ~ non -commis-
STONED officers who inspect and report
| periodically upon the affairs 90 the ex-
change. Besides this there x q require
rnent in the exchange regulations that
every saIe from a suit OF undsrclothing
down to sandwich shall be recorded
ard all the records OF each day exposed
in a public place for twenty-four hours
thereafter. 50 that every man who has
made n purchase can see for himself that
the money paid In Is accounted fo-. and
that the price he Was charged was 10;
in excess Of what others are paying az
the exchange, or higher than the c,st %
the same goods In stores outside q. the
post. On this last point Il should be sad
that one OF the objects OF The exchange
Is 20 supply the soldiers with such gods
as they desire az prizes below the. retal
market. from going outside of the pos;
and running the risk OF falling into had
company which always hangs about re
edges % a military reservation II was
to- the purpose % holding the soldiers
;rade in this way that the can;sen sys-
ten was started ten years ago as 'an ex-