Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-03
HOuSekeepers -

| y. Johnson, of North Dakota pre-
scented an amendment to the army re-
organization bill. abolishing the sale OF
liquors in canteens in the army, and
bringing prominently forward the dis
| graceful procedure Of officers or sol
diers being required to act as bar
tenders. Hon. w. w. Grout, Of Yer
| mont, ably supported the measure.
and 1t was carried, without division.
| in about 20 minutes. IL then went To
| the Senate committee on military
! affairs, who We're unfavOrablc to the
! amendment. Indeed, one senator eX-
pressed himself as being dead set
against it," ana the committee re-
ported unanimously TO continue the
canteen in the army
| In an interview with one Of the
members Of Congress ne had said to
me, IF my people want this bill, why
do they not ask for it?" This word
was passed along. and when after a
few days Senator Hansbrough OF
North Dakota, presented the amend
ment, with the addition of the closing
section. requiring the secretary of war
to enforce the law, it met with no OPP
position whatever on the floor Of the
Senate. Why? Senator Hansbrough
! explained why: Il did not present this
! measure because the temperance peO-
! pie here requested me so to do, but be
| cause of letters received from North
| Dakota" That was the secret of sue
cess, letters from home!
| This section Of the army reorganiza-
ton bill reads thus:
sec. II. That no officer or private
I - Il,
eating drinks. as bartender or other
wise, in any post exchange or canteen.
nor shall any other person be required
or allowed to sell such liquors in any
! encampment or fort or on any
premises used for military purposes by
the United States. and the secretary Of
war is hereby directed to issue such
general order as may be necessary to
carry the provisions of this section
into full force and effect.
Sec. IS. That all laws or parts Of
laws which conflict with the provisions
of this act are hereby repealed.
As this army bill including the anti
canteen law. expires July l, 1901. that
| law should be more permanently en-
acted in the Fifty-siXth Congress. with
| the other provisions of the "Grout
bill" formerly known as the Ellis
| bill" Hence we must continue our
efforts, not ceasing petitioning, letter
writing. interviewing, etc, until the
/ Grout bill becomes a law. This is
most important. The query will con-
stantly arise. AS Congress has passed
the anti-canteen bill, what is the use
Of further effort along that line?" Ex-
plantations will be necessary; renewed
effort encouraged, for we must have
| this still more far-reaching measure
enacted into a law. which embraces
not only canteens, but Soldiers Homes.
Immigrant Stations, and all public
buildings under government control.
| Besides the money spent for beer in
the o6 State Soldiers Homes. the seven
| National Soldiers Homes for the year
ending June &c. 1898, report
| Pension fund s2.S92, 701.74
| Expended for beer, 1926, S2S.94
| Some petitions received by me have
| had to be discarded because there was
| no possible clue as to where they came
| from. the sender failing to place upon
the petitions the name of city, county,
or state, and the postmark was often
unintelligible.
| Please note this very carefully: Re-
member there should be two petitions
| for each bill, one for the Senate mot
| for both senators) and one for the
representative of your congressional
district. Do not petition for more than
one measure on one sheet. as each bill
goes to a separate committee. After
| folding, write on the back, what the
l from
| what city, county, and state. Petit
| tons may be sent direct to your SEN
ator or representative, to Reform
| Bureau. POP Delaware avenue north
east. Washington, d. c., or to me- at
| 101 South Tenth street, Newark, New
| Jersey.
Following is the text of the "Grout
| BILL successor to the Ellis bin"
which was favorably reported in the
last Congress:
A Bill to Forbid the Sale of Beer and
Other intoxicating Liquors in Soldiers
Homes, Immigrant Stations, and Other
Public Buildings and Premises.
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress
| assembled, That hereafter it shall be
unlawful to sell beer and other in
toXicating liquors in any soldiers
home. or immigrant station, or other
building or premises or grounds owned
or used by the United States Govern
ment. or in the grounds appertaining
to the same.
Sec 3. That any violation of this act
shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction shall, for each scpa-
rate offense, be punished by fine not
exceeding $500.
Following closely upon this long
hnnal fnr leoiela tinn came the enact-