The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-02

wine shall be sold or supplied to the enlisted
men in any cantetn or post traders store.
or in any room or building at any garrison
or military post In any state or Territory
In which the sale OF alcoholic liquors, beer
or wine is prohibited by law"
by section 1! Of the act of March ?. 1859.
Congress provided: That no officer or pri-
vate soldier shall be detailed 20 sell intox-
icating drinks. as a bartender o. otherwise,
IN any post exchange or c~anteen, nor shall
any other person be required or allowed
70 sell such liquors in any -campmen or
Tort or on any premises used for military
purposes by the United States; and the Sec
rotary Of war is hereby directed TO issue
such general order as may be necessary 20
carry the provisions of this section into full
force and effect"
The post exchange is thus described by the
regulations prescribed by the War Depart
ment: The post exchange Will combine
the features Of reading and recreation
rooms, a cooperative store and a restau-
rant. It's primary purpose is TO supply the
troops at reasonable prices with the articles
OF ordinary use. wear and not
suppIled oy the government, and TO afford
the means OF rational recreation and amuse-
ment. It's secondary purpose is through
exchange profits 10 provide the means for
improving the messes. The money which
Grafton OF the exchange is the money Of
the men themselves. so that the business
conducted Is their own business. conducted
Tor them; and the benefits of all kinds are
equally shared by them"
REGULATIONS.
The regulations relating TO the conduct of
exchanges have for several years provided:
A exchange doing its full work should
embrace the following sections: (a) A we'll
stocked general store. in which such goods
are Kept as are usually required at military
posts, and as extensive in number and va
riety as conditions will justify; OBJ a we'll
Kept iunch counter, supplied with as great
a variety of viands as circumstances permit,
such as tea, coffee, cocoa, nonalcoholic
drinks, SOUPS fish. cooked and canned
meats, sandwiches, pastries, ETC.; (c) a can
teen. at which. under the conditions here
matter set I0rth, beer and light wines nv
me drink. and tobaccos. may be sold:
(d) reading and recreation rooms. Supplied
with DOCKS, periodicals and other reading
aIIey and facilities for other proper indoor
sdmes. as We'll as apparatus for outdoor
SpOrtS and exercises. such as cricket. foot
gymnasium, possessing also the requisite
pdraQnernalia for outdoor athletics. AT
S madnt posts 1t may be impracticable TO
MAINTAIN all or these sections, but at every
exchange there should be no less than two
departments the refreshment. embracing
recre LINEN n counter and c~anteen. and the
branches. "N oUne4
The sale or use of ardent spirits in any
Dahcdl Oh the exchange, and in any encamp-
INERT or Tort or on any premises used for
mlntary purposes by the United States. is
StrictIy prohibited, but on the recommen-
uauIon OF the exchange council the COM
Inaholng off1cer may permit beer and Ugh
wines 10 be sold at the canteen by the drink
MneneVer ne is satisfied that giving to the
troops the opportunity OF obtaining S,on
beverages within the post limits viii n-aS-ant
tnem from resorting for strong intoxicanfs
u pIdceS without such limits, and tend to
pIoIhote temperance and discipline among
them. Should the commanding Officer nn3
approve the recommendation of the aYe
SJnanSe council, 1t VIII be submitted for final
decision to the department commarde- TO-
canteen must be in a room used for me
otner purpose, and when practjcahle In q
DulIdlng apart from that in which the
The sale of beer must be limited 70 1.na
nays, and the beer consumed upon the 7 rem
NOT he ~ praetlce known as treating will
Inc secretary continues: ''These ex-
ohanges nave largely replaced the ODD and
ODJectlonable post-trader store ut military
10 reIleve the cheerlessness and tediu N of
an enlisted mans life in time of peare
raneI tbo tne morale of the forco and
Aepei the oelter class or eniiStments.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES
During the year ending June 30. 1893
Tic aggregate receipts of the exchanges in
operation in the army amounted to 81 eo1
$780, and there was received as money on
deposit s1Ss. 25s.s1. making the total amount
OF money received $3.50, 657.4S There WAS
expended for merchandise purchased rent
fixtures and repairs, and expenses of oner-
alton. 49,. 1915. which, less deposit. gives
a profit of sS23. Gel. 81. From this amount
there was donated to the funds of the Sow
eral regimental bands 50, I54. 81; to the main
,ehance or post gardens, S ,559.l7: to post
lprdrles, so4O.Oo; to gymnasiums, s., 9l3. 70:
as prizes for the encouragement of athIetic
sports, xS,35o.4l, and after setting aside tho
sum OF SoU,SiIoo as a reserve fund TO meet
anticipated Expenses for at least one
llonlh' tnere was returned to the members
$50. So. sum VI S-of'-
During the year ending June 30. 1899. the
aggregate receipts of the eighty post ex-
changes and the thirty-four regimental ex-
changes in the army, so far as renorts
have been received, amounted IN 81 e0o
4S5-55, and the expenditures 1919. Oh. ..
which, less deposit, gives a net profit of
SSSS,0SS.27. From this amount there was do
Lated TO the FUNDS of the several regi-
mental pands %,563.O3, to the maintenance
OF post gardens $1,0S9.74, to post libraries
Sl,l2l-5o, to gymnasiums 81, 527.07. to athletic
sports ~Sl,3l2.lS, and after setting aside the
sum OF SlOl.OoS.8 as "a reserve fund, there
was returned to the members in the form
or dividends the sum of $275, $50. "A.
the aggregate receipts of the post ex-
changes therefore during the past two
years has been 3,420. 1881, and the divi-
$500 WV s1'Vf ~ iltl NdluG OI IneSe GX-
chanses-that is TO say. the balance of
their combined assets over their liabilities
was on June 80, 1899, $253, 1872. &c.
The wide difference between the terms
used by Congress in the act of Tune Ii,
l&O, distinctly and Enthusiastically prohibit
ing all sales of alcohol liquors. beer. or
wine, In military posts in States where
sales to civilians are prohibited by law.
and the terms used in the act of March
:, 1899, which seemed to be designed as a
regulation of the sale in post exchanges
and a prohibition of such sale by post
traders, led to a reference by my prede-
cessor to the attorney general for a con-
struction of this provision Of the act of
March 2, 1899.
The attorney general. on the 18th of
April. rendered an opinion to the effect
that the section In question does not pro-
hibit the continuance of the sale of intox-
icating drinks through the canteen sec
tons of the post exchanges as heretofore
organized and carried on. except that. of
course, no officer or soldier can be put on
duty in the canteen section to do the sell