The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-01
WAR DTPARTMTNT.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
ApJUTANT -GENFRAES OFFICE.
WAsHiNoToN. Aug 2N 1900
Hon. william y. ssoaii. MHGarv CommRis unr,,
States Senate:
DEAR SENATOR. Replying to your several
inquiries concerning the Post Exchange or
Army canteen." I have the honor 10 Inform
you:
Frst-That the sale Of all spirituous LIQUORS
by the cateeni Ia. and has always been. absoluhy
prohibited.
Second-Only beer and light wines are sold
TO either officers or men. and these only when
the commanding officer is satisfied that gvtns
TO the troops the opportunity Of obtaining such
beverage within the post Limits will prevent
them from resorting for strong lnto1icanu
TO places without such limits, and tcn1s to pro-
mote temperance and discipline among them
Third The "canteen" was established, and
has been maintained, In the Interests NJ sn-
perance and betterInent of discipline. Win
most satisfactory results. This Is shown IN
fewer trials by court-martial, IN IN" dc'r"aed
number Of desertions and in the improved health
Of the men.
~Fourth-The exchange Ia a cooperative store
where supplies are sold at cost, OF IA nearly 70
az possible, for the benefit Of officers and men Of
the army. The canteen IA a department OF
the exchange constituting an enlisted mems
club. Rooms In or near the soldiers quarters
are act apart for this special purpose, Furnished
with reading matter. billiard tables and other
games, but where every form Of gambling Is
absolutely forbidden. II Is where tbe men write
their letters home and read the nevspaparu
and magazines. The G~overnmept has no anan-
cial interest whatever in either the cNChH gs or
%Canteen, the funds being supplied by the @l-
diers Themselves. Almost every cunlany
commander has reported IN favor OF NE ~
measure. One Thousand and nineteen o0ll-
missioned officers have made sICcial ret orts ~
this effect. II may be. proper for me lo add
that in the beginning | opposed thc %cautecn.
but was brought TO its support by the over
whelming evidence Of it, .benctccnt result
upon the morale, health and cont"utmeul Of
As set forth in the report Of Assistant Sur
geon Munson, [, > A, who under Instructions
Of the War Department made a careful iuyes-
tigation into the effect Of the Canteeu upon the
health Of enlisted men, the result more than
met the expectations Of those most interested 10
the promotion of temperance In the military
service lie further finds that the percentage
Of deserton has been continually reduced
since the Introduction Of the caHtreh Prior
20 its introduction deseruons AVERAGED from
10 per cent, 90 II per cent annually Sino"
It's. establishment these have decreased as
The next 81, then SO. The next 70 36, den IS.
the next 10 81, and finally TO 20 Further,
the number Of trials and convictions for drunk
enness and offences originating uerrfTuu.
for the six years proceeding the ~cantern WAS
3726 These decreased during the following
six years of It's establishment a. 1903 Further
that for the seven years preceding he "slab-
lishment Of the canteen the average number
Of men who depoeited their savings with the
Government was 1878. For the seven years
following is introduction the average had
Increased to $3.50
Ii has been stated In the public press that
| drink" 70 meet this statement ] have TO in
form you that the. official reports OF The Depart
ment show that the receipts from, sales Of beer
third Of gross receipts, being IN 1895 ffve--eyen-
teenths, and IN 1899 sir-sevnteenths. Taking
of b saiO and d dividing Il By the total number Of
officers. and men shows that each officer and
enlisted mar for the year isas expended, on
lent 10 four glasses OF beer per month, or less
than one glass q week apiece. for each officer
and mar In the military service: In 1890 NE
reached an average Of So cents per month, m
but 10 cents a day. These facts make It oiear
s s9as N Of eS s1nSsT Is ahs si mos e. aS oassT o'n's body IN n
our own country, There n no community OF
which We have any report or knowledge tht
capita. This average should, In fact, appear
much lower, for the reason that citizen err
ployess. Of which We have taken no ACCOUNT
The number Of clerks. mechanics and teamsters
employed with an army In the field IA, az you
hot oibt ANA srS But You TnS vii aaHiia aSTee H would vr =
materially reduce the average OF 20 and IS csnt'
a month.
II thero IL any further information That yun
desire from the records on this subject, the
Department wiz be only too glad 70 furnish
II. You must admit that the anxiety, OF ten.
peranoe people outside the service about the
army is unwarranted. As, compared with
those existing twenty and thirty years ago
az we knew Il then-or with any community
az the present time anywhere In civil lie. the
army Is Z model Temperance socicty-a praC-
tical one. one where reasonable abstinence 4
the rule. and where excesses are the excen-
tions, q society. whose .precepts no, less Than
its example could he followed by all people ~
safety and sobriety. With great respect. SIN
cerely yours,
n c. CoRBrN, Adjutant-General