The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-01
Only Beer and Light Wines Can BE
Purchased When the 0mcer in
Charge Gives Permissions
HAS WORKED GREAT REFORM
FEWER DEsERTIoNS AND COURTS
MARTIAL, LESS DRUNKENNESS,
Better Discipline and the Service Gen.
orally Improved Since the Intro
ducti0n of the Canteen.

WASHINGTON, Aug. s1.-Adjutant Cen
eral Corbin has written letter to Senator
sewall, of New Jersey, a member of the
military committee of the Senate. setting
forth in definite terms the attitude of the
War Department on the question Of the
army canteen. The letter, which is dated
Aug 2S. was made public to-day. 1t fol-
lows:
ITO the Hon. William J. Sewall, Military
Committee United States Senate:
Dear Senator-Replying to your several
inquiries concerning the post exchange or
army canteen.' 1 have the honor to inform
you:
"First-That the sale of all spirituous
liquors by canteen is and has always been
absolutely prohibited.
''Second-Only beer and light wines are
sold to either officers or men, and these
only when the commanding officer is sat-
isfied that giving to the troops the oppor-
tunity of obtaining such beverage within
the post limits will prevent them from re-
sorting for strong intoxicants to places
without such limits, and tends to promote
temperance and discipline among them
''Third-The 'canteen' was established and
has been maintained in the interest of tenn
perance and the betterment of discipline
with most satisfactory results. This is
shown in fewer trials by court-martial, in
the decreased number of desertions and in
the improved health of the men.
''Fourth-The exchange is a cooperative
store, where supplies are sold at cost, or
nearly so as possible, for II benefit of Off
GERS and mer. OF zhe amy. The canteen is
an enlisted mems club. Rooms in or near
the soldiers quarters are set apart for this
special purpose, furnished with reading
matter, billiard tables and other games.
but where every form of agmbling is alb
solutely forbidden. 1t is where the men
write their letters home, and read the
newspapers and magazines. The govern
ment has no financial interest whatever in
either the exchange or the canteen, the
funds being supplied by the soldiers them
selves. Almost every company command
er has reported in favor of the exchange
and canteen effective temperance
measure. One thousand and nineteen COM
missioned officers have made special re-
ports to this effect.
RESULTS OF THE CANTEEN.
1T may be proper for me to say that in
the beginning I opposed the canteen, but
was brought to its support by the over
whelming evidences of its benefcent re-
suit upon the morale, health and content
ment of the service. AS set forth i'm the
report of Assistant Surgeon Munson, u. s.
A, who, under instructions of the War
Department, made a careful investigation
into the effect of the canteen upon the
hon Of
met the expectations of those most inter
ested in the promotion of temperance in
the military service. He further finds that
the percentage of desertion has been con-
tinually reduced since the Introduction of
the canteen. Prior to its introduction de-
sertions averaged from 10 to IL annually.
Since its establishment these have de-
creased as follows: First year TO III, the
next year to 81. the next 81. then 6.3. the
next to 3.6 then So. the next to 34 and,
finally, to 30. Further, the number of
trials and convictions for drunkenness and
offenses originating therefrom for the six
years preceding the canteen was s725
These decreased during the following six
years of its establishment TO 1905 Further.
that for the seven years preceding the es-
tablishment OF the canteen, the average
number of men who deposited their savings
with the government was 1913 For the
seven years following its introduction the
average has increased to s,3s2
WHAT THE MEN SPEND.
"It has been stated in the public press
that the receipts of the exchange are
nearly all for drink To meet this state
ment j have to inform you that the Off
cial reports of the department. show that
the receipts from sales of beer and light
wines are and have been less than one
third of the gross receipts. being in 1895
five-seventeenths and in 1893 six-seven-
teenths. Taking the amount of the gross
receipts on account of the sale of beer and
dividing it by the total number Of officers
and men shows that each officer and en-
listed man for the year 1893 expended on
account of beer only 20 cents a month.
equivalent to four glasses of beer Der
month. or less than one glass week apiece
for each officer and man in the military
service. IN 1899 the expenditure on the part
of each officer and man reached an aver
age of IS cents per month. or but 19 cents
day.
These facts make It clear that, in COM
parison with all other citizens. the army of
to-day is the most abstemious body in our
own country. There Is no community of
which we have any light or knowledge that
viii show so small a consumption of drink
per capita This average should. In fact.
appear much lower, for the reason that
citizen employees. of which we have taken
no account, have the privilege OF purchase
from the canteen. The number of clerks,
rne<.f,a MICS and teamsters ernploved wish
an army in the field is, as you know. very
large. This number. however. Is not OBJ
tainable. but, you wiz agree would very