New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-01
THE ARMY CANTEEN.
rrTANT-GENERAL coRBIN DESCRIBES
IT'S PRACTICAL OPERATIONS.

--..,,neton. Aug 81 (special)-In response to
80 OF requests, Acknowledgement Corbin has
AO,ted TO the publication OF a letter recently
cO.s co.,, BY him to Senator sewell OF New-Jersey.
Tr 70 several inquiries Of the latter concern
ne most exchange or army canteen." in re-
NS "a the practical operations and results of
gar considerable amount of transformation is
e1tant. 49, ..,,o
War Department
Acknowledgements ONCE,
Washington, August Is, 1900.
.onorabls William J. seweL
Military Committee, United states senate
.og1eerning the post exchange or army canteen."
sOSneTs HE honor 10 inform you:
nS s the sale OF sll spirituous liquors by
~. osnteen is and has always been absolutely pro-
hss.i..eoGr5-only beer and light wines are sold TO
,sSer officers or men, and these only when the
COMMANDING ofaeer is sstSnea that giving to the
i,ffn the post limits will prevent them from re-
sgch limits. and tends to promote temperance and
discipline among them"
been maintained, IN the interests OF temperance
and retirement Of discipline, with most satisfac-
tory results. This !. Is shown IN fewer trials by
ions and in the improved health Of the men
Fourth-The exchange is a cooperative store
.ts-e supplies sold cost. or as nearly so as
rossibe FOR the benefit Of officers and men of the
Army. The canteen is department of the ex
change constituting an enlisted mems club. Rooms
n OF near the soldiers quarters apart for
sc sneclal purpose, furnished with reading
ter billiard tables and other games, but where
sv,rv form Of gambling is absolutely forbidden It
8 where the men write their letters home and
read the newspapers ana magazines. The Govern
-5ent has no financial interest whatever in either
the e1change or canteen, the FUNDS being supplied
~ the soldiers themselves Almost every company
Commander has reported in favor Of the exchange
and osnteen as an enectlve temperance measure
One thousand and nineteen commissioned officers
Ssvs made special reports TO this effect 1t may
be proper for me to add that in the beginning op-
posed the canteen; cut was brought TO its support
" The overwhelming evidence of its beneicent re-
silt upon the morale, health and contentment OF
As SET forth in the report Of Assistant Surgeon
Munsol, {. 5. A, who, under instructions OF the
War Department, MADE careful investigation into
the effect Of the canteen upon the health of en-
listed men, the result more than met the expecta-
ions OF those most interested in the promotion OF
temperance IN the military service. He further
tnusly reduced since the Introduction Of the can
teen. Prior 10 its introduction assertions aVeraged
bsbnent these have decraad as 9 fne us
First year 10 ~ the next year 10 81. the next 81
md finally 10 zs. Further the number Of trials
and convictions for drunkenness and offences orgi-
canteen was 3I25 a year. These decreased during
the following six years Of fits establishment to 1906
ing me ESTABLISHMENT OF the canteen the average
number Of men who deposited their savings with
following its introduction the average had increased
10 $751;
II has been stated in the public press that the
recelpts OF the exchange are nearly all for drink
To meet this statement have 10 inform you that
the oulcle- reports OF The Department show
the receipts from sales OF beer and light wines are
and have been less than onethird OF the gross re-
ceipts being IN 1898 fve-seventeenths and in 1899
sx-seventeenths. Taking the amount OF gross re-
cepts on account OF sale OF beer and diyidns If b,
the total number Of officers and men shows that
each oTncer and enlisted for the year 1888 ex-
pehcec on account OF beer only 20 cents a month
equivalent 70 four glasses OF beer per month or
less than one glass week apiece for each officer
and man in the military service In 1880 the az
penolture on the part Of each officer and man
reached an average Of IS cents per month or hut
IL cents day. These facts make II clear thai In
comparison with all other citizens the Army of 10
cay IS the most aostemious body in our own coIn-
ny mere IS no community OF which we have any
report or knowledge that viii show 90 small
CONSUMPTION OF drink per capita. This avera ge
snoulo; IN TACT appear much lower, for the reason
l-dL clllZen employees, OF which we have IA ken M
account have the privilege OF purchase from rhe
calleen- The number Of clerks. mechanics and
teaFnsters employed with army In the field IS
as gou Know, very large. This number however ie
nor ooLainaole, but, you Will agree would very
materially reduce the average of 205s cents a
II there is any further information that ,,o,, IA
sire from the records this subject the Denart
neLt Nj be only too glad to furnish II Won
Nlsi ac[nit that the anxiety Of temperance neon1a
o11Ale me service about the Army is unUarrarted
a compared With those existing twenty and
L--ts years ago-as We knew il then-or with any
community al the present time anywhere in civil
ne, me Army Is model temperance socje+T- =
ne I4le' and where excuses are the exceptions.
Z s0Clely whose precepts no less than its examine
s 800 nS followed by all people in safety and So
Dlety With great respect, sincerely yours
H. c. CORBIN. Acknowledgement
MeJor-General, United States Army