The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-17

the Senate report by Adjutant General
of intoxicating drinks in the Army can
teens. General Corbin invites special at
tention to the reports on the subject by
Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles. command
ing the Army, Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt.
and Mai. Gen. John R. Brooke, TIE opin-
ion of over 1000 officers, mostly company
commanders of the Army and non-com-
missioned officers of long service; re-
port by Capt. Edward /. Munson, Assist
ant Surgeon United States Army, and
report of Chaplain Charles c. Pierce,
United States Army. who recently re-
turned from the Philippine Islands. as to
his experience with the drink question at
Manila, and says:
IF the prohibition of the sale of beer
at military posts. as contemplated by the
bill could be effective in bringing ABOUT
a destruction of the drink habit among
the soldiers. the Adjutant General would
unhesitatiEsly urge its adoption, and In SO
doing he believes he would voice the
practically unanimous sentiment Of the
officers Of the Army; but when, on the
contrary, II can be stated as a fact that
the closing of the canteen section of the
post exchange would be to have such
soldiers as are now content with drinking
an occasional glass Of beer within the
limits of the post, go to the whisky dens
of vice that have surrounded permanent
posts, and which. on the passage of such
law, would soon revive. he cannot too
strongly express the opinion that such
legislation would be inimical to the best
interests of the Army.
Opinions of Officers.
'1n support of this statement attention
is invited to the accompanying opinions OF
$50 commanding officers of companies.
troops, and batteries Of the Army. and
non-commissioned officers who remark
upon this particular phase of the result
OF prohibtive legislation. For half cen
fury the military authorities have been
fighting these establishments, which
pander TO the vices and weaknesses OF the
soldiers give them credit, encourage all
sorts Of debauchery. and are constant
menace TO discipline. morality. and health,
but without any degree of success until
the introduction of the canteen system.
which is no less than a co-ope alive store
for the special benefit and convenience Of
the enlisted men; some ten years ago.
since which time and because Of the can
teen, they are gradually disappearing
Around the reservation of Fort Win
gate in 1882 says an official report on file
in this office, "a number OF little, rum
shops thrived on the earnings and weak
resses of the soldiers. Here crimes and
debaucheries thrived, and after each pay
day patrols were required to literally drag
our soldiers from the clutches of the keep
ers of the dens. The guardhouse was al
ftt11 in ca N drtInEar1S
absentees from duties, as well as those
who had committed themselves in other
ways traced to the demoralizing effects OF
the soldiers innate craving after amuse-
ment and tipple of some character. The
exchange system did away with all this.
These of us who were prejudiced against
what was termed "a Government barroom"
found the benefits OF the new system so
startling that lit could not be combated,
and now. the improvements along the lines
of morality and discipline have been so
marked that officers fairly shuddered when
during the past few months there was
possibility. through mistaken Congress
sional action, OF a return OF the old sys-
tenn
DIR. Munson's investigation.
THAT similar results have followed the
introduction of the canteen at many other
posts is shown by the testimony of Off
GERS. Nine hundred and fifty commanding
officers cut of 1000 whose opinions are
contained therein, say that 1t has improved
the discipline of the Army: 1875 that it has
decreased desertion so that 1t has les
sened the number Of trials by court
martial for petty offences; 800 that ii has
lessencd drunkenness. II will be further
observed from careful investigation made
by Assistant Surgeon Munson that the
effect of the carteen system upon the sick
rates has been SO marked as TO have at
tracted the attention of medical experts.
These Investigations show that the per-
oentage OF cases of hospital treatment for
alcoholism and its direct results, which
for the ten years preceding the introduce
ton of the canteen system average 54.2S
per thousand. decreased during the ten
wears following the introduction of the
canteen; that cases of delirum tremens
have been reduced 31.3 per cent; that the
cases of insanity due to intoxicants have
been reduced 31.7 per cent. DR.. Munson's
Investigations have further developed the
fact that the percentage of assertions has
decreased.
I'm the face OF the testimony Of the men
who are in direct contact with the system,
and of expert investigation, 1t Is safe to
presume that the prohibition of the sale Of
beer in the Post Exchange means an in
crease of whisky drinking and drunkenness,
and the consequent necessity for medical
treatment, an increase of the horrors of
delirium tremens and insanity. an in
creased number of courts martial and pun
ishments. and OF assertions. to the scandal
of the service no less than a decrease in
discipline. health. and morals, and the con-
sequent diminution Of contentment. self
esteem, and reliance on the part of the en-
listed men, to say nothing OF its effects
upon surrounding communities.
Post Exchanges Defended.
1T is improbable that one person out
of one hundred of those who have signed
petitions for the adjustment of the ex-
change has the slightest comprehension OF
what a post exchange is, how it is cor
Quoted. or the purpose for which it is main
tanned
1t Is very probable that this activity OF
the managers OF the opposition has been in
cited because OF the sale OF beer, and in
some cases, no doubt. Of spirituous liquors,
In certain volunteer camps during the late
war with Spain, which sales were in viola
ton of regulations and were promptly
stopped as soon as brought to the attention
of the Department. II this presumption is
correct, instead of being an argument
against the post exchange in the Army I'M
der proper regulations, it supplies an ex-
ample of what would occur should the can
teen be abolished and the soldier turned
over TO the mercies OF the saloons and
their attepdent vices.
There is also mistaken impression
that soldiers are allowed unlimited