The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-09-08
CANTEEN DEFENDED.
Adjt. Gen. corbin Sets Forth Atti-
tuds Of War Department.


Washington, Sept, 2.-Adjt. Gen.
Oorbin has written a letter to Senator
sewell, 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 was made public to-
day, is as follows:
Replying to POUR several inquiries con.
corning the post exchange, or army
canteen. have the honor to inform you
]. That the sale OF all splrituous liquors
Dy tne eahteen Is and always has been
absolutely prohibited.
q Only beer and light wines are sold
10 either Oficers or men, and these only
when the commanding officer Is salts.
Ned that giving to the troops the oppor-
tunity OF obtaining such beverage with
In the post limits will prevent them from
resorting Tor strong intoxicants to places
without such limits. and tends to pro.
mote temperance and discipline among
them.
j. The canteen was established and has
been maintained in the interests OF tem-
perance and betterment OF discipline with
most satisfactory results. This Is shown
In FEWER trials by court-martial, IN ths
decreased number Of ~desertions and in
the improved health Of the men.
= TIT exchange Ia q cooperative store.
where supplies are sold at cost. or as
nearly 80 as possible, for the beneht OF
oficers and men OF the army. The can
teen Is a department Of the exchange.
constituting 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 gambling Is absolutely forbid
den. II Is where the men write their let
tiers home and read the newspapers and
magazines.
The government has no financial inter-
est whatever In either the exchange or
canteen. the funds being supplied BY the
soldiers themselves. Almost every COM
pany commander has reported in favor
OF the exchange IND canteen as an effect
I've temperance measure. One thousand
AMI nineteen commissioned officers nave
made special reports to this effect. II
may be proper for me TO say that, In
the beginning. I opposed the canteen,
but was brought to Its support by the
overwhelming evidence of It's benencent
result on the morals, health and con-
tentment Of the service.
II has been stated In the public press
that the receipts of the EXCHANGE are
nearly all for drink" To meet this
statement l have TO inform you that the
official reports Of the department show
that the receipts from the sales OF beer
and light wines are and have been less
than one-third Of the gross receipts, be-
ing In 1888 fiveseventeenths and in 1889
six.seventeenths. Taking the amount Of
the gross receipts on account of the sale
OF beer and dividing It by the total num-
Der OF officers n men show hat each
ofiioer and enlisted man for the year 1895
expended on account OF beer only %
cents a month-eauivalent TO four glasses
Of beer per month, or less than one slass
a week apiece for-each oficer and man
In the military service. In 1899, the ex
penditure on the part Of each officer and
man reached an average OF s. cents per
month"; or but 10 cents a day. These facts
make 1t clear that. In comparison with all
other citizens, the army OF to-day IL
the most absteminous body In our coun-
try. Thers is no community OF which
we have any report or knowledge that
will show 50 small q consumption OF
drink per capita. This average should.
In fact, appear much lower, for the rea
son that citizen employees, OF which we
have taken no account. have the privilege
OF purchase from the canteen. The nun
Der Of clerks. mechanics and teamsters
employed with an army In the field Is. rs
you know. very large. This number.
however. is not obtainabie. but you will
agree would very materially reduce tho
averages Of 20 cents and IS cents a month.