The Portland daily press., 1900-05-23


amunments and tippie Of come character;
this. Those Of Ne who were prejudioed
against what was termed q government
b6rro0m found the benefits Of tho new
system 50 startling that II 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 q possibility through
mistaken congressional action Of = return
to the old system
'sThat similar results have followed the
Introduction Of the canteen at many other
points Is shown by the testimony OF ON
GERS Nine hundred and fifty command
ing officers and non commissioned officers,
out Of the 1000 whose opinions are con-
tanned therein, say that IL has improved
the discipline Of the army, 730 that 10 has
decreased desertion, S22 that II has less
ened the number of trials by cOurts-mar-
tial for petty offenses, 900 that IL has les
sened drunkenness. 1t will be further
observed from the careful Investigation
made by Assistant Surgeon Munson that
the effect OF the canteen system upon the
sick rolls has been 50 marked as to have
attracted the attention OF medical experts
These investigations show that the per-
oentage Of cases OF hospital treatment or
alcoholism and Its direct results, which
for ten years preceding the Introduction
of the canteen system averaged GAGS per
thousand, decreased during the ten years
following the introduction of the can
teen; that cases OF delirium trmens
have been reduced 1913 per cent; that .the
cases Of insanity traced 10 intoxicants,
have been .rssiuced 3I.7 per cent DIR.
Munson's investigations have further de-
veloped the fact that the percentage of
dess.rtions has dec~ased.
I'm proposing to do away with n sys-
81 Il - NssI .ana
beneficial 20 the army administration, II
Is important to consider the probable
effect OF the alternative system, VIZ, pro
hibitiou Some years ago Congress pro
hibited the sale Of beer at military posts
in states In which the sale OF alcoholic
liquors, beer or wines Is prohibited by
law. Ii Is a striking commentary ON the
workings of prohihitive legislation that
il is in these so-called prohibition states
where we are thus enjoined from selling
beer to our soldiers. that we have found
the greatest difficulty In keeping whiskey
out Of the garrison.
Attention Is invited to the report OF
Chaplain c. G. Pierce, in which he re-
marks that the substitution Of regiment
al canteens lin Manila) in which beer
was sold, in place of this traffic in native
gin, resulted in n most immediate ana
perceptible Improvement in the sobriety
OF the troops.
1t Is lmprODaDle tnnt one person oue
Of n hundred of those who have signed
petitions for the adjustment Of the ex-
change has the slightest comprehension
what post exchange is, how 1t Is con
Quoted, or the purposes for which 1t Is
maintained. II Is very probable this
activity OF the managers Of the .opposl-
ton has been melted 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 violation of reguia-
tions and We're promptly stopped as soon
as brought to the attention of the depart
ment. II this presumption is correct, In
stead of being an argument against the
post exchange in the army under proper
regulations It supplies an example of
what would occur should the canteen be
rbolishedsand the soldier turned over TO
the mercies OF the saloons and their at
tendant vices