The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-17

Some of Its Objectionable Features
The Canteen Question.

The Canteen Question.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-There are some
things in the army reorganization bill as
it passed the House that ought not to be III
it when it reaches the President. One OF
these is the creation of a veterinary corps
with a colonel as chief and all the men,
bers commissioned officers. This provision
means another independent military bu-
reau similar to the Medical Corps. the
Adjutant Generals Department, and so on.
There are too many of these Independent
bureaus in the military establishment now.
Veterinary surgeons are needed in the
army, of course, but so are farriers, and
there is no more reason for commissioning
the one than the other. 1t is customary
in other countries to give veterinarians
assimilated rank that is. the pay and al
lowances of certain grades, but not the
title and honor. The reasons for commits
sioning surgeons do not obtain in the case
OF veterinary surgeons. In battle the
former are under fire frequently in their
efforts to save and relieve the wounded
men, but the veterinarian is not called
upon to expose himself under fire to doc
tor sick horse or bind up its wounds.
Assimilated rank is the utmost that should
be accorded the veterinarian, and ever
that is risky concession, for if granted
the veterinarians would continue to So
llcit actual rank and to be constituted an
independent bureau until they find some
Congress that would weakly yield to their
opportunities.
The provision for the employment of dem
aI af he 70 nf for
1000 men is another piece of wrongheaded
military legislation. They are not to be
commissioned, according to the bill as il
passed the House, but are to be employed
under contract, as is done with regular
physicians where the necessity exists. If
this provision becomes law it would not
be long before the contract dentists would
be appealing for assimilated rank, and, of
course. they would get IL some time, after
which they would seek to have actual rank
conferred upon them, and to be erected into
a corps with colonel or brigadier general
at the head. and this, too, would be done
some time Really, If dentists are TO be
provided for the army by contract. why
not manicurists and chiropodists. The lat
ter would be especially useful in the in
fantry.
THE ARMY CANTEEN.
The bill as it passed the House abolished
the canteen, that is, prohibited the sale
of wine or beer or any form of intoxicating
liquors by any person lin any post ex-
change or canteen, or army transport, or
upon any premises used for military pur-
poses by the United States" The Senate
military committee is taking testimony in
regard to this matter. The officers OF the
army are practically unit in favor OF
the canteen, as it has been conducted dur
ing the past seven years, wine and beer
being sold therein under the supervision
Of a commissioned officer and under the
immediate control of a noncommissioned
officer. Chaplain Miller who has had four
teen months service I'm the Philippines.
and speaks from personal observation.
gives the canteen his unreseryed indorse-