Washington sentinel., 1900-09-08
Fl no0eI
temperance
society.

OSII|pGGdIlCG ceuau or NJ
Socletp. Jersey, a member
OF the Military Com
mittee Of the Senate, setting forth in
definite terms the attitude of the War
Department on the question OF the army
canteen, The letter, which has been
made public, is as follows:
To Hop UTlliam / SeaeH 1Iflitayy
Committee, United States SsNats:
Dear Senator-Replying to your
several inquiries concerning the post
exchange or army canteen, >" have the
honor to inform you:
'First-That the sale Of all spirituOus
liquors by the cantsen is and has always
been absolutely prohibited
"Second-OnlY beer and light vines
are sold to either officers or men, and
these only when the commanding officer
is satisfied that giving to the troops the
opportunity OF obtaining such beverage
within the post limits will prevent them
from resorting for strong intoxicants to
places without such limits, and tends to
promote temperance and discipline
among them
"Thrd-The 'canteen' was estab.
lIshed and has been maintained in the
interests Of temperance and beuerment
Of discipline with most satisfactory
results, This is shown in fewer trials
by court martial, in decrease of number
Of assertions and in the improved health
Of the men.
Fourth-The exchange is coopera.
tive store, whose supplies are sold at
cost, or as nearly so as possible, for the
benefit OF officers and men of the army
The canteen is a department OF the
exchange constituting an enlisted mans
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 abso.
lutely forbidden,
1t is where the men write their letters
home aud read the newspapers and
magazines. The Government has no
financial interest whatsoever in either
the exchange or clnteen, the funds
being supplied by the soldiers them
selves. Almost every company com.
mander has reported in favor OF the
exchanges and canteen as an effective
temperance measure. One thousand
and nineteen commissioned officers
have made special reports to this effect
Il may be proper for me to say that in
the beginning I opposed the cauteen,
but was brought to its support by the
overwhelming evidence olIts benefcent
result upon the morale, health and
contentment of the service.
AS set forth in the report OF Assistant
Surgeon Munston, United States army,
who. under Instructions OF the War
Department, made a careful InvestIga-
ton irto the effect OF the canteen upon
the health Of the enlisted men, the result
more than met the expectations otthose
most interested IN the promotion OF
temperance in the military service. He
further finds that the percentage Of
deseruons has been continually reduced
since the Introduction OF the canteen.
Prior to its introduction de-ertions
averaged from 10 ton per cent annually.
Since its establishment these have
decreased as follows:
FIRST year to II, The next year to
| 81, the next S 7, then 3; the next to
3 8, then 3. The next to 5.4 and finally
to 2,9, Further, The number OF trials
and convictions tor drunkenness and
oHenses originating therefrom for the
six years preceding the canteen was
| 372.S, These decreased during following
SIX years Of its establishment TO 100 6
Further, that for the seven years preced
ing the establishment OF the canteer
the average number OF men VINO de
posted their savings with Government
was 7. .275. For the seven years following
its introduction the average has in
creased to s, $50.
1t has been stated in the public pres
that ''the receipts Of the exchange ar,
nearly all for drink" To meet thi
statement have to inform you that tn
official reports Of the department shoy
that the receipts from beer and Iigh
wines are and have been less than on