The times., 1901-06-05
To RESTORE TIE CANTEEN.
\ Vigorous Fight TO BE Iade in
Congress Next Session.

NEW YORK. June 4-The Evening
fost prints the following from its
washington correspondent:
In conversation with a friend H.
Washington "a few days ago, Senator
Hawley, Chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs, predicted that
Congress would repeal the Anti-Canteen
law very early during the winter. 1t is
possible that the repeal will come be
fore the session is two months DID, he
added. Other members Of the same com-
mittee who have been in Washington
within the last two weeks agree with this
statement, ana it is certain that the old
fight will be renewed in the Fifty seventh
Congress with even greater bitterness
than characterized it last winter. In all
probability, bills will be introduced in
both Houses on the first day of the ses-
sion. These will so at once to the mill
taTy committees, and then the battle will
be on. The temperance people will be
here in force to lobby against the repeal,
and it is known that they are now hard
at work collecting evidence which they
hope will act as an Offset to the report
and recommendations of the Secretary Of
War; who, it IS assumed, VIII ask Con
gress to repeal the law, basng this re-
quest upon official statements from post
commanders from all parts of the coun-
try.
The law abolishing the canteen has
been faithfully enforced, and Ii is u part
of the Secretary's duty to note the effect
OF that enforcement and report on 1t to
Congress. just as he reports on other
matters of timely Importance. Personal
letters from post commanders to depart
ment officials indicate that the abolition
of the canteen has, in the opinion of the
writer's, had an injurious effect upon the
enlisted men, and, should this Judgment
be rejected in the official reports of the
year, the Secretary will be called upon to
SHOW Congress what the argument is in
favor of the repeal of the law. The re-
ports Of the post commanders will be in
the hands of the Secretary soon after
July l.
"A War Department officer, discussing
the new law, said today. by way of con-
trasting conditions at Fort Smelling,
Mimi, with those at Fort Sheridan, Ill,
from both of which places detailed news
paper reports of lawIessness have come:
"' i should expect the troops at Fort
Smelling to be under better control than
those at Fort Sheridan. At Fort Smelling
there is battalion of seasoned men; long
service has resulted in good discipline,
ana 1t Is comparatively easy for them
to accommodate themselves to the new
order of things. At Fort Sheridan. how
ever, which is now a recruiting station,
there are many new soldiers who do not
know what discipline is. The outbreaks
not surprise me; but at Fort Smelling /
have looked for an entirely different state
of affairs. The old soldier can more
easily obey an unjust and personally Of
fensive order than new recruit can a
reasonable one.
ION the question of the cauteen in gem
eraI, the same speaker said: 1t is my
understanding that tie Secretary Of War
VIII make public the full text OF every
report relating to the enforcement of the
new law. The Departments circular let
ter calling upon post commanders for ex-
haustive treatment of this subject was
sent out soon after Congress had adjourn
ed. and is mandatory. IN the reports
comparisons will be made between the
conditions before and after the law went
into effect. The many Unofficial state
mcnts which have been received from
time TO time by Secretary Root and other
officers VIII not be permitted to color the
Secretary s recommendations. The letter
recently printed in the newspapers in
which Colonel Van Horne described the
goings-on at Fort Sheridan was written
to an officer of the Department and not
intended for publication 4"