The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-09
THE CANTEBN DISCUSSED
Arguments in the Senate for and
Against the System.
MIR. ScwcI Tells of Its Benefts-Mr.
GaiIingcr Opposes the Sale of All
IntoNicants in Army Posts - Mr.
Money Considers The Question
From Temperance Standpoint.


Committee Just before adjournment Mr.
Sewell asked unanimous consent for &
vote on the amendment a o'clock today
but Mr.. Teller objected. saying there wer,
several Senator's. who desired TO be heart
on the subject. This means that the
greater part of today will be devoted Il
debate on the army canteen.
Before the Reorganization bill was
taken up, considerable routine business
was transacted about half an hour being
devoted to the introduction of bills and
memorials.
On the motion of Mr.. Bate an amend
ment to the Army bill was adopted, auth
orizing the Secretary of War to appoint
100 additional hospital stewards in the
Regular Army. Hospital stewards who
served six months or more in the Vol
unteer Army in the Spanish war to be
given the preference The committee can
teen amendment which had heen passed
over was then taken up and Mr. Gallinger
spoke in opposition to it.
He referred to the adoption by the
Senate in executive session of a resp
luton pledging the United States TO
Join other nations by treaty TO pro-
tect the South African aborigines from
the evil effects of liquor, and yet it
was proposed by the bill under cons dera-
ton. he said, for the United States to en-
gage in the saloon business The amend
ment proposed by Senator Hawley's com
mittee to the canteen section, limiting
the sale of liquors to beer, was criticised
by Senator Gallinger, who said that beer
was an intoxicant as much as whisky. He
referred to the canteen provision of the
Army bill which was passed by Congress
in 1899, which abolished the canteen, and
yet the Attorney General had declared
that the language employed in the act of
1889 did not mean the abolition of the
canteen, and the United States Govern
ment was today still in the saloon bust
ness.
Mr. Galiinger made a strong argument
against the use of all liquors He quoted
from the statistics 10 show that the steady
use Of liquor destroyed the constitution
and resulted in premature death. He pre-
scented long list OF the names of officers
in the Philippines who. he claimed. OBJ
jected 10 the sale of liquor in the army
caRteen and refused TO permit the sale of
liquor to the troops under their COM
mands. The clergy of the land and the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
were opposed to the canteen, he said. and
every other person who had the interest of
the young men Of the army at heart
Mr.. Sewell, Republican, member of the
Military Committee. replied to Mr.. Gal
linger, and defended the action of the com
mittee. As President OF the Board of
Managers of the Soldiers Home he had had
experience on the subject. and the result
of that experience was that where beer
was allowed at the homes mot more than
two glasses a day. large part of the men
were willing to take their glass or two of
beer rather than go TO the low groggeries
which surround every such institution.
Obtaining a glass or two Of beer in the
home prevented men from going out TO
drink rum and from being trundled back
in wheeibarrow. with all their money
gone and with themselves often subjects
for the hospital
Mr.. Sewell sent to the Clerks desk and
had read a letter to himself from Pres
byterian clergyman of New Jersey, the
Rev. ]. Clay Cameron, in defence of the
army canteen. The letter speaks Of the
crusade against the canteen as being sup
ported by the w c. T. L. and the keep
era of the vile saloons outside of army
posts. and says that the overthrow Of an
Institution which did so much TO main
tain discipline and good order in the army
would be an overwhelming calamity.
Mr.. Sewcll was receiving he said. let
tiers every day from very worthy people.
speaking Of the Government being in the
rum business and asking him whether he
was going to aid the Government in ruin
ing their boys. That was all these people
knew about it. They did not know that a
man like himself acted absolutely from
temperance standpoint Young men in the
army would have stimulants There we're
very few exceptions to that rule and the
best thing 10 do was 10 give them a gentle
manly, mild stimulant and keep them
within the army posts. There was not a
post IN the army that had not a Gordon of
saloons in the near vicinity and the Gov
eminent was unable TO abolish them In
conclusion. Mr. Sewell said:
The American soldier ought not to be
condemned to a reformstory. You cannot
recruit the army If you abolish the pro-
vision for the post exchange. 1t is against
the principles of the soldier to be tied
frwn in this way. and he will not have
The committee amendment was also adj
vocated by the chairman. Mr. Hawley. He
read from army reports to show that the
rsnieen had promoted temperance and
That there had been marked decrease in
the number Of dishonorable discharges on
account Of drunkenness since its estab-
lishment.
Mr. Pettigrew asked so many questions
of Mr. Hawley as to the reasons for ex-
Guiding wine from the post exchanges that
Mr.. Hawley, becoming impatient. declared
that he would not answer another word.
Il am quite well aware" said Mr. Pet
tigrew, of the Senator's inability to an
swer any questions"
oh" Mr.. Hswley asked angrily. what
does he mean by that low down insult?
Has he been to saloon outside of The
post exchange?"
Continuing his argument. Mr. HawIsy
expressed the hope that sentiment would
not be allowed to run away with common
sense and that the Senate would not so
vote as to add 20 or 80 per cent to The
crimes and misfortunes Of the army He
had the frmest belief he said that A
return to the old system would be an
calamity
Mr.. Money. after declaring that he WAS
not only temperate man. but a temper-
ance man tusing neither liquor nor to-
baccot supported the committee amend
ment, believing that It would promote
temperance. good health good morals.
discipline. comfort and contentment
among the soldiers. II the Overwhelming
testimony of officers and men was 10 he
relied upon. Mr.. Money gave from the
committee reports figures showing the
views OF experienced officers and non
officers on the effect OF the
canteen in the army The figures were
given as S52 to IS; eos to 40; s25 TO 20.
and 909 TO 20 In favor Of the good effects
OF the system. he referred 70 The BRO.
hibition Of the sale OF liquor in the Sen
ate restaurant as a silly rule. inasmuch
as Senators could have all the whiskey
they desired in their committee rooms.
and II they had not arrived at the years
OF discretion in such a matter they should
resign and go home
He appealed TO Senator'S not to vote
AGAINST this hnnahcenf nrnnnsItinn hn-