The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-09
THE CANTEEN ON TOP
SENATE PRACTICALLY REsToREs
1T TO ARMY BILL.
DISCUSSED FOR FIVE HOURS.
GREAT INTEREST DISPLAYED IN
SOLDIERS MORALS.

American Soldiers Ought Not to BE
Condemned to "a ReformatOry, said
MIR. ScweII-CannOt Recruit Army
tf Cantcen Is AbOIished-Mr. Petit
grew Gets Observation-Disclosures
brOuEh of North Dakota Opposes
the Amendments.
Washington, Jan. s-The Senate had
under consideration to-day the much
mooted canteen question in connection
with the army reorganization bill. The
Senate Committee in effect, restored the
provision for a post exchange, or canteen.
which had been stricken out Of the bill
by the House. For nearly five hours the
Senate discussed the committee amend
ment. 1t is possible vote may be reach
ed late tomorrow afternoon.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Bate OF
Tennessee. was adopted authorizing the
Secretary of War to appoint one hundred
additional hospital stewards in the regu-
lar army, volunteer stewards in the
Spanish War being given preference.
Fhe canteen" amendment Of the COM
mittee was then laid before the Senate
Mr.. Gallinger of New Hampshire main
tained that IL beer was sold at post ex-
changes other intoxicaEts of course would
be sold
Mr.. Sewell, a member OF the Military
Affairs Committee. declared that the ex-
perience of the managers OF the several
soldiers homes was that the men pre-
ferred to patronize the canteen TO a limited
and restricted extent than to go outside
for worse drinks.
MIR. Sewell said
The American soldier ought not to be
condemned to a reformatory. We cannot
recruit the army If you abolish the post
exchange"
Mr.. Hawley declared that the post ex-
change promoted discipline and good or
der I'm the army.
Mr.. Pettigrew frequently INTERRUPTED
Mr.. Hawley to learn the reasons for ex-
cluding wine from the post exchange.
Finally Mr.. Hawley became impatient and
declared he would not answer another
question.
Il am quite well aware" retorted Mr..
Pettigrew. "of the Senator's inability to
answer any question"
Angry instantly. the Connecticut Sena-
tor demanded with heat. What does the
! Senator mean by that way low down In
suit? Has he been to saloon outside OF
| the post exchange?'
The laughter which followed served 10
clear the atmosphere and the incident
! passed
Mr.. Money OF Mississippi contended that
the post exchange promoted temperance,
health, morals. He suggested that despite
the prohibition of sale OF liquor on the
Senate side of the Capitol. senators could
have all the whisky they desired In their
committee rooms. He suggested that It
senators had not arrived at years of dis
cretion in this matter they would better
resign and go home.
Mr.. Money quoted the Secretary of War
the lieutenant general of the army and
other high army officials in support of
the post exchange.
Those officers" interrupted Mr.. Gallin-
ger have testified on both sides of the
question"
Mr.. Hansbrough OF North Dakota, ar
gued that the use OF beet degraded the
men; IL demoralzed their morals and dis
cipline. He contrasted the death from
disease in the army in the Spanish War
and pointed to the admirable health record
of the navy, which had no canteen.
At $40 p m the Senate adjourned