The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-09
Action OF Committee i'm Restoring
Army Bill Debated Five Hours.
MR.. HAwLEY's IRE AROUSED
CONNECTICUTs SENATOR INsULTED
By MIR. PETTIGREw.
Lively Brief Tilt That Ended I'm a
Roar of Laughter at the Expense
of the south Dakotan.

WASHINGTON. Jan. s.-During the en-
tire session of to-day the Senate had under
consideration the much mooted canteen
question. in connection with the army re-
organization BILL The senate committee in
effect restored the provision for a post ex
change. or canteen, which had been strick-
en- out of the bill by the House. For
nearly five hours the Senate discussed the
committee amendment, but vote on the
proposition is not yet in sight Senator'S
Gallinger and Hansbrough vigorously OPP
posed the amendment and. in turn. 1t was
quite strenuously supported by Senators
Sewell Hawley, Money and Carter.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Bate was
adopted, authorizing the secretary of war
to appoint one hundred additional hospital
stewards in the regular army. hospital
stewards for six months in the volunteer
army during the Spanish war being given
preference.
In his speech on the canteen question Mr.
Gallinger quoted many eminent authorities
to prove that the use of alcoholic stimu-
lants among men In and out of armies
was most deleterious in its effects He
urged that the bill be left so far as the
canteen question is concerned as IL was
when ii came from the House.
Mr.. Sewell member of the military af-
fairs committee, and long a member OF
the board os managers OF the soldiers
homes of the country said the canteen had
been adopted at the soldiers homes abso-
lutely as a temperance measure. These
canteens were allowed to sell to the old
soldiers only beer and ii had been found
that the inmates were willing 10 take a
glass or two OF beer at the canteen I'm pref
erence to visiting the groggeries which sur
round nearly all of these institutions. The
adoption of the canteen had been distinctly
beneficial and beneicent <, the ola soldiers
In conclusion MIR. Sewell said: 1.-The
American soldier ought not 70 be con-
demned to a reformatory We cannot re-
cruit the army II you abolish the post ex-
change. 1t is opposed to the soldiers idea
of liberty to be tied down in that way
and he will not have it,
Mr. Hawiey declared the post exchange
promoted discipline and good order In the
army. He said the officers as well as the
men of the army viewed with dismay the
proposition 10 abolish the canteen.
In the course of Mr.. Hawleys statement
he was interrupted frequently by Mr.. Petit
grew, who wanted TO learn the reasons for
excluding wine from the post exchange
Finally Mr.. Hawley became impatient and
declared he would not answer another
question.
''I am quite well aware" retorted Mr.
Pettigrew, ''of the senator's inability TO
inteligently answer my question"
Angry in an instant. the Connecticut SEN
ator demanded with heat: What does the
senator mean by that way low down in
suit? Has he been TO a saloon outside OF
the post exchange?"
The laughter which arose served 10 clear
the atmosphere and the incident passed.
Mr.. Money said he thoroughly con-
vinced that the post exchange promoted
temperance. health, morals and discipline
among the soldiers OF the army. and this
was proved he said. by the testimony OF
army officers.
In response 10 arguments advanced by
Mr.. Sewell and Mr.. Money in favor OF the
post exchange Mr. Gallinger directed at
tention 10 the system in the navy. Under
the law the sailors were given cents per
day I'm addition 10 their pay IN lieu OF grog
rations. This had been found 10 be an ex-
celent system. and ne believed II would De
well 10 apply IL TO the army. He declared
that during the first four years after the
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