The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-22
REPORT On UANTEEN LAW.
It Is Asked For From Post Command
ants by Gen. Brooke.

New York. May 22-The Times says:
General Brooke has sent out an order
to all commandments of posts in the de-
partment of the east to send to him on
September 1 a complete report of the
results which have ensued upon the
abolition of the army canteen. officers
say that these reports will show beyond
cavil that intemperance has largely in
creased under the new regime and it Is
predicted that the next congress will
give serious consideration to the real
situation as it has developed.
Seven privateS absent without leave
from Fort Ethan Allen, VT have just
been locked UP in the military prison at
Governors Island which is the head
quarters of the department. They dis
appeared from their post Immediately
after pay day of this month and Their
troubles are attributed by officers to the
abolition Of canteens.
A reporter interviewed a number of Of
fcers at Governors Island and every
one of them was saying. Il told you
So" when the cases of Fort Sheridan,
Fort Smelling and Fort Ethan Allen,
were called to mind. The officers there
regard it but as a matter of a short
time when the public sentiment of the
nation will demand the re-establish
ment of the canteen.
Captain Adams, who was acting adj
jutant general at Governors Island in
General Sheridan's absence said that
trouble in nearly every post in the de-
partment and he understood in other
departments also. The number of men
arrested has been larger than usual and
there have been a noticeable number
arrested for intoxication. He was not
prepared to say just what the percent
age of increase was.
Trouble is reported at Fort Hamilton,
Fort Schuyler, Fort Wadsworth, Fort
Hancock and at Willett's Point.
IL sIT,+te TDrfv1
Long Island Sound, came last Wednes-
day and the 491 soldiers stationed there
drew about $50 per man. Since that time
there have been wild and hilarious times
in the saloons of Whitestone, the near
est village to the reservation, and in the
half dozen road houses that are situa-
ted at intervals along the road that
leads from the fort to the village.
The records at the fort show that for
the first 20 days of this month there
have been seven court martials on
drunk and disorderly' charges and II
fer absence without leave. The 81 alb
sentees and the u men now in guard
house will add considerably to those fig
ures. There have been since the last
pay day as many as ten men absent
without leave at one time from one com
pany of less than 100 men,
Commenting on this Major w. M.
Black, the cOmmandant of the fort,
stated that the number was unpreceden-
ted in his recollection
Major Black, Adjutant Howell and
every officer and soldier interviewed at
the fort gave without hesitation the
opinion that the change for the worse
in the general discipline was due en-
tirely to the abolition of the canteen and
the turning over of the soldier of his
monthly pay in his pocket to the tender
mercies of the outside saloonkeepers. who
thrive in the vicinity of military posts.
The force now at Fort Totten consists
of four companies of the Second bat
talon of engineers, the nucleus of three
companies of the new Third battalion
of engineers that is being recruited and
the Eighty second company of the coast
artillery. With few exceptions, all
these men are veteran soldiers of the
highest branches of the service and in
character are we'll up in the general
average OF the American soldier.