The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-21
THE ARMY POST oANTEEN.
What It Was Designed to Furnish to the
Men of the Service.

What It Was Designed 10 Furnish to the
Men of the Service.
New York Tribune.
Tho army canteen has again been brought
to the attention OF the reading public 10 the
last three or four weeks, and there is a
prospect that within the next three weeks
congress will take up the subject. 1t is
not denied that the merits or dement's OF
the cahteen are legitimate subjects Of dis
cussion. and that the army has right to
ask that this question shall be determined
by knowledge and sober judgment, and not
by prejudice or appeals to passion. Some
have taken the ground that the drnmshop
Is an unmitigated evil In the army or out
OF 1t; that the government has no call to
carry on the liquor business; that the
canteen Is no more respectable than any
other dramshopi that the canteen does not
restrict the soldiers liquors to flight
drinks" and even II 1t did there would
be no justification for 1t. All these points
have been controverted by officers and men
OF the army, and they assert that the can
teen is a beneficial institution to the serv
ico.
Whatever may be said for or against 1t.
many persons are unfamiliar with the origin
OF the canteen or post exchange, as IL Is
more generally termed In the army The
canteen made It's appearance at military
posts about fifteen years ago and succeed.
business OF the post trader" who was
known In the days of the civil war as the
suffer- The post exchange has been
looked upon In the army and among those
outside who were acquainted with II as
the enlisted mans club and a necessary
institution.
Every army post or reservation was al.
lowed TO have post exchange, aud II was
under the direct supervision and charge Of
an ofncer appointed by a board of officers
| Of the army known as the post exchange
council These officers were responsible
| for the success OF the exchange-thoy de-
cided what articles and lines of goods were
! required for sale, and they did all the buy
| Ing, paid the bills and held the exchange
| steward strictly responsible for the en-
/ forcement OF the rules and regulations in
/ the active conduct Of the business. The
| post exchange comprised the following de
! partments' An amusement room, a luncheon
| room, general store and the canteen The
amusement room was supplied with card
! tables, billiard and pool tables and various
| other games, such as checkers, chess etc
| Gambling games We're absolutely prohib-
/ tied, and at all times the amusement room
! vas to be Kept quiet and orderly. The
luneheon room was fitted to supply sand
| wlches, pies milk, tea, coffee and various
| other things suitable for a light luncheon
Including luxnries not issued with the regu.
| lar government ration. In the general
store were to be found such articles as are
| not Tor sale at the post commissary and
for which there is any demand such as
fancy articles Of clothing, handkerchiefs.
underclothng neckties, toilet requisites,
| fruits and candles
spirits, and nothing In the way of drinks
could be taken from the premises. The
articles on sale were beer, light wines 10y
the glass, soft drinks cigars and tobac-
co. man could get glass of beer but
he could not get a drop Of whisky. and
no person was allowed to have any beer or
wine II he was in the slightest degree IN.
lions governed To sum up, the cnntccn
was not a place TO get strong drink; no
drink was sold In quantities large enough
70 produce intoxication, and there was no
incentive to intoxication