Waterbury Democrat., 1902-11-25
AGAIN HE UAnILL-
Evidence Before War Depart
 ment All One Way.
CONGRESS- LIKELY TO REPEAL LAW
Hundreds of saloons Opened Near Army Posts Since Exchange Was AboIfshed-some Figures on
 IntemDerance I'm Army.

WASHINGTON, Nov 25.-The war department is in constant receipt of data concerning the canteen question and the effect of it's abolition upon the army. Apropos, the statement is made at the war department that only such information as has been contained in the reports of army officers upon the subject has been given to the public, and it is denied that any effort has been made to influence public opinion on the matter.
 It is said at the department that the recommendations of the adjutant gen. eral iii his annual report were based upon the information contained in these reports. It is pointed out that the existence of something like 1,40O sa- looms in the vicinity of the army posts is shown by the reports received at the department, 250 to 300 of which are said to have been opened since the closing of the canteen. This further statement is made at the department: "The majority of posts have reported that drunkenness and court martials for drunkenness have increased; that desertion and absence without leave have increased; that the effect of clos ing the canteen upon the morality, dis cipline and health of the troops has been bad, and while many post com manders are in consequence of ire quent changes of garrison and from the absence of correct data upon which to base comparisons unable to report as to the degree of detriment created by the closing of the canteen it can be stated as an absolute fact that in no single case has post commander ex- pressed an opinion that the effect of the abolition of the sale of beer in the army has resulted in improved condi- tions."
 { With reference to the reports. from the Philippines, a statement has been made public at the war department epitomizing the annual report of Briga- dier General Sanger, inspector general of the division of the Philippines. Aft CT. narrating the evil effects on the hu- man system of the native liquors the. statement continues:
 ''To remedy these conditions the post exchange, at which light beer was sold, was exercising a wholesome influence, and General Sanger believes that the exchange should be again made a pos sibility by removing all restrictions on the sale of beer and light wines"
 To the fear so often expressed by the opponents of the canteen system that the sale of beer would initiate or in duce habits of intemperance General Sanger shows from a careful census of the 342 companies of troops i'll the Philippine Islands that in 50 compa- nies every enlisted man used yinous, malt or spirituous liquors at date of enlistment, in 13O companies between 90 and 100 per cent, in 58 companies between 80 and 90 per cent, in 26 con- panies between 70 and so per cent and in 20 companies between 60 and 70 per cent. Unfortunately quite number of men habitually drink to excess, and as this number will probably increase if the men are obliged, as now, to resort to native liquors in order to satisfy what to many of them is a perfectly natural craving the result will be most deplorable.
 General Sanger concludes with the remark that lit is hardly probable in view of this information that congress will continue the prohibition against the canteen when it is evident that the sale of beer would be a precaution against the pernicious habits above stated and their fatal and disastrous results.