The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-25
army CANTEEh
IS A GOOD 0 ] ]. THING !;
SO Says General Sanger, Of the
Philippine Division.
DRUNKENNESS ON INCREASE.
Nearly All the Men Use vinous. NAL
or Other spirituous Liquors
Many soIdi-rs Drink
TO Excess.
DRUNKENNESS ON INCREASE
fRu a Associated Press.)

CIV Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON. D. c.. November IT.
Tie War Department IS IN constant . q.
ceipt of data concerning the canteen
question and the effect OF Its aoolluon
upon the army.
Apropos Of this statement IS Haue q :
the War Department that only such ~.
formation as has been con.aln me-. l, ~ ,.m1
reports Of army officers upon the suoJe.,
| has been given to the public. and II is
denied that any effort has been mace 10
influence public opinion In the matter.
It is said at the department that the
recommendations Of the Acknowledgement
in his annual report were based upon the
information contained in these reports
II Is pointed out that the existence OF
something like /. 400 saloons In the vicinity
of the army posts is shown by the reports
received at the department, $50 to 500 OF
which are said to have been opened since
the closing OF the &canteen. This further
statement is made at the department:
CONDITION NO BETTER
THE majority Of posts have reported
/ that drunkenness and court-martlais Tor
drunkenness have Increased; that deser-
ton and absence without leave nave IN
creased; that the effect Of the closing OF
the canteen upon the morality. discipline
and health of the troops has been bad.
ana while many post commanders are.
in consequence of frequent changes OF
garrison and from the absence Of correct
data upon which to base comparisons.
unable to report as to the degree OF
dctriment created by the closing OF the
canteen, 1T can be stated as an absolute
fact that in no single case has post
| commander expressed an opinion that 1.-THE
effect of the abolition of the sale OF beer
lin the army has resulted in improved con-
ditionS.''
With reference to the reports from the
Philippines. a statement has been MADE
eyitomizing the annual report OF Br1ga-
dier-General Sanger. Inspector general OF
the division Of the Philippines After mar
rating the evil effects upon the human
system of the native liquors. the state
nlent continues:
GENERAL SANGER'S VIEWS.
ITO 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 possibility by
removing all restrictions on the sale OF
beer and light wines. To the fear, SO
often expressed by the opponents OF the
ca;lteen system. that the sale of beer
would initiate or induce habits Of intem-
perance, General Sanger shows from a
careful census Of the 3i2 companies OF
troops In the Philippine Islands that in
sixty companies every enlisted man used
virolls, malt or spirituous liquors at date
of enlistment; in $50 companies between
ninety and 100 per cent; in fifty eight COM
ranies, between eighty and ninety per
cent; in twenty-six companies, between
seventy and eighty per cent: In
twenty companies between sixty and
seventy per cent. Unfortunately quite
number of men habitually drink
10 excess, and as this number will prob
ably increase If the men are obliged. as
row. to resort to native liquors in order
to satisfy what to many OF them IS
perfectly natural craving, the result viii
be most deplorahle.
General Sanger concludes with the re-
mark that It is hardly probable. IN view
Of these figures that Congress shall con-
tinue the prohibition against the canteen
when it is evident that the sale OF beer
would be a precaution against the perni-
ccus habits above stated and their fatal
aJ1u5 disastrous results.