The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-09-27
VIEWS OF GEN. FUNSTON
Says Congress Has Made I
Gigantic Blunder.
Nearly All Courts Martial Ia Hl6
Department Arise from the Fact /
That the canteen II
No More.

Washington. Sept. 26.-Abolishment a.
the army canteen is responsible for u
"deplorable increase of offenses in gen
eral and assertions in particular. ac-
cording to the annual report of Briga-
dier General Frederick Funston, Depart
ment OF the Colorado.
General Funston declares that the Dust
ing of the canteen by act of Congress has
lowered the discipline of the army, ruins0
scores of good soldiers and enriched sa~
Ioon-keepers, gamblers and dissoiute wo-
men.
He explains the deterioration as fol-
lows:
''In my opinion, there are two prtncI-S
pal causes for this state of affairs: Ffrst,
resentment of unaccustomed Limitations.
and restrictions felt by men returning
from field service to the monotony ana
routine work Of garrison life; Second.
the abolition of the canteen feature or
the post exchange.
Debauch the Soldiers.
"Since this action was taken. saloons
of the lowest type have been established
just outside OF the boundaries OF the va
rious reservations; their proprietors IN
almost every case, are unprincipIcd
scoundrels who leave nothing undone to
debauch the soldiers and obtain their.
money. Being In all cases outside the
limits of any city, the proprietors of
these resorts are subject to no municipal
police regulations and sell liquor regard
less of hours and whether the buyer Is
already intoxicated or not.
Gambling Is universal in these .iives'
and they are frequented by dissoiufe wo-
men. The soldier whose desire for drink
would ordinarily be satisfied by a few
glasses of beer in the canteen or the
post exchange, goes to one of these re-
sorts and does well If he escapes before
he has spent or gaInbIed away all hts
money. overstayed his leave or engaged
in an alteration.
Local Authorities Indifferent.
las rule the local authorities regard
the existence of these places with indif-
ference or approval as it causes the sol
der to spend his money in the commu-
nifty. The efficiency of the army or the
ruin of good soldier is nothing to them.
There can be no reasonable doubt that
most of the trials by general courts-mar-
tial and summary courts. at least so far
as this Department is concerned. are di-
rectly traceable to this cause.
"Since / have had command here there
has taken place the ruin and degrada-
ton of several non-commissioned officers
of long service and fine record. In short.
the recent legislation by Congress on this
question, so far as this Department Is
concerned, has had no effect except to
lower the discipline of the army, ruin
scores of good soldiers and fill the pock-
cts of a lot of saloon-keepers. gamblers
and prostitutes"
The water supply at a number Of posts
In the Department of the Colorado. the
report says, has caused considerable com
Germ.
Controversy With Cheyenne.
General Funston says the controversy
between the city of Cheyenne. Wyo, and
the authorities of Fort d. A. Russell. re-
garding certain water rights. has reach
ed a stage which renders 1t necessary for
the governments rights to be ascertained
or the post abandoned.
Considerable trouble has been had at
Fort Grant, Ariz.. on account of the wa
ter supply.
On account OF the establishment Of
other forts and the completion of the
railroad OF the San Carlos Agency, Cen
eral Funston recommends that Fort
Grant be abandoned.
Regarding the proposed construction Of
post at Albuquerque. N. NJ. General
Funston recommends that a board be ap-
pointed to visit that place and also Las
Vegas and Santa Fe and observe care
fully the question of water supply. Gle
mate, etc, before any action is taken.
The Inspector General of the Depart
ment reports that. as a general rule, the
quarters and barracks are not in good
condition.