Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-25
TIL Army CAN1EEN,
Abolition Of Post Exchange
Has Not Improved
Conditions.

WASHINGTON. November 4-The Wa
i Department is in constant receipt of data
i concerning the canteen question, and the
| effect of abolition of the canteen upon the
! army. Apropos of this, the statement is
made atsthe War Department that only
I! 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 in the mat
| ter.
It is said at the department that the
| rec mmenda lions Of the Adjutant-G Genera
in his annual report were based upon
the information contained in these re-
| ports. It is pointed out that the exis-
tence of something like 1,400 saloons in
the vicinity of the army posts is shown
by the reports received at the depart
| ment $50 to 300 Of which are said to have
been opened since the closing of the can
teen. This further statement is made at
the department.:
THE majority Of posts have reported
that drunkenness and court-martials for
drunkenness have increased; that deser-
ton and absence without leave has in
creased; that the effect of the closing of
the canteen upon the morality, discipline
and health Of the troops has been bad,
and, While many post commanders are.
in consequence of frequent changes of
garrison, and from the absence of cor
rect data upon which to base compari-
sons. 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 a post
commander expressed an opinion that the
effect of the abolition of the sale of beer
IN 1a army Ioc in ir11nrNva6
conditions
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
With reference to the reports from the
Philippines, a statement has been made,
epitomizing the annual report of Briga-
dier-General Sanger; inspector-gene of
the Division of the Philippines. After mar
rating the evil effects upon the human
system of the native liquors. the state
ment continues:
ITO remedy these conditions the post
exchange, at which light beer was sold,
was exercising a wholesome influence,
and General Sanger believes that the ex-
change should be again made a posi-
bility, by removing all restrictions on the
sale of beer and light wines. To the fear,
SO often expressed by the oponents of
the scanteen system, that the sale of beer
would initiate or induce habits Of intem-
perance, General Sanger shows from a
careful census Of the 342 companies of
troops in the Philippine Islands, that in
go companies every enlisted man used
vinous. malt. or spirituous liquors at date
Of enlistment; in 100 companies between
90 and 100 per cent; in IS companies, be-
tween so and 80 per cent; in 26 companies,
between 70 and so per cent; in 20 cOmpa-
mics, between 50 and 20 per cent. Unfor-
tunately quite a number of men habit
uaiIy drink to excess, and as this number
will probably increase if the men are
obliged, as now, to resort to native LID
ours 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 re-
mark that, 1t is hardly probable in
view of these figures, that Congress shall
continue the prohibition against the can
teen, when it is evident that the sale of
beer would be a precaution against the
perncious habits above stated, and their
fatal and disastrous results.