The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-20
Disreputable and Disorderly Saloons
Near Smelling Stand in Way Of q
Government improvements.
War Department Makes Demand on
Congressman Stevens That the
Nuisance Be Abolished.
Officers Wives Insulted and Soldiers
Tempted to Drink in st.
Paul Resorts.
From The Journal Bureau, Room 45, Post Build.

From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build.
ing, Washington.
Washington, d. c., June 2o.-The war
department is not satisfied with st. Paurs
policy as to saloons at the ST. Paul end
of the Fort Smelling bridge and it is very
evident from interviews which Represen-
tative Stevens has had with department
officials this week that there must be g.
change for the better if the extensive inn
provements which will make Smelling per-
haps the most important military post in
the United States are to be carried out
Mr.. Stevens thinks there will be no trouble
about the matter, and that the ST. Paul
authorities will gladly cooperate with
the government to make the fort saloons
less Of a public nuisance and menace to
the soldiery than they now are, Their
attention has never beeen called to the
matter in proper form, but now that it
has Mr.. Stevens expects a prompt re-
spouse. The officers at the fort will also
be asked to be more watchful and their
cooperation with the city authorities is
expected to meet the criticisms which the
department here has been making.
st. Paul Must Act.
It is probable that the st. Paul authori-
ties will at once notify the saloonkeepers
near the fort that certain strict rules
must be complied with or their licenses
will be revoked. These rules will cover
the assembling Of improper characters,
including women, at the saloons, and tho
tempting of soldiers to drink. At the same
time the street railway company will be
asked to assign conductors and motor
men to the cars on the Smelling line who
can prevent the numerous fights which in
the past have been disgrace to that
line and have driven good people away
from 1t. The biggest and bravest and
most pugilistic men in the employ of the
company will probably be put in this
Smelling: car assignment at higher pay
than is given men on other lines.
Officers Wives InsuIted.
Official reports from Fort Smelling to
the department here say that officers ac-
companied by their wives or other female
members of their families have been sub
]ected to gross insult and other indigni-
ties by toughs at the st. Paul end of the
bridge. ON one occasion the bandmaster.
In attempting to protect his wife from in
suit, was beaten by toughs on street
car and thrown off on the roadside, his
wife becoming historical and fainting In
the car. This Is merely one case Officers.
wives are afraid to run the gauntlet of
these saloons to the cars for St Paul, and
are. AFRAID to take the cars after running
the gauntlet. The situation as to the de-
cent part of the general public is as bad
or worse.
Closing of Canteen Responsible.
ing Of the army canteen and forms a.
powerful argument in favor of it's restora-
ton by congress. It is evident that the
war department is in earnest about the
Smelling situation and will insist upon ST.
st. PauPs suppressing the evil just as
Bremerton, Wash. suppressed similar
evils near the navy yard at the demand Of
the navy department. At the same time
the department has confidence in the as
surances given by Mr.. Stevens and ex-
poets that st. Paul will take hold of the
case promptly.
A Call on the President
Representatives Buchanan and Stevens
and Former Representatives Eddy and
Morris. all of Minnesota, called on the
president this morning. The call was
purely informal and not connected in any
way with business matters.
Eddy wanted to say good-by befors
starting west with his family.
Morris is here on his way to the conn
mencement of his college, Washington and
Lee at Lexington, Va, and wanted to pay
his respects; and Stevens and Buchanan
went along for company.
Morris takes his new position as fed
eral judge in Duluth in ten days Mr..
Eddy and his family will start west next
Wednesday. Their furniture and other
belongings will be packed Monday OF
Tuesday.
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