Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-18
FAVORS THE CANTEEN
GEN. LEE DEPLoREs ITS ABoLI-
TON.
Declares That It Has Increased the
Number Of Drinkers Of
Strong Intoxicants.

In his annual report of operations In
| the Department of Texas Brig. Gen.
Jesse M. Lee, commanding, emphasizes the
recommendation that just and liberal pro-
| vision be made by Congress for the promo
ton to second lieutenancies of enlisted men
| who have passed and those who may pass
| the necessary examination therefor. He
| says promotion from the ranks has, under
proper restrictions. given the army some of
| Its very best officers in all grades; and there
| are today, and there will be in the future,
unless the bars are too tightly closed against
them, many promising non-commissioned
| officers we'll worthy of this advancement.
| which. he says, is in live accord with the
true spirit of our republican form OF gov
eminent
I'm view of present conditions which in
dtcate that the army is entering upon an
| era of stagnation In promotion. says Gen
| Lee, 1.-The remedial Recommendation oi
| last year is renewed that legislation be Sc
| cured for voluntary and compulsory retIe
| ment of officers with an Increased sraue,
similar to that which obtains IN the navy
| and Marine Corps.
| Favors the Canteen.
| General Lee devotes considerable space IN
his report to the canteen feature OF the post
exchange. and submits as incontroveruoie
| facts. as known to him from observations
| and investigation in the course OF his ser
| vice almost constantly with or near troops
| since 1861 the following statements:
| Eat least so per cent of soldiers oIink
| stimulants The majority drink moderately
| of beer and light wines When lhey Ca" o.
| these beverages. a
IA minority drink strong liquors. ana
| usually only small percentage drink 10
| excess, more or less frequently
1.-THE building of costly and efaDoratey
| furnished recreation and amusement rooms
| has but little If any, influence on the
| drinking habit, and scarcely touches 'ae
| canteen question.
| For wears the majority of companies
| have had and still have day rooms for rec
| reation and amusement. bliilard tapies'
| braries papers. books, magazines, ETC.
There are now and long have peen posi-
exchanges more or less suitable to SOLDIERS
| needs in almost every post. Lunch couh-
| tiers are maintained where soidler ca.
| get extras in the way OF 1000 ana SUI
| drinks
The Army Ration.
1.-The ration has been improved. Compar-
| ing it with the rations of most foreign ar
mics etc. II is fine; but on the basis of the
recognized American standard Of living
which is the true one, among good me-
chanjcs and industrious laborers, 1t is not
| and never has been everything that can
| be reasonably desired Many soldiers ire
| quently vary the monotony or the ration
by getting meal or a iuhch ou's-ue 'iAS
company or general mess.
'',rhis lis especially true since the pronts
| of the canteen were cut on, because they
| largely went to Improvement OF the Hes'es.
..The company fund is at all times and I'M
der all conditions an indispensable neces-
sity to meet the many sudden ana unIore-
seen contingencies for the beneht OF the men
Good company commanders have recognized
this from time immemorial. Any Suggestion
as to its abolition shows lack Of correct In
formation of this need of the service.
"A well-regulated canteen where beer and
light wines may be sold conserves olscl-
mine controls and decreases drunkenness
and disorders, lessons absenteeiSm and TO
that extent tends to reduce assertions.
I'm few instances in the past, canteens
were not properly regulated by some weak
and indulgent post commanders Orders
and regulations were to some extent eVaded
or not strictly enforced. Such cases were
exceptional
The Drinkers Increased.
"A certain class of men will drink strong
intoxicants under any and all conditions
The only tendency the inti-csAteen law has
on this class is to increase the number.
Saloons where everything drinkable is
sold nestle around garrisons, within easy
reach open early, close late. and thus in
duce the patronage of squads and gangs
of the soldiers of the command.
lat these outside saloons the habit of
treating is encouraged to the utmost. AS
one soldier stated the fact is that If there
are four five of us it means four or five
drinks all around. and the barkeep "sets
them up" so we Will come back
The anti-canteen law either adds to the
number of saloons contiguous to garrisons
or increases their sales and profits. These
saloonkeepers are financially benefited by
the law and are interested that it be not
repealed.
influence on Recruits
at is a fact developed by searching In
vestigation, that strictly regulated can
teen gives but little IL any, encouragement
to young soldiers (recruits) to begin drink
ing even beer and wine, while usually with
the outside saloons the tendency and prac-
tice gives the greatest encouragement and
they include nearly all the stronger alco-
holic drinks.
"a very few old soldiers, not over two
three, and less than half Of the recruits
Intercepted, opposed to or Indifferent
to the re-establishment of the canteen.
LAS rule the few total abstainers did
not want the canteen for themselves. but
were convinced that 1t would be benefit
to the company messes, and to the men
who wanted a quiet and orderly place in
the post where they could sit down and
take glass of beer when they wished to
DO So.
Gen. Lee states that serious complica-
lions have arisen as to 'bancos or as to
distractions due to construction of jetties
or other improvements on either side of the
boundary between Mexico and the United
States. He further states that the most
agreeable relations exist between the COM
mand and the Mexican officials, military
and civil.