The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-15
OLD SOLDIERS
TO HAVE BEER
Governors Of 'Soldiers' Homes All
in Favor of Cantccns for
Veterans.
MAYNARD is CONFIDENT
All the Members of the House
Banking Committee Opposed /
to Aldrich Bill.
1Imes.Dispatch bureau.
Nfvuuou fkultJi,, n
Washington. ID. e.. An,

ton, which VIII come on In the Senate
next week over the bill regulating the
shipment of liquor from one State to
another. will also be on in the House
at the same time, though In a differ
ent form. The House fight will be
over Incorporating in the sundry civil
bill provision that beer halls may be
established at National Soldiers Homes.
or rather eliminating the provision
put in the bill last year prohibiting
such places as canteehs, where beer
may be had by the veterans within
the grounds Of the homes
The advocates Of the re-est ablish-
ment of the canteen at the homes are
the governors of the various institutions
OF this character throughout the coun-
try. Chairman Tawney, of the Com
mittee on Appropriations. has written
to each OF these ofllcials, and every
one OF them has replied that the can
teen should be re-established In the
interest of temperance among the old
soldiers.
And Ia Prohibition Maine.
The governor of the nome at Togas.
Maine, for example, wrote that since
the adjustment OF the home canteen,
the cases Of acute alcoholism among
the veterans had Increased 81 pei.
cent. in the first eight months OF tho
operation os the law. The smallest
increase was at the California home,
which was IS per cent. The abund-
ance of light wines in the vicinity OF
the nome, whereby tipple not SO
dangerous as the stuff obtainable III
the dives which have sprung up about
the other homes since the abolishment
o, the cantcen. Is ascribed as the rea-
son for the comparatively small in
crease OF alcoholism in California. Thu
governor Of the home at Hampton re.
ports an increase in alcoholism.
The Board OF Governors of National
Soldiers Homes has adopted resolu-
lions recommending the re-establish
ment of the beer hall in the interest OF
temperance among the inmates OF the
homes.
The trouble encountered by the APP
preparations Committee and members
of the House generally In dealing
with this subject is that temperance
sentiment is SO strong in their dis
! tricts that they cannot follow their
inclinations. and vote to give the
veterans their beer as in former days.
1t is probable, however, that the
need of restoring the beer halls in the
interest of the veterans themselves
will be presented so strongly that the
Congress will have to withdraw the
prohibition.
The Fight for Four Battlcships.
The House Will probably vote to-
morrow on the Hobson amendment to
the naval appropriation bill, author
izing the construction of four battle
ships, instead of three. IS recommend
ed by the Naval Committee.
| While Mr.. Hobson claims there is no
doubt that the House will adopt the
am endment. the fact is that there is
very grave doubt in the minds of DEM
ocrats and Republicans. Many Demo-
Gratis oppose the authorization of more
than one battleship this year. and
some actually oppose appropriating for
any al all.
Representative Lassitcr. of the
Fourth Virginia. will make speech
tomorrow or the day Following, APP
posing more than two battleships, the
time of his speaking depending en-
tirely upon when the House in Commit
tee of the Whole votes on the item au-
| thorizing battleships.
The Jnmcatown Purchase Bill.
II am absolutely confident, or as
confident as l can be of anything not
| yet come to pass" said Representa-
tive Maynard to-day, that Congress
will pass this session or the next my
bill providing for the purchase of the
| site of the Jamestown Exposition, to be
used as the location for coal depot
and naval training station"
1t is possible that the committee
will recommend this year that the
purchase be made. The Secretary Of
War. it is understood, will recommend
much more heartily than he has
hitherto the acquisition of the prop
erty.