Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-07
HOUSE OPPOSED TO CANTEENS
ecLAusE ADDED TO THE sUNDRY
CIVIL BILL.
Provision Relates to National Homes
for Volunteer Soldiers-Landis
Utters Warning.

Despite the efforts of Representative
Tawney of Minnesota and a number OF
his colleagues on the appropriations COM
mittee, the House. by an overwhelming
vote. Yesterday afternoon decided to en-
force an anti-canteen provision against
the national homes for volunteer soldiers
Last year was the first time the sundry
civil bill carried an anti-canteen provision
affecting the homes. and the vote o.
which it was adopted on the floor. against
the protests Of a majority of the members
of the appropriations committee. was ex-
ceedingly. close. In that respect 1t was
different. from this year, the vote yester-
day being 1871 to 40.
The clause was inserted by Representa-
tive Tirrell of Massachusetts,. who pro-
posed 1T as an amendment. Representa-
tive Bartholdt made point OF ordei
against 1t as new legislation" In an ap-
preparation bill. but Chairman Watson
promptly overruled the point OF ORDER
Then a lively debate followed.
Speaking as a trustee of the state home
at Bath for six years, having experience
with the canteen and without it. Repre-
sentative Goulden of New York said that
the abolition of the canteen had proved to
be disastrous to the discipline ana gooo
morals of the inmates.
In behalf of the families of the inmates
of the homes, Representative Scott OIL
Kansas advocated the Tirrell amendment
He showed that in four months of 1907,
when there was no canteen. the inmates
sent to their families $4,000 more than
in the same four months of 1906 with a
canteen.
Representative Parker of New Jersey
declared that the old soldiers had right
to drink liquor in the homes If they
wanted it. They were homes, not penl-
tentiaries nor warehouses;.
Lands Utters Warning.
The speech of Mr.. Lands concluded the
debate for the amendment. He said he
stood against the attempt of the brewers
to force the canteen into the homes. He
said he was tired of the studied insolence
of the brewers and distillers in their eff
forts to force their products into places
(which our instincts tell us. and their
judgment should tell them. they ought
not to >gO.
Il see in the daily print that they have
succeeded in securing a grant to estab-
lish a bar in the new Union station, that
splendid edifice which would never have
been constructed but for the assistance
voted by the American Congress. This
shows the shortsightedness of these gem
tlemen who call themselves friends of
personal liberty.
Il would utter a word of warning to
those alleged friends of personal liberty.
and say that that very grant is likely to
precipitate a contest on this floor under
this DOME that will not only prohibit the
sale of intoxicating liquors in the new
Union station but close forever every sa-
loon within the confines Of the District
of Columbia"
Tawney Opposes Amendment.
The debate was brought to a close by
Mr. Tawney, who strenuously opposed the
Tirrell amendment. He said that the
facts before the committee on appropria-
tons disclosed that the amendment was
in the interest of intemperance and not
In the interest of temperance. We are
not dealing with a question that involves
the conduct of young men," he declared.
I'VE are not dealing with a question that
involves the conduct of men whose habits
have not been formed. We are not deal
ing with the habits of men generally.
But" he said. we are dealing with a
select few whose average is almost sew
enty years, who, by reason of their cir
cumstances, are obliged to accept the hos
pitality of the government in their de-
Ginning years.