BEER VERSUS NECESSARIES.
By G.
In the Union Signal of May 1, Joshua L. Baily gives some interesting facts concerning National Soldiers' Homes, one paragraph of which is as follows:— At each branch of the National Home there is a store for the sale of a variety of small articles of utility and comfort. There is also at each branch, with one exception, that of Marion, Indiana, a beer hall or canteen, for the exclusive sale of beer. From the report presented to Congress for the year ending June, 1901, it appears that the total sales in the stores amounted to $140,580.94, while the sales in the beer halls or canteens reached $280,312.89, or twice as much as the store sales—that is, for every dollar spent at the stores for articles of utility and comfort, there was $2 spent at the canteen. The gain or profit on the store sales was $23,950.23, while the profit on the beer was $145,661.47; of this profit $87,626.95 was expended on theatrical and other entertainments for the inmates of the Home. The government is supposed to supply what the men eat and wear, medical treatment, etc. But there are always articles that people think they need aside from these, and which they can buy at the stores. These and the beer they buy with their own money, as most of them have pensions. It is from this pension money that the stores and canteens make their profits. It is further stated by Mr. Baily that during the year ending June 30, 1901, the number cared for at the different national homes was 31,247. Of these 29,150 received pensions amounting to $2,997,623, and only one dollar in every nine went toward the support of the soldiers' families at home. The rest was expended as before indicated.