The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-04-14
STATE LIQUOR CONTROL.

u a's'
loon and gone into the liquor business on
her own account as completely and
thoroughly as France under the great
Napoleon made tobacco a government
monopoly. After July J., when the new
Evans dispensary law goes into effect
liquor can only be obtained at state dis
pensaries in charge Of state officers and
in sealed packages of from half a pint to
five gal ons. which must not be opened
on the premises. Bar-rooms and clubs
must go and druggists who dispense
liquor other than as compounded in
medicines are liable to get into trouble.
The liquor men who banded to fight the
act have been informed by eminent
council that the law is not %unconstitu-
tional and advised to obey it.
The act under which the Palmetto
state has taken this extraordinary step
was recently passed and provides that
"the manufacture, sale or exchange, or
the keeping within this state of any
kind of spirituous, malt, %vinous, ferment'
ed or other Intoxicating liquor, or any
compound or mixtures thereof by what
ever name called which will produce in
toxication, by any person, firm, corpora
ton or association shall be regulated and
conducted as prescribed by this statute
which is a long an exhaustive one.
Some of the provisions of the law are
not a little singular and novel. AS d
whole it is practically the conliscatior
of the liquor traffic for the benefit of the
states revenues, but under conditions
| which would seem to assure the sobrlety
Of the community. The governor is
required to appoint a state dispenser at
a salary of $1,000 to supervise the traift
in the state. lie must, be a total alb.
stainer, and he is to sell to the county
boards of control such spirituous liquors
as have been declared pure by the chem
ist of the South Carolina college. The
state commissioner cannot receive more
than 80 per cent profit On his sales, ant
all money received is to be turned into
the state treasury. All the rules gov
erning the commission shall be made by
the state board Of control, composed o.
the governor, comptroller general and at
torney general. In purchasing liquors
the state commissioner is to attach t.
every package a certificate signed b.
him, and any liquor sold or kept.o trans
ported within the state or carried out o.
the state not SO stamped will be regarded
as intended for unlawful sale, and any
railroad or express carrier transporting /
is made liable to Il fine Of 500.
A county board OF three members is tc
exist in each county, and one-half thu
profits are to be turned into the count,
treasury monthly, the other half int
the municipal treasury of the town il
which tho liquor is sold.
Every person maintaining a club o
other place in which liquor is sold o
distributed among the members will b
lldDit W IL llhc pcbdliy' IN
and clubs are declared common nuisan
ces and the officers Of the law are OF
dered to treat them as such. Keeper
and maintainers of such will be liabl
to $1,000 fine and one years imprisor
ment. Any officer of the law neglect
ing to carry out this law will be liabl
to a fine of 800 and the forfeiture {
his Office.
This is the first attempt made in tn
United States to regulate and restric
the liquor traffic as a state institution
and the experiment will be watched wit
deep interest by all who belive tina
legislation can serve the cause of ten
perancc. The law has stringent provis
ions against the adultcration of liquors
and none can be sold over IA bar in IT,
state. All liquors bought at the stat
~dispensarics will be in sealed packages
not less than one half pint, nor MOI
than five gallons, and these package
cannot be opened on the premises.
Governor Tlllman has been the mo'
ing spirit in this arrangement, an
whether his plan succeeds or not Sout
Carolina may be congratulated for tai
ing the liquor bull squarely by II