The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-06-08
A Legislative Experiment.

The new liquor law in South Carolina
will soon be in operation. Some particu-
lars concerning it were given few weeks
ago in The HERALD. There are some
features OF it, however, that were not
then explained and which relieve it Of a
few objections. The history of the meas
ure is as follows:
1t is said that the passage of the bill
was the result Of a spat between the South
Carolina House and Senate. The House
passed a prohl bition bill. When it reached
the Senate that body. by way of derision,
amended it in such fashion that was
thought would cause it's death when it
went back to the House. But il passed
and became law and now the state will
have to try the experiment OF running
the liquor business itself and after new
fashion.
Saloon keeping under the law is abol-
ished. Liquor is to be sold under author
ity and by appointed and bonded officers
OF the state, but only in original pack
ages, sealed and containing from half
a pint to four gallons each. They must
not be opened on the premises where they
are sold, nor dispensed to minor or
habitual drunkard. Each purchaser must
sign an order for the amount and kind
wanted.
All the liquor to be sold in the state is
to be purchased by state commissioner,
under whose directions the packages are
to be put up and sealed after the goods
have been analysed and pronounced pure
by the state chemist. Before local off
Ger is appointed to sell liquor in any dis
trict majority of the freeholders must
signify their assent to the appointment
and sale.
The profits of the business are to be
thus divided: Fifty per cent. to the state
treasury, the other fifty per cent. to be di-
vided between the county treasury and
the city, town or village where the liquor
is dispensed. Thus no private benefits
are to be derived from the liquor traffic il
South Carolina.
Of course the saloon keepers are op
posed to the law and will do all they car
to bring it into discredit. In this, though
from different motive, they will be as
sisted by the prohibitionists. Thus ex
tremes will meet and natural enemies vii
be joined for common purpose.
This is an experiment. but in a direction
away from the true purpose of republican
/ government. The state was not organized
to go into business of such character.
may regulate and restrain but not engage
in the traffic. To license it is one thing
to sell it is entirely another thing.
One benefit will probably accrue from
the supervision of the state over tn,
liquor sold under it's authority. 1t viii
be free from adulteration. 1t will b.
what it purports to be. Very much o
the disastrous effects of intoxicants j
due to the presence of deleterious in
gradients, as well as only partly refined
alcoholic decoctions. The stuff sold fo
the various kinds OF liquor is largel,
manufactured outside Of distilleries, anc
the drinking public is poisoned as we'll a
intoxicated. Pure liquor will be prefer
able to the doctoredl stuff palmed off upcr
imbibers, and there will be no induce
ment for the state chemist, the state com
missioner, or the dispensers OF the sealee
packages to engage in any kind of decep
tion. The goods sold will be what is de-
manded by the purchaser. The expert
ment will be watched with good deal o
interest.