The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1893-07-07
AN EXPERIMENT IN LIQUOR LAWS.


the general assembly, of South Carolina,
goes into operation. BY the provisions
Of this remarkable measure, for the
first time in the history of the Amer
lean Union, the state assumes the func-
tions of the rumseller. "Dispensarles"
will take the place of the saloons. The
bartender will make room for the
.otficial dispenser" The corner gro
Gerry with barroom attachment, the club
sideboards and even the festive cocktail
itself will be no more. In their places
will reign the state saloon and straight
whiskey. The liquor traffic will con-
tinue, but instead of regulating it the
commonwealth will conduct it.
The big cellars OF the state dispensary
are now stored with some six carloads
9f bottles and TASKS, which fill the rear,
while at the front are the wine rooms,
also literally stocked. The dispensary
will begin operations with a stock val
ued at $3O0,OO0. The appropriation is
only one-sixth that amount, but there
is no troWble in procuring credit.
Gov. Tillman declares that the state
will clear S5O0,OOO by the experiment
the first year. 1t is possible, however,
that when the lst of July comes there
will be very few dispensaries in opera
tion. The law requires that in order
for county dispenser to be appointed
he must have his application indorsed
by majority of the freeholders of the
town. Thus far very few applicants
have secured the necessary indorse-
ments. The dispensary law will put
the state in the bar business, with the
governor as head barkeeper.. 1t pro-
vides that within 30 days from its ap-
proval the governor shall appoint
state commissioner, believed by him to
be an abstainer, who shall, under rules
made by the board of control, purchase
all Intoxicating liquors for sale in the
state.
The state commissioner can sell only
to county dispensers and is not allowed
to receive from them more than so per
cent above the net COST He must also
sell no liquors that have not been tested
by the chemist of South Carolina col
lege and declared to be pure and un-
adulterated. In his purchases he is
required to give preference to manu-
facturers and brewers doing business in
this state. These manufacturers are
allowed to sell to ne person in the state
except the state commissioner and to
parties outside of the state. Every
package, barrel or bottle of liquors
shipped beyond the limits of the state
must bear the certificate of the state
commissioners or be liable to confiscation
and the railroad carrying it to punish
ment.
All packages shipped by the commits
sioner to the county dispensers must
bear a similar certificate, without
which they are regarded as intended
for unlawful sale and upon conviction
the railroad is liable to a penalty OF
$500 for each offense. The fine for
persons is the same, together with i'm
prisonment in the peLitentiary for not
less than one year.
Only packages OF not less than one.
half pint or more than five gallons can
be shipped, the county dispenser can
sell by the package only, and the pur-
chaser cannot open the package on the
premises.
Only one dispenser is allowed in each
county except in Charleston, where
there are ten and in Columbia where
there are three.
The dispenser is required to take
oath that he will not sell or furnish liq-
uor TO any person who is not known to
him personally, or duly identified, or to
any minor or intoxicated person, or per-
son who is in the habit of becoming in
toNicated. Prospective purchasers
must present requests, pri nted OF writ
ten in ink, giving date, age and resi-
dence of signer, for whom and whose
use the liquor is required, the quantity
and kind wanted, and his or her true
name or residence. The request shall
be refused if the dispenser personally
knows the person applying is minor
or that he is in the habit OF using liquor
to excess.
The net profits OF the county dispen-
saries go one-half to the county treasury
and one-half to the municipal corpora
tion in which the dispensary is located.
The law crushes out the clubs by pro-
viding that any person who shall keep
or assist in keeping CLUB room where
liquors are kept for barter or for sale,
as a beverage, or distribution or divis-
ion, shall upon conviction be fined from
800 to $500 or be imprisoned in the
county Jail from 80 days to one year.