New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-30
A NOVEL LIQCOH Law.


20 into effect in the State of South Carolina.
This law, which gives to the stat" the Sole
right to sell liquors. was enacted by the
Tillmanitcs. who nre now in control Of the
State. TO head of the Prohibitionists, who had
carried the State on popular vote, and who
passed a prohibition bill in one branch OF the
LEGISLATURE. But whatever may have been the
motive of those who had the law enacted, us
provisions are so stringent that it will result
in practical prohibition i'll many counties, Ill the
opinion Of many.
Under the law the Governor is required 10
appoint a State Commissioner, at salary OIL
81 500. who is total abstaincr. 1t II the duty
of this Commissioner to purchase all the liquor
IN bc sold i'm the State dispenser is to be
Amounted for every county, who alone shall sell
linuor in the county for which he is appointed
The cities of Charleston and Columbia, however,
may have, respectively, ten and three dispchsers'
The dispensers must purchase their liquors from the
State Commissioner, who shall charge them not more
than 80 per cent above cost price All liquors
must he officially tested and declared TO DE pure
b,, the chemist OF tho South Carolina College.
And all liquors shipped TO the county dispensers
must have on them the State Commissioner GER
tiGcatc II they do NOT, they viii be laDlc 10
conNscation. The railroads transporting them Will
n
them may be- fined $500 and imprisoned for not
loss than \ year Liquors must Dc transported
and sold in packages OF not more than five gal
Ions or les. than half pint. Purchasers are not
allowed 20 open a package on the premises ol
the county dispenser.
Applicants for appointment a. county ulSp'h-
scrs must make oath that they have never pe"n
convicted OF Violating the li1uor laws, mat thev
do not keep drug stores. restaurants. saloo's OF
places OF public amusement and that they are
not I'm the habit OF using intoxicating liquors ns
a beverage Their applications must also be IN
,lorscd by majority Of the irechodrs OF Their
towns In addition. tho dispenser must swear
tina, he will pot 1..l - any person not known
him personally, - any minor. nor {" any habltua
drunkard Purchasers ale required - present
printed OF written rc1ucsts in which are recorded
their names, ages residences. the quantity and
kind of liquor desired and the names OF III"
Persons for who's. Use it il wanted ANY person
not "A county dspcnsor who sells. or assists II
selling. liquors i, liable TO a fine OF from Slro
TO $500. and TO imprisonment Tor from ninety
days to one yrar The profit, of the county dis
pcnsarics are to be- divided equally between the
county and municipal treasures.
II is thought that the law will promote tenn
pcrancc in two ways. In counties in which
dispenser is appointed, tho difficulty OF getting
iluor will b. =, gr AZ a. - discourage many who
would otherwise drink. Wbi'e on the other hand.
in some counties IL will br almost Impossible Tor
any applicant for the Office of dispenser 70 obtain
the necessary PETITIONS. the sgncrs Of such pc
titions must declare that they arr we'll and per
sonally acquainted with the applicant. In such
Counties IN rcfoc. no Ii Iu0r w0I!d b. sold Every
thing depends. however on how strictly Oh" law
is enforced. Unless extraordinary precautions are
taken. private liquor shops will spring mp and, as
they will have no license 10 pay, the result Will
be free rum and an increase of drinking. In an
swer 10 this the State officials declare TINT they
intend 10 enforce the law strictly and literally.
II such shall turn ont 10 he the case. IN" law
will bc one OF the most interesting obJc't
lessons in the problem Of drink ever tired
in this country II viii inevitably DO either grca;
failure or a great success Students of the tenn
perInce question will he especially interested in
il, bccausc il is very much like the so-callcd
t;othcnburg system of Sweden, which gives a
monopoly of the hGuor business 10 the city
which adopts II. and which limits the profits to
; per cent on The investment.
The State of South Carolina has already lail
in a stock of liquor vilucd nj S3O0,0 which
is now stored az Columbia. Ii is already evident
that in some counties in which prohibition scnti-
mcnt il strong il will rot be possible for
county dispenser to be- appointed; and II Illegal
sellers are prosecuted in such counties the result
will he absolute prohibition.