Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-06
SOUTH cARoLINA's LIovoR-LAw.
The Extraordinary system Of Dispensers
and the Many New Offices Created.
Indianapolis Journall

iluuAdnHpNAio "NNAAAf''l
Probably the most unique and extraordl-
nary liquor-law ever passed mas Just Ossn
enacted in South Carolina. Ii gives the
State On entire monopoly OF the trnf1c. 10
be farmed out under certain conditions
and subject to certain regulations. Inc
machinery Of the law ~ cumbersome, oorD-
pllcated. and EXPENSIVE, 1t creates nearly
i5O new offices. The Governor IL required
10 appoint a commissioner. or State dls-
penser. salary 81 800, whose duty u shall be
to purchase all liquors for lawful sale IN
the State. No liquors can be sold except
such as are purchased and dispensed by
him. He il provided with assistants
clerks, book-keeper. &c. There is to be
State chemist 10 look after the purity OF
the State liquors, and state board OF
control to look after the chemist. Eacn
county ia to have a dispenser and board
of control, consisting Of three persons
who are authorized 20 issue permit
to sell liqUors to at least one DIS
penser in their several COUNTIES
with eleven extra dispensers for Charles
ton and R.chland together. Each coun-
w dispenser is authorized TO nave
assistants. The county boards are 10
specify the building IN which intoxicating
liquors may be sold IN any place, ana no
lauor NAV be sold by any person or at any
place not authorized by the Board OF Con-
troll. The clerks of the county commission
ers are made the clerks Of the county
boards OF control at an extra allowance OF
81 per day for each day employed. Finally;
the Governor Is authorized 10 appoint ali
tine special coustables necessary TO enforce
the law.
The law provides that "all profits, after
paving all expenses Of the county dispen-
sarv. stall be paid one half TO the county
treasurer and one half 70 the municlpal
corporation in which II II located, such
settlements TO be made monthly" from
this II would seem that the real OBJECT OF
the law is 10 raise revenue, though tneIe
is pretence of restricting the tIaihc; Inc
law went into effect January "a. III en-;
forced every saloon in the state VIII
be closed. and liquor wall only be sold by
leGal dispensers. Of course all the saloon
aud liuu Dr-men are violently opposed 10
II. and will fight il from the start, hoping
to have IL declared unconstitutional. AS
the enforcement of the law would cut on
an important source or revenue, that rom
licenses N cities and towns, II Will probably
excite much opposition outside OF saloon
and huuor circles. The Charleston AcrS
and Courier sees in the law the foreshadow-
ing of huge whiskey political ring. IL
"The control Of all the whiskey in the
State about election time would be pow
erful factor IN the determination OF the To-
suit of an election many state. The Evans
bill gives such control to the adminlstra-
ton and the faction now in power in South
Carolina, and if they do not maze 1t serve
to keep them in power for years 10 come 1t
will not be the fault Of the trainers of the
measure az any rate
IL does look somewhat az If the Cover
nor of South Carolina were trying to get
in his work. BY the way, where will the
Governor Of North Carolina, come IN I'M
der tins law? He may find it "a long
| time between drinks"