The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-02-07
FIRST ANNUAL
REPORT
OF STATE LIQUOR COMMISSION
EE MiXSON.
1t shows That tho Sales in The Sub
Dlspensarfes for tho Past Year
Amount TO Over n Mil
lion Dollars.

The first annual report Of the Stat,
liquor commissioner has beon ISSUED
and 1T IL II most interest document
full of Information of value to tho pub
lie. In the report the commissi one,
says:
1t Is gratifying TO mo to DO enabled
TO state that the operations Of tho dii
pcnsary have been profitable for the
period of my incumbency in office; u ncl
profit of $133, ,4G7.77 having accrued
from the sales of tho past eleven
months. whilst tho uncarned profit
outstanding, December 31st, is S25,
5I.S6, making total earned and un-
earned profit for eleven months of
Sl59,039.62, Oh 1908, 055 .G3, total
sales by me for the corresponding pc.
riod. L have saved tho State on my
purchases of merchandise for the past
eleven months the sum of $40, ,939. Ct
IN discounts.
II would state, that thcre have bcen
on an average S4 sub-dispensarics in
operation in the State for the past
year. The sales from these dispensa-
ries for the past eleven months aggre-
gate 81 ,076, ,963. .65, at net profit Of
$lO6, 1928 to the towns and counties.
Some of these dispopsaries located in
the smaller towns have been operated
through the dull season at loss to the
counties IN which they arc located,
and L would respectfully suggest that
your honorable board take such steDs
las are necessary to prevent recur-
renee OF these undesirable results dur
ing the coming summer. | am i'm
pressed with the necessity of an adop-
ton by your honorable board of strin-
gent rules and regulations for the gov
ernment OF tho sub-dispensarics and n
rigid enforcement thereof. I would
respectfully suggest that the county
dispensers DO required to sign their
monthly inventories under oath or af-
hrmation, as well as all othor monthly
and quarterly reports.
II would respectfully call tho atten.
$ion of your honorable board to the
Got that divers complaints have been
mndo by various dispensers on account
OF my inability to fill their orders in
several Instances. Your honorable
board will, doubtless. remember that I
foresaT this annoyance early in the
past spring, and to provide against
TINS contingency, suggested tho imme-
diate erection OF a suitable building on
the line Of the railroads, that Gn in
crease in the working force might be
made advnntageously, and the handling
OF goods greatly facilitated. And as a
sdeyesae,f:% %rt''st t@soI~'3racticability
tentative, that your honc..;::eo above
empower the commission To-
chase in sufficient quantities to stow
away large stock through the dull
summer months, to meet the heavy de-
mands of tho fall and winter trade.
But at the time litigation was of such n
nature tnnd for other causes, of which
your honorable board is fully ndvised)
it was not deemed cXpcdicnt to carry
into execution either of my sugges-
hons, and, as II consequence, l was
forced to meet the heavy demands
made upon me as best i could. Sta
toned rs l was in inadequate quar-
tcrs. with stock on hand far short Of
the demands of the increasing trade, it
was q physical impossibiity to keep
abreast of the demands, although had
- IuAl lOIIC nv WI IL illSh huu uuu
every foot of available floor space was,
utilized for storage purposes. That l
may tide against Il recurrence of these
difficulties next winter, would sug-
gcst that your honorable board take
some steps looking to the construction
of n larger building near the railroad
line and that the commissioner be
vested with tho power to purchase
supplies and merchandise in quantities
sufficient to meet the fall trade. It is
absolutely necessary to provide incres-
ed facilities to meet tho requirements
of this growing trade, and if the sugges-
tions thrown out by me arc not adopt
ed, it will be impossible to measures
up to the expectations Of the public
"Your attention il also respectfully
called to the beer sale privilege grant
eel certain parties. I am unnltcrahly
Hf the opinion that it is II fruitful source
0f i'iicit traffic and wouid respectfully
recommend that Your honorable board
Withdraw nll prlvilrGcsthus granted.
The 'porSunnl accounts item ofthiS
report represents 81, 52G.43, shortages
due by county dispensers. Part OF
this deficit Is III process OF settlement,
whilst The other part IL now III the
.'nrt>. S2!2.30 Of this amount is due
the penal and charitable institu.
.ous of the State and Clemson and
, Winthrop colleges for alcohol, whi5hcy
and wines The asylum owing tho
amount of $lS3.50 for goods purchas-
Ell hy order OF the bOura of regents.
5000 is owing by the suspended bnnk
| of Chester, and SNOW y Co.. of kIngs-
tree. These suspension" tran'pircd
| before assumed the duties of com
missioner. The remainder rcprc.cnts
! advances wGdcS hy IN" TO pay ih. gov