The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-09-22
TnE nEsarEs ON nor1nrs.

fdE AtEBAIES ON
The state Paying High Prices for
Inferior Goods-St. Julian Yates
Getting His Share.
News and Courier, 10th inst.
While the "dispensary Investigation
was going merrily or in Columbia last
night there was a gentleman in
Charleston who had stories to tell
wherein alleged bad management was
made clear. Just where this informa-
reasons, to be withheld, but the facts
are all on file and IL necessary can be
produced on very short notice.
1t has long been q matter OF specula-
tion why the dispensary should pay
more for bottles than was previously
done. Early in the spring it was stated
that the ~dispensary needed ten or
more carloads Of TASKS and bottles to
be packed during the simmer season
while the glass factories were closed.
Complete specifications and samples of
bottles and skeleton packing cases,
such as are, r ow used, were given to
responsible parties, with instructions
to quote the price on green bottles Of
certain weights and In carload lots to
be delivered in Columbia. The posi-
tive assurance was given that the
green ware, which had been extensive
ly used at the ~dispensary, was mere
satisfactory than the flint ware, also In
use. Mr.. Scruggs and MIR. CASTOR are
both on record as having complained
to several parties about the Indifferent
ware being furnished by a house in
Indiana.
Acting on this a certain responsible
house In New York submitted specit-
RntinnS in xunna nf IDtt~,
quality than the dispensary has been
using. At the May meeting of the
present board Of control bids we're re-
ceived according to these specifications
at the following prices Half pint
TASKS, 8 ounces in weight, AZ 50 as per
gross 4; pint tasks, 16 ounces, SO 80 per
gross quarts, 81 ounces, Sc 10 per
gross. These were the weights de-
sired by the board. The board at the
same time called to the attention of
the manufacturers that the bottles
they had been using weighed much
less, although the first contract made
with them specified the above weights.
Here is what the ~dispeusarNy people re-
ceivcd: Half pints, s ounces. Car
load after carload of these good were
sent. The prices paid we're: Half
pints 50 90, pints So 80, quarts 81.
The attention of the board was
called to this shortage in the weight.
The New York house offered to furnish
these weights of the finest quality OF
green ware ut So 40 for half pints SO rs
for pints and So rs for quarts. 1t was
somewhat strange that after the dis
pensary had used hundreds Of cases OF
the green ware from some of the best
glass manufacturers in the country
that they should suddenly discover the
| npppSSitV Df nayinn on rnn,h hiuhnr
7 prices for flint ware at S. 80 for hall
pints, $4.25 for pints and $3.50 for
quarts. Sixty cars at this price are
said to have been ordered from parties
In Baltimore, and ten cars from the
house in Indiana. This is quite an in.
crease over the estimated ten that
were wanted for summer DO Ting. II
has been said that the style of packing
which is in wooden skeleton cases
makes this difference in the cost, but
this is not the only reason for such ar
advance, rs is proved by the fact that
the bids made for the green ware
called for the same packing, and the
prices were for delivery in Columbia
While bottles and corks are Il very
small part OF the purchases of the dis
pensary compared with whiskey and
beer, it is a matter of general interest
all the same why they should pay more
for corks than they could have gotten
them direct from the manufacturers
for. 1t has been said repeatedly that
during the first year of the dispensary
something over 81, 900 was spent fUl
corks. AT that time corks were sold
In large quantities by the various
leading cork manufacturers at D dis,
count OF 80 and 100 per cent. from the
list price. Quotations were given the
dispensary people at these prices, but
1T seems that they preferred to buy al
10 per cent. discount from the list.
This would make q difference Of many
hundred dollars in Il lite matter Of
corks. Some people who keep tracl
OF such matters say this was lone t.
accommodate Il few friends in Cincin.
natl.
The bottom Of the whole business
Is that tho dispensary decided to ge,
flint ware and IL might be well to state
inst here that the Nint ware was pur,
chased from the Pennsylvania Glass
Company, of Anderson, Ind, and that
Mr.. j. ST. Julian Yates acted as their
! agent in making the sale.