The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-01-20

1
as subordinate limbs OF the govern
ment, and when they fail to perfcru
their functions they should be pu
under State control, Of or have thei
charters repealed. 1t has been con
tended that the police have been tax
en- from the control OF the citizens
This is untrue. They are in the hand
of a commission OF native borr
Cbarlestonians, whose interests art
Iinaed with those Of the city. Thel
are under the control OF a caief wht
has ebioyed the confidence anc
respect OF the city and they cannot b;
otherwise under the law.
l: will be seen that the total drink;
and drunkS aud disorderlies havs
gradually decreased from 80l in 1885,
to 217 in 1886 uader metropolitan po
lice-a decrease Of nearly Is per cent
During the year 1896 there were
oouod over by the magistrates fol-
violations OF the dispensary Law 23l
cases. Their names and residence:
are duly given IN tae report. O., this
number % have been tried and con
victed and have paid into the county
treasury s.. $50 in fines. a better
showing than this would have beer
made but for the fact that at the last
term Of the curt every clse was con
tinued upon the affiayiLs ef attorneys
VINO claimed to be sick and were seer
upon the streets the next day. Tne
grand jury found 81 additional true
bills. In 1895 nos a conviction was
had, the grand jury refusing in many
cases to fad true bills. Il is a nota
Die fact that two OF the city council
who were sworn to enforce this law
we're among the number indicted aud
against whom true bills were found.
Possibly the best evidence Of the work
of the focee would Be a comparison OF
the sales from the dispensaries. The
gains under the ~ ,tro politao system
during the frs. Secon3 and third quar-.
ters OF the year 1895.
Under metropolitan system to city
and county reach s7,427 OF, nearly
100 per cent.
Tee police made during the year
1895 $50 raids and recovered 41S bot
ties Of wniskey partly fillei, 80 bottles
OF wine partly filed, 70 demejohns OF
whiskey partly filled, 6 kegs OF whis-
key partly filed, 5 halt barrels OF
whiskeg partly filled, 42 full barrels
OF whiskey, 81 10 gallon kegs Of whis,
key, Ii cases of wisk9y, IS kegs OF
beer and 10, ,304 bottles OF beer. Toe
raids where no seizures were made
have not been entered.
Tnirty-one ex barkeepers and illict
dealers have been made to discontinue
their business and most Of them have
left the city.
The police department consists OF
three commissioners, who exercise
all the powers conferred by law upon
the department. The strength Of the
force is as follows: One marshal and
chief of police, three lieutenants, two
orderly sergeantS, eight line sergeants,
one chief detective, three detectives,
seventy-three privates, four gatemen,
two dra7men, five drivers, ten special
officers.
In the enforcement of the dis2ensa,
ry law the police force have not ne.
elected their duty in the detection OF
other offenders agains! the peace and
good order OF the city, and no com
plants have been made on this score.
Capt. ]. Elmore Martin has enforc.
ed the laws in an aggressive and vigo.
rous manner. Notwithstanding the
hundrc Is Of arrests made and the in
tricate and delicate questions he has
has had to decide as the executive off.
Ger OF the department, on every occa,
sion he has displayed the ability to
amicably adjust the issues involved.
He and his efficient force and the po-
lice commissioners deserve the thanks
OF all good citizens in placing Charles.
ton upon as high plane as the other
cities of the State.
So far as the other cities of the State
are concerned, I am happy to state
that the munici pal authorities in every
instance have shown a desire to co op
crate with the State administration in
enforcing this law, and while we do
not claim to have entirely stamped
out the Illicit traffic, all good citizens
must admit that IN Columbia, Green
Vile, Spartanburg and the smaller
towns better feeling exists and earn
est efforts are being made to enforce
the law.
I desire to call your attention to a
feature Of the law which l think
could be dispensed with. The county
boards of control in most instances do
not control. They could be abolished
and their duties impos!ed upon the
State board of control and three Or
four inspectors. whose duty would be
to visit the county dispenSaries from
time to time and see that they are
properly conducted.
There have been several shortages
in the accounts Of county dispensers
aud they have been invariably the re-
suit OF negligence on the part Of the
county boards of control. These de.
linq9ent dispensers have been prompt
IL reported by me- to the attorney gen
eral with instructions to prosecute,
and he has performed MS duty in q
manner deemed best by him. It is no
argument against this Law because
forsooth an officer occasionally errs
and becomes unworthy Of his position.
We might as well argue that the
BANKING system should be destroyed
because a cashier occasionally goes
astray. There are good and honest
men, and they can be had to fll alltnese
positions. 1t is your duty, not only
to the dispensary law, but to the Re
form movement AID to those having
its interest at heart to investigate this
business from its orgaDiz alton to the
present time. Il anything wrong is
discovered let it be ventilated and
punish the guilty parties aud reouke
the slauderers. This should be done
not only with the dispensary, but
with every department Of the State
government where the slightest wrong
doiag is suspected. In this way alone
o,o co,-r o,ovar1yoant he i-ant h0raSt