The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-28
TILLMAN'S BILL
COMMITTEE REFUSES TO REPORT A
RULE FORTS CONSIDERATION.

Representatives Latin r and Elicit Havo
Some Sharp Words.--.Mr. j. p. X Bryan,
of Charleston, Appears Before the Com
mlttse for the Opposition.
By the decisive vote Of 4 TO g., after
a two hours hearing Wednesday, the
committee on rules refused to report a
rule for the consideration Of the Till
man liquor bill at this session. The
information Tueday suggested q diff
ferent result aud the action Wadnes-
day was a disappointment TO Senator
Gilman. The arguments in support
Of the application for the rule were
presented by Senator Tillman and Rep
resentativa Latimer. 1t was not dis
euised that the object Of the bill was
10 circumvent the Simonton decision
and perpetuate the existing d~ispensary
system in The State. Representative
Latimer, however, disclaimed any
purpose OF that sort and argued that
the general principle Of the bill was
sound, in giving t. every State the
exclusive control CT the liquor traffic.
Ii the proposed legislation meant the
perpe.uation Of the dispensary system
he would rot, be said, support the
bill.
In opposition, Representative Elliott
aSsailed tie dispersary law, exposed
lis abuses, asserted that it was shame.
fully perverted and prostituted in the
interest CT certain politicians In the
State.
Latiner resented this criticism as an
imputation on the Reform party and
on him personally, end retorted that
if half he had heard about Col. FL
liott's contest for o seat in congress
were true he was in no position to dis
parage other people.
Col. Elliott Indignantly denounced
Lstimel' S statement as an q warranted
and unmanly personal reflection. This
was The only unpleasant incident.
Dir. J. P. Kennedy Bryan, a promi
nert Charleston lawyer, concluded
the argument in opposition to the rule:
The dispu.ants had hardly cleared
the speakers room when, on Balley's
motiont TO report the rule, the vote was
taken with the result indicated. Bal
ley and Mcmillan voted in the afirma.
tive.
Representatives Wilson and Strait
were present but took no part in the
discussion. Senator Tillman showed
keen disappointment and seemed to be
at the end Of his wits as to the next
move.
Congressman Wilson in discussing
Wednesday evening the dispensary
situation with The State correspondent,
made the following very important
statement: The two latest decisions
OF Judge Simonton have given the
death blow to the d~ispepsary. 1t will
be entirely pc werless, he says, 10 cope
with liquor establishments which pay
no license and which have practically
unlimited powers of sale. They will,
beyond question, underssll the oispen-
sary, which can only operate at a very
heavy expense, as shown by its his
tory.
The State board of control, he sug.
gests, should exhaust the stock on hand
BY the next meeting of the general as
sembly and reduce expenses so as to
entail as little loss as possible. The
next legislature, he thinks, will have
to either enact total prohibition or a
high license system with the restric-
lions prescribed in the Constitution:
If the latter is adopted, the State Will
realize more revenue than it has re.
Gently done under the enfeebled and
beset condition of the dispensary. The
discord and divisions which have been
existing amongst the people because OF
its ADMINISTRATION and enforcement
will disappear and perhaps a satisfac-
tory and acceptable solution of the IL
quor question in the State will have
seen finally reached. He stated that
he was satisfied that Congressi is not GO
ing TO interfere, and to bis mind the
only logical result of the situation is
as above stated.