The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
RAILSCADS TO BE SUED.
Sensational Acticn on the Part OF Tho
State,

Sensational Acticn on the Part of Tho
State.
The expected sensation in dispense.
ry circles did not occur Tuesday from
the attorney generals office as was ex.
pected, but it came from the executive
Office. Gov. Ellerbe expressed him
self very plainly and bluntly on the
situation as far as it affects the dispen-
sary. He said that the State would
begin proceedings at once against those
railroads which had hauled original
package liquors into the State under
the following sections of the dispense
ry law:
In all purchases or sales OF intoxi,
eating liquors made as contemplated
in this act, the State board of control
shall cause certificate to be attached
to each and every package containing
said liquors when the same is shipped
to the State commissioner from the
place of purchase, or by State com.
missioner to the county dispenssries,
certified by their official signature and
seal, which certificate shall slate that
liquors contained in said packages
have been purchased by the State
board of control for sale and use with.
in the State of South Carolina, under
the laws of said State, and shall also
cause to be attached to all such liquors
the certificate of the chemist OF the
South Carolina College that samples
of the same have been tested as re-
quired by this act; and without such
certificates any package containing IL
quors which shall be shipped fro
place to place within the State, or de.
livered to the consignee by any rail.
road, express company. or other com.
mon carriers, or be found in the pos
session of any common carrier, shall
be regarded as contraband, and may
be seized without warrant for confisca-
ton, and such common carrier shall
be liable to penalty of $500 for each
ofense, to be recovered against saio
common carrier in any court of com.
petent jurisdiction by summons and
com plant, proceeding to be insti
tuted by the solicitor of any circuit
with whom evidence may be lodged
by any officer or citizen having knowl-
edge or information of the violation;
and any person attaching or using
such certificate without the authority
of the State board of control, or any
counterfeit certificate for the purpose
of securing the transportation of any
intoxicating liquors within this State
in violation of law, shall, upon con.
viction thereof, be punished by ine
of not less than $500, and imprison,
ment in the psnitentiary for not less
than one year for each offense.
The governor was asked how he
could proceed against the railroads
under Judge Simonton's decision. He
replied that the decision referred to
individuals and not to railways. He
said proceedings would be commenced
forthwith if not sooner"
Continuing, the governor said: II
am anxious to see the dispensary
sound and given a fair trial. If it
pans out it will be all right; if not the
people can change it. I believe it the
best liquor law and a majority of the
people favor it. II am glad to see"
he continued, that a good many
towns opposed to the dispensary law
are requiring licenses or demanding
half of the profits in keeping with the
dispensary law" The governor was
asked to name these towns but he said
that he did not think it necessary now.
Asked as to what he thought of the
prohibition movement the governor
said: II don't think it will amount
to anything. Bet ween it and high Ii.
cense the people will vote for prohibi-
tion, as under a high license the law
could not be enforced. 1t would be
too much like the old barroom system
with so many temptations to make
money and so many ways to evade
the law"
As to the possible action of the legis.
lature the governor said that the pro.
liabilities were that some amendments
would be made to the dispensary law.
What they might be he did not care
to suggest, but he said that he would
make some recommendations in his
message. As to what they would be
he did not care to speak.
Returning to the subject of the suit
against the railroads it was stated that
the suit would be brought into the
State courts and should an attempt be
made to carry the case to the Uulted
States court, the charters OF the roads
would be annulled under a statute
passed by the last legislaturo.-Regis-