The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-20

are State officers. Municipal
formed for the purpose of aidl
State government in enforcinl
laws Of the State. They are intel
as subordinate limbs Of the gove
ment, and when they fail to perfofh
their functions they should be pdt'
under State control, of or have their
charters repealed. It has been con-.
tended that the police have been tax.
en- from the control of the citizens.
This is untrue. They are in the hands
OF a commission of native born
Cbarlestonians, whose interests are
linked with those of the city. They
are under the control of a chief who
has enjoyed the confidence and
respect of the city and they cannot be
otherwise under the law.
1t will be seen that the total drinks
and drunks and disorderlies have
gradually decreased from 801 in 1890
to 277 in 1896 under metropolitan po.
lice-a decrease of nearly 75 per cent.
During the year 1896 there were
bound over by the magistrates for
violations of the dispensary law 23l
cases. Their names and residences
are duly given in the report. OF this
number 80 have been tried and con-
victed and have paid into the county
treasury S., $50 in fines. A better
showing than this would have been
made but for the fact that at the last
term of the court every case was con-
tinued upon the affidavits of attorneys
who claimed to be sick and we're seen
upon the streets the next day. The
grand jury found "a additional true
bills. In 1895 not a conviction was
had, the grand jury refusing in many
cases to find true bills. It is q nota.ss
BILE fact that two of the city council
who were sworn to enforce this law
were among the number indicted and
against whom true bills were found.
Possibly the best evidence of the work.
of the force would be comparison OF
the sales from the dispensaries. The
gains under the metropolitan system
during the first second and third quar-
ters of the year 1896.
Under metropolitan system to city
and county reach $7,42z02, nearly
100 per cent.
The police made during the year.
1895 $50 raids and recovered 418 bot
ties of whiskey partly filed, 80 bottles
of wine partly filed, 70 demejohns OF
whiskey partly filled, 6 kegs of whis-
key partly filed, half barrels of
whiskey partly filled, 40 full barrels
OF whiskey, "a 10 gallon kegs Of whis-i
key, 16 cases of wiskey, SO kegs OF
beer and 1904 bottles of beer. The
raids where no seizures were made
have not been entered.
Thirty-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 ieutenants, two
orderly sergeants, eight line sergeants,
one chief detective, three detectives,
seventy three privates, four gatemen.
two draymen, five drivers, ten special
officers.
In the enforcement of the dispensa-
ry law the police force have not me-
elected their duty in the detection OF
other offenders against the peace and
good order of the city, and no conn
plants have been made on this score.
Capt. J. Elmore Martin has enforc-
ed the laws in an aggressive and vigo-
rous manner. Notwithstanding the
hundreds of arrests made and the In
tricate and delicate questions he has
has had to decide as the executive otti-
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-s
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 municipal authorities In every
instance have shown a desire to co OPP
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 o
feature of the law which I think
could be dispensed with. The county
boards of control in most instances do
not control. They could be abollshed
and their duties imposted 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
and they have been invariably the re-
suit of negligence on the part OF the
county boards of control. These De.
linquent dispensers have been prompt
ly reported by me to the attorney gem
eral with instructions to prosecute,
and he has performed his duty In
manner deemed best by him. 1t 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
ban king system should be destroyed.
because cashier occasionally goes