New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-29

ros noverless 10 nrevcnt the delivery 10 q Doha-
a., corcionne IF any unbroken case or parcel
of uorors Skinned in A form recognized As usual
IN everyday commerce. The ffee cn'r! Vi
LIQUOR in the original package having peeh e9
jabshcd by the Courts decisions, II was "rs"eu
that practically a retail trade III il'oAic'n's
could he built up under the shelter OF eue'a'
legislation by reducing the parcels deait III 10
the size OF the single bottle Of beer or single
flask of whiskey which Judge Simontol hau
said could enter the State if wrapped rs III
original package. In the face OF such danger
Gus competition it was held. the state DiS
nensary would soon find its patronage gone anu
It's treasury bankrupt
The Tribune. at the time Judge Smont0ns
last opinion was delivered, dissented polh'ediy
from the overhasty deduction that the Limited
traffic In imported liquors which IL iesai|eu
would strike deathblow ut the state DIS
pensary Recent events in South Carolina seem
TO have fully justified this conservative con-
cluslon For few weeks in August attempts
were made 10 introduce liquor in forms most
suited to retail consumption, beer bottles beng
often loosely packed in freight ears outside the
Stale and delivered and disposed of sngy al
the point of destination. TO meet this attack
on its income the Dispensary. which had preN'-
ously confined its traffic to wines and SPIRITS
entered into negotiations with outside Drew
cries TO open branch depots through the STATE
for the sale of beer and ale. and since thelr
establishment tie original package trade mas
dwindlcd to small proportions. TWO OF the
chief railroads Of the State have recently an
nounced that they would no longer accept ior
Transportation the single bottle packages when
importcrs had begun TO substitute for the usual
cases and crates; and there Is every prospect
that the State government will eventually come
to an understanding with all the railroads look
ing TO suppression of the more evasve forms
of the original package" trade
The present Executive in South Carolina. Gov
ernor Elerbc. has. moreover. greatly strength
encd the Dlspcnsary system in popular opinion
by Kidding it Of the two administrative features
which have made 1t especially obnoxious to the
general sentiment Of the State. In disbandlhg
the Dispensary constabulary the Governor mas
wisely removed n source OF constant connlct
and irritation between the Dlspcnsary Commits
sion and the local and county authorities. while
In Withdrawing the socalle1 Metropolitan or
State police from Charleston he has diplomat
lcally sOothcd n grievance against the state
liouor monopoly which the people or that city
have been ancry nursing for three years past
In addition. the abandonment Of the constabu-
larry or Spy" system will save the state an
expenditure ~ nearly $4,000 n year.
ON the whole South Cardinals experiment
with the DISpcnsary scheme seems sure OF
continued practical trial. 1t IS n serious and
instructive venture In sump'uary legislation.
and II successful. may do much To shape the
policy Of other States in dealing with the prob
lens which the existence Of the liquor traffic
forces on every organized society South Caro-
linas solution Of these problems may not be
the best or the most satisfactory one. Yet the
Dspensary system has shown some undoubted
adaptabty to the conditions which govern
Southern lifc ard II Is encouraging 10 know
that It will continue 10 have in the Palmetto
State an unhampcrcd field in which its merits
and dement's may be fully and impartially
tried out.