The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-29
TILLMAN FAILS.
His Dispcnsary Bill VIII not Como uu
Before Congress at This Session,

A special from Washington to the
Columbia State OF Wednesday saws that
by the decisive vote Of i to 3, after,a two
hours hearing the committee on rules
refused to report a rulo for the consid-
Grafton OF the Tillman liouor bill at
this session. The information suggest
cd different result and the action
was II disappointment to Senator Till
man. Tho arguments in support Of tho
application for the rule were presented
BY Senator Tillman and Represe NATIVE
Latlmer: 1t was not disguised that the
object Of the bill was to circumvcnt the
Simonton decision aDd perpetuate the
existing dispensary s1 stem In the State
representative Latimer, however, dis
claimed any purpose Of that sort and
argued that the general principle Of
the bill was sound, In giving TO every
State the exclusive control Of the liquor
tralic. If the proposed legislation
meant the perpetuation of the dispen-
sary system he would not, he said, sup
port the bill.
In opposition, Representative Elliott
assailod othe dispensary law, exposed
its abuses, asserted that it was O. dis
grace to the State and charged that it
vas shamcfully perverted and prosti-
tutcd In the interest "f certain pOliti-
clans In the State. I.atimer resented
| this criticism as an imputation on the
| Reform party and on him personally,
and retortod that If half he had heurd
about Col. ElliOtts contest for seat In
Congress were true he was In no posi-
tion to disparage other people.
Col. Elliott Indignantly denounced
| Latimcr's statement as an unwarranted
and unmanly personal reflection. This
| was tho only unpleasant Incident.
Mr. II - I[npnnIu
ncnt Charleston lawyer, concluded tie.
argument In opposition to the rule.
The disputants had hardly cleared
| the speakers room when on Baileys
| motion to report the rule, the vote was
taken with the result Indicated. Bailey
and McMillin voted In tho at1irmativr.
Representatives Wilson and Strait
wore 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
the dispensary situation made the fol-
lowing very Important statement: The
two latest decisions Of Judge SimOnton
have given tho death blow to the dis
pensary. 1t will be,entirely powerless,
he says, to cope with liquor establish
ments which pay no license and which
uhVo pTuCGlCblly uullullLca powers or
sale. They will, beyond question, un-
derscll the dispensnry, which can only
operate at worry heavy expense, as,
shown by It's history.
The State board OF control, he suggests
should exhaust the stock on hand bv
the noxt meeting Of the general assem-
oily and reduce expenses so as to entail
as little loss as possible. The next legis-
Iaturc, he thinks, will have to either
enact total prohibition or q high license
system with the restrictions prescribed
in the Constitution. Ii tho latter is
adopted. the State will realize more
revenue than it has recently done un-
der the enieebled and beset condition
of the dispensary. The discord and
divisions which have been existing
amongst the people because Of It's ad-
ministratlon and enforcement will dis
appear and perhaps satisfactory and
acceptable solution Of the liquor ques-
tlon In the State will have been finally
reached. He stated that he was salts.
fed that congress is not going to inten
fere, and to his mind the only loglca
result of athe situation IL as above
| statp1