The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-09-02
THE RAILROADS 70 Be SUED.
A Sensational Act on the Part of the
State.
THE "ORIGINALS" MUST STOP.
Gov. Ellerbe Talks Very Frankly
About the Dispensary Situation, and
Gives Some Opinionc.

Governor Ellerbe, in conversation
with representative Of the Columbia
Register. on the oath, had the following
to say on the dispensary situation, ETC.:
He said that the State would begin pro-
ceedings at once against those railroads
which had hauled original package
liquors into the State under the follow.
ng section of the dispensary 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 coPmis-
sioner to the county dispensaries, GER
tilted by their official signatures and
seal, which certificate shall state 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 tho
South Carolina College that samples
of the same haYe been tested as re-
auired by this act; and without such
certificates any package containing liz
quors which shall be. shipped from
place to place within the State, OF
delivered 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 warrantfor confiscation,
and such common carrier shall be liable
to q penalty of $500 for each ofense, 70
be recovered against said common car
rier in any court Of competent jurisdic-
ton by summons and complaint, pro-
ceedings to be instituted by the solici-
tor of any circuit with whom evidences
may be lodged by any officer or citizen
having knowledge or information OF the
violation, and any person attaching or
using such certificate without the su-
thority of the State board Of control, or
any counterfeit certificate for the pur-
pose of securing the transportation OF
any intoxicating liquors within this
State in violation Of law, shall, upon
conviction thereof; be punished By .
fine of not less than $500 and imprison-
ment in the penitentiary for not less
than one year for each offense. W
The governor was asked how he
could proceed against the railroads
under Judge Simonton's decision. He
replied that the decision referred 70
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 q 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 q majority Of the
people favor it.
'I am glad to see," he continued,
'that good many towns opposed 70
the dispensary law are requiring Ii
censes or demanding half Of the pro-.
fits in keeping with the dispensary
law" 80
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: Il dor't think it will amount to
anything. Between it and high Ii
cense the people will vote for prohi-
bition, as under high license the
,, law could not be enforced. 1t would
be too much like the old barroom sys-
tem.with 50 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 in the State
courts and should an attempt be made
to carry the case to the United States
court, the charters of the roads would
be annulled under statute passed by
tba Ice Ianiolofurn g.