The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-10-28
THE D|SPENSARY REPORT.
The Investigating Committee Re-
commend Changes.
WOULD REDUCE THE STOCK,
Suggests That Business Could be Run
More Probably by Carrying a
Smaller Stock.

The Legislative examining committee
of the State dispensary has made
its quarterly report to the governor.
Attention is called to several matters of
more or less interest. The report reads:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Oct. 90, 1897.
To His Erceliency w. II. EHer6e,
Governor.
SIR: The committee met on Monday,
Oct. 1S, and proceeded to examine the
| books and financial transactions of the
State dispensary for the quarter ending
Sept. 80, 1897.
The stock Of liquors and supplies on
hand was taken on Oct by Mr.. J. B.
Douthit, representing the board of con-
troll, and Mr.. J. P. Thomas, Jr., rep
|, resenung this committee. All the stock
and supplies we're actually exhibited
anc counted and valued except certain
goods in transit, invoices of which had
been received by the bookkeeper and
entered upon his books during the
month of September. The original in
voices Of these goods, to-wit: $50 bar
! rels of whiskey and so cases of whiskey
were exhibited, amounting tos25, 297 :ss
These goods were counted as on Land
and included in the inventory.
The balance sheet of the State dis
pensary for the quarter ending Sept
30, 1897, and the statement of assets
and liabilities, and the statement of
profits and losses were checked by the
books.
There appears upon the statement of as
sets and liabilities under the head of
''unearned profits" S45, OBJ. IA. This
Item consists of the estimated profits on
goods shipped to the county dispensers
and unsold. 1t has been the habit for
some time to estimate these unearned
profits and make an entry of them. We
recommend that the practice of esti-
mating the unearned profits be abolish
ed, for the reason that the same are 1n-
certain and misleading.
We have examined the original in
voices of all liquors and supplies rur-
chased during the past quarter and also
vouchers for disbursements made We
find the books and entries therein cor
rect, according to the record and data
furnished us. The State treasurer's re-
port shows on Sept 30, 1897, balance Of
cash in State treasury amounting to
S7S, $50. 81. According to the cash book
of the State dispensary the balance of
cash amounted on that day to $780,
S73. Ok There was, therefore, on that
day SO, ,657. 81 more in the State treasury
than was called for by the books of the
State dispensary. The warrants drawn
prior to Oct l and unpaid amount to
SS,65133, according to itemized list
furnished US by the bookkeeper. This
makes the difference between the State
treasurer and the State dispensary S8 o.
At our last report this difference was
e1e.O4. This amount is now reduced to
So. 04 by the payment of warrant No. 80,
drawn in April, 1896, which warrant
was heretofore been accounted for.
We have examined the matter of in
surance on local dispensaries and find
that the amount Of insurance runs from
10 to 25 per cent of the stock on hand.
If the Iolicy of insuring local dis
pensaries is to be followed, then, in
our opinion, the insurance is made
anate and should be increased
We find that the present law requires
that all dispensers give uniform bond
of 5000. We find that some Of these
dispensers carry over $1,000 in stock,
and in many cases the bonds of 5000
is totally inadequate. We, therefore,
recommended that the amount of the
bond required be increased In those
cases where large stocks are carried.
We find that the stock of merchan-
disc at the State dispensary and in the
hands of local dispensaries on Oct. l
was over $3.50, 900. In our opinion the
business of the dispensary could be as
profitably and economically conducted
with large decrease in the stock. If
this policy were pursued the profits TO
the school fund would be realized much
quicker.
Respectfully submitted.
ALTAMoNT MOSES, Senator.
JNo. p. THOMAS.