The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-25
STATE LIQUOR SELLING.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE DTsPEN-
ShRH SYSTEM.
1t 1, Spreading in the south and mas Uone

Inc LAW f1nHlly nL hOrk IN run EOfCG
in South Cnrolina-Its Newest Results.
The dispensary system II selling lntoxicants
lie spreading to other States from South Caro-
lima. where It now seems TO bs established
thoroughly. 1t had Its origin in the College
town OF Athens. in the State OF deorcia-a
handsome residence town containing about
10000 people. largely dependent for Its pros
perity upon the University Of Georgia and upon
o county trade. The State had tried prohibi-
ton through county local options and II had
also tried the license system. and neither had
proved satisfactory. The one led to blind
tigers wherein vile liquors were sold without
regulation. and the other did not admit OF
regulations sufficiently stringent to lessen ma
terially the evils Of strong drink.
So It camo about that tho Athens dispensary
was established. This was in 1850. and the
experiment then aud there made promises to
spread widely despite the Prohibitionists on
the one hand and the LIQUOR trade on the other.
Its advocates say that 1t is simply an effort to
apply business sense and business methods
to the strong drink problom-to secure at once
both control and profits. They declare that
the plan Is winning its way steadily. The
Athens plan was thought out carefully. 1t
was subsequently adopted In all OF its details
practically by the South Carolina Legislature.
The plan has worked so we'll that 1t has been
uuODLeu IN u SCOTS Oh OIleT lOWuh.Nnu COultlcb
In Georgia. 1t is gaining n foothold in Ala
bama, two counties having dlspensary bills
| pending In the Legislature. 1t has spread to
South Dakota. where 1t hos been incorporated
In the State Constitution. 1t has long AL
tated and dominated the politics Of South
Carolina, and its advocates say that 1t prom
ises to spread even to other countries. Norway
being. OF course. excepted. The adoption OF
the plan In the form OF State control now
awaits the action only of the LEGISLATURE OF
South Dakota. where the law will undoubtedly
have to run the, gantlet Of the Dawly adopted
referendum.
The experiment In South Dakota Is very
interesting. The constitutional amendment
adopted In November by a majority Of 1913
votes goes beyond all the Southern enact
ments. 1t declares that the manufacture and
sale OF Intoxicating liquors shall be under OK
elusive State control and shall he conducted
by duly authorized agents OF the State. who
shall be paid by salary and not by commission.
All liquors sold shall be first examined by a
State chemist and the purity thereof estab-
lished." This provision can be carried into
effect only through legislation. and a legisla-
tive act providing for the establishment Of
breweries and distilleries. as we'll as dispen-
saries. both central and local. must be sub
jected to the referendum. and would probably
be defeated. This would leave the young State
in O very dry condition. As the constitu-
tional debt limit OF the State is 100000. and
has already been exceeded. 1t is difficult to see
how the South Dakotaps will hereafter be able
to wet their whistles.
but South Carolina is the home and has been
the real battle-ground OF the dispensarv sys-
tenn. although it was originated in a little
Georgia city in 1890. In 1870 B~enjaminlR, TIL
man became Governor VI South Carolina. and.
Il Il g. ---- AlaN .-N..1.l halo
the State. he was attracted to the Athens
scheme. because it promised at once to settle
the liquor question and to increa 50 the reve-
nues OF the State. All Southern States are In
| clined to be prohibition States. partly because
they want to lessen the murderous use of fire.
arms and partly because strong drink is de-
moralizing among the blacks. At any rate u
dlspensary law. at Gov. Tillman's suggestion.
was passed in South Carolina In 1892. aud the
battle for its establishment was begun at once.
and that battle lasted six years. when victory
came to the side Of the State. and the dispen-
sary system became absolute and unaues-
toned. This victory occurred in March. 1893.
Down to that time the law had not been In full
operation.
The South Carolina law Is essentially the
Athens law extended to cover a State. 1t does
not relate to the manufacture OF strong drink,
as the constitutional amendment OF South
Dakota does; 1t concerns the sale OF H. only.
The Consolidated Act OF March 3. 1897. Is an
elaborate measure. covering thirty pages. and
containing forty seven well-diRested sections.
This law provides for n State board OF control
OF Ave members. holding ONCE Ave years. ono
OF their number going out OF Office each year.
This board purchases all liquors used In tho
State. Al its meeting on Dec. 8. 1893. II bought
1.2lS barrels Of whiskey, gin and the like. not
including wines. beer and the lighter drinks.
The agent OF the board of control is called the
commissioner He must he IAN abstainer
from intoxicants. a resident OF Columbia. tho
capital, and he receives a salary OF $1,000.
payable from the dispensary fund. 1t Is his
duty to take the liquors purchased by the
board OF control and to distribute them to the
dispensers In each Of the thirty three counties
of the state. Every package sent out bears q
certificate that II has been purchased by the
board of control and analysed by the chemist
OF the South Carolina college. Any liquors
found In the State without such q certificate
are seized at once and connsoated. Except
beer. all liquors must be put into packages be-
tween one-half pint and FIVE gallons. and all
must be sealed. The county dispenser re-
ceives all liquors. except beer. In this shape.
and In this shape they must he sold. and the
seal must not DO broken on the premises.
Beer may be sold In kegs or bottles Of not less
than one pint. but none OF 1t can be drunk on
the premises. The county dispenser may sell
beer freely In packages.
The State Board OF Control appoints county
boards of control, consisting Of three persons
each and sholdlnR ONCE two years. A mem
bsr OF a county board cannot be a keeper OF u
restaurant or place of amusement. He too.
must 20 AN abstainer from intoyicants." The
county board selects the county dispensers.
but II more than one be selected-th consent
OF the State board becomes necessary. A ma
iority OF the voters OF any township can pre-
vent the establishment In their locality of q
dispensary. Towns that want e disnensary
can have one. but a majority OF the people
must first vote in tho affirmative.
The position OF dispens ser Is carefully hedGed
about. He is u sworn oflc0r. He swears
among other things that he will not sell liquors
TO any minor or any confirmed drunkard; that
lie will obey all regulations o! the county board.
which In turn must obey tho regulations OF the
State board. The dispenser gives q bond, and