The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-04
SlMK1NS' PLAN Is FAVORED.
DISPENsARY COMMITTEE HOLDS AN
IMPORTANT SESSION.
Attorney General Preacnt--No Indications
That There VIII Ise Any Patching
of tho PRESENT Law-The
Pollock Plan Discussed
1.-THE State, 1st.l

The greatest degree of public in
terest was manifested yesterday after
noon when it became known that the
special committee on tho dispensary
Of the House of Representatives, con-
sisting of ono member from each
county, would meet at $3.50 D. m., in
the State Supreme Court room. It
has been generally understood that
it would be left to this committee to
present what liquor Legislation may
be considered necessary.
There was full attendance at the
session Of the committee. Attorney
General Barber was present, and dis
cussed the situation with the COM
mittee, giving in detail the hearing
before the House Congressional COM
mittee in Washington few days
ago. A member of the committee
says that the Attorney General
| stated that it had seemed to him
that the committee had doubts in the
first place as to the constitutiona;ity
of the bill, and in the second place
rs to whether it was advisable to
give too Tuch State control. He
hoped, however, for majority favor
able report from certain significant
indications that he did not mention.
When asked about the present act
he gave the opinion that the present
act would stand as we'll without
changes as it would with general
patching up.
Mr. Pollock was heard at length
on the matter of his bill providing
for the licensing of o. p. stores. The
legal questions involved were dis
cussed at great length, but no final
action was taken.
So far as the abolishing Of the
county boards of control is concerned,
the committee has referred the State
boards recommendation to sub
committee.
Then announcement was made
that the committee had considered
the joint resolution of Mr.. Simkins
providing for the reference of The
whole liquor question in the next
general election, and had decided to
report the resolution favorably. 1t
is said that there is a strong senti-
mont for this measure.
Here is the wording of the resolu
ton:
SECTION /. That at the next gen
eral election in this State, the mana
gers in the voting places in the State
shall prepare ballot box in which
the qualified electors authorized to
vote for the members Of tho General
Assembly voting at such place may
each deposit ballot expressing his
preference for one Of the following
plans of dealing with Intoxicating
liquors, to wit: Prohibition, dispen-
sary or high license.
Sec. 2. The qualified electors vot-
ing at such election shall deposit
ballot printed or written hereon one
of the plans named in Section 1 of
this act, and said ballot shall be
counted for such plan.
SEC. B. Should any of the said
plans fail to get majority of all
votes cast for SAID three plans in the
first election there shall be a second
election OH the fourth Tuesday of
December thereafter, at which cleo
ton ballots may bo cast for the two
plans that received the highest mum.
ber of votes in the first election, and
tho plan receiving the highest num-
ber of votes in the second election
shall be declared the choice Of tho
people.
Sec. 4. The same managers shall
serve at the second election, and the
same rules shall govern.
SEC. B. 1t is hereby made the
duty of the county and State boards
of canvaesers to canvass the vote
cast and the result shall be declared
as in elections for State officers.