The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-02-15
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v-xed problem which bts been re.
ceiviny the time au1 attention Of the
General Assembly for the past sew
eral days. Marty every member
of the Legislature has had or will
have something to say on this sub
iect. Tue bill under discussion in
the House is what is known as the
Mauldin Local Option bill:
The appropriation bill received its
third reading in the House after
being slightly amended and seut to
the Senate.
The Senate bill to regulate the
fees Of clerks Of court was IN such
unwiellly shape that it was decided
to send it to the expressing depart
mert to be repaired before being
brought before the House.
Mr.. Ashley's bill to reduce the
privilege tax to ten cents per ton
was continued until next session.
The House has fixed February 2l
as the day to adjourn sine die.
Mr. Deans bill to regulate tie
pension system passed ifs second
reading.
Mr.. Dukes bill to regulate the
sale Ct domestic wines was continued
until the next session.
As the debate on the whisky prob
lem is somewhat interesting we
give extracts from some of those who
spoke:
Mr.. w. L. Mauldin, who intro,
duced this bill, was the first TO begin
on the defensive. He said that the
liquor problem is a vexed question
All over the State, and especially in
the last election, it was and has been
the dominant question. The State
has rot passed upon this question
which so relates to their internal
affairs to the peace, the order and
sobriety Of the people. There is a
law on the statute book which is
offensive to the manhood Of the State
This bill only proposes to let the
people decide for themselves what is
best for them. This bill goes direct
~ to the base of the republican form
of government. Where a there be
any objection to it. He wanted the
bill discussed free from any feeling
or political bias.
Mr.. Means said that the bill was,
in part, a good one. he would favor
it if the high license option were
stricken out, and if it were provided
that there be one commissioner to
make inspection of the county dis
pensary.
The history of prohibition. says
Mr.. W. j. Johnson, san ignominious
failure. He visited Maine not long
ago and found that whisky was being
sold there as openly as in the South
Carolina dispensaries.
He would necessarily have an enor-
NOUS profit to make who would u
a high license establishment, and
that price would come out of the
pockets of the people. Then, too,
there would be much violation OF the
law.
The dispensary law has encounter
ed more legal distractions than any
law ever placed on the statute books
of South Carolina. But it has run
the gauntlet of the court Of last he.
sort and has been declared constltu-
tional.
Mr.. Mayfeld spoke against Mr..
Mauldin' bill. He desired to sound
the note Of warning to the advocates
of the dispensary. Each and every
bill on the question is directed
against the dispensary law, as may
be seer BY looking at the names Of
the respective authors, not one CT
whom is a friend Of the dispensary.
said that tie "prohibition cleo
ton in 1892 was not proper sound
ing of the sentiments Of the people.
If such an election we're held in an
"off year" there would be seen to be
qaite a change in the sentiments Of
the people, unprejudiced from the
stump.
This question was practically set
tied at the last election when all the
voters turned out, when all three Of
these questions were brought before
them. The high license went to the
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