The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-09-20
Hauled Up short--Urcla Sam
Insists On Having His
Taxes Paid.

Inspector Brodnax, Representing the
Government, Drops in on Many Of
the "Tiger" Keepers and Lets them
Know that the United States Must
be Given it's License Money OF
Something will Drop Right Away
Several Hundred Places are Said
to be Properly Equipped with the
License Card, but Many Others
were Found Without the Neces-
sary Document-Brokers and Pool
Room Keepers Receive Visit.
Charleston News and Courier.
The visit of Inspector Brodnax to
Charleston was a wild surprise to
hundreds Of people who have more or
less connection with the Federal Gov,
ernment. Some time ago it was
printed in the News and Courier that
the revenue people were hot after
violators of the law, and it was hinted
that wholesale raids could be ex-
pected shortly. There was consid,
erable amount of inspection work in
the city, and the conditions existing
were not found to be of the most
satisfactory kind. A report to this
effect is said to have gone into head
quarters and Mr.. Brodnax was de-
tailed to come here and make an ex.
animation. He got to work early
Monday, as announced in The News
and Courier yesterday, and the busi-
ness people who have been disregard
ing the law were js,ked up with
little mercy. The conditions were
such, however, that the dealers were
told to get licenses instantly, and by
paying the penalties they escaped
prosecution.
Inspector Brodnax will probably
have many cases made out against
dealers who have not supplied them
selves with the proper licenses to sell
liquor. There has been an open vio-
lation of this law and as soon as the
work is finished the department will
decide on plan cf campaign. It
was recently stated hatatleast three
hundred shops and tigers in Charles
ton were selling liquor without the
proper authority from the Govern
ment. This applies mostly to the
corner shop keepers, who sell beer on
the sly, but an examination yester-
day showed many tigers of the first
class style were licenses were not to
be seen. Indictments will probably
be made out in a number of cases,
though no steps in this direction
were taken yesterday. The matter
will stand over until the inspector
has completed his duties in the city,
and on the nature of his report will
depend the future handling of the
situation.
The drug people got glimpse of
Inspector Brcdnax. He called ct all
the drug stores and made general
inspection. In several places he
found that malt was being sold with
out license. The dealers admitted
that they had been advertising and
selling this freely, and they assigned
different reasons why no tax or license
had been paid in by them. It is
understood that this violation will
not be punished further than to re-
quire the dealers to take out licenses
at once and to pay the penalties
which will have to attach.
The brokers were also caught by
surprise and required to take out
licenses.
Owners of pool tables were re-
: quired to show if they had paid the
amountsre required by the Government.
In one place seven pool tables were
marked and the owners required to
pay FIVE dollars on each.
The cigar manufacturing business
came in for share of the inspectors
time and this business was looked
into thoroughly. In fact MIR. Brod-
nax will examine cloocly into every
branch of the business which comes
under his supervision. He will re-
main here for several days, or at least
until he has made the rounds of tie
the entire city. When this is done
full report will be prepared and cases
will probably be made out against a
number Of people who have beeu
violating the law.