The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-01-10


proper TO confer upon them. l do not
deem it wise TO put the Governor or the
ATTORNEY General on this advisory
board. You might add to this board
the chairman of the Finance Commit
tee of the Senate and the Chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee of the
House 1t would not be necessary for
this board 70 meet more than four times
a year and at each meeting competitive
sealed bids could be submitted and these
bids opened in the presence OF the Com
missioner and such purchases made as
would be needed TO supply the demand.
The State Treasurer Is the custodian OF
the funds, the Comptroller General dis
tributes the school part OF the fund
arising from the diSpensary, and the
State superintendent Of Education IS
the head OF the educational department
whishis the beneficiary Of the fund.
These officers are elected by the people
aud have TO give account TO them for
the manner IN which they discharge
their duties and are always men ofabil-
ity and character.
In place OF tue County Boards I would
suggest that the County Supervisor. the
County Auditor, and the Mayor OF the
County seat town, if dispensary be To-
Gated there, if not the mayor or intend
ant Of some town in the County in
which there is djspensary, constitute
the County Board, and that they serve
without extra compensation. They TOO
are elected by the people and would
| have to give account of their steward.
ship to the people. would also sug-
eest that the county dispensers be
elected by the people as other county
officers are elected and for term OF
! two years.
These changes are suggested not only
because in my judgment they would I'M
prove the administration of the law, but
on the ground of economy. | regret
that have not the figures for the last
fiscal year. They could not be obtained
| on account of the assembling of the
Legislature coming so year to the close
of the fiscal year. The figures, how
ever, will not be materially different
from those OF the fiscal year 1898, SO
far as the County Boards are concerned,
but the cost of the State Board will un-
doubtedly be very much increased. IN
this year the total cost OF the County
Boards was $9,724 20. For the same
year the cost OF the State Board OF
Control was 81 800 Of, which makes a
| total of sl4.l44.2l as the cost OF the
State and County Boards Of Control and
which by their abolition would be
turned into the profits OF the dispen'
sary.
| | would also suggest that the law be
so amended as to bring violations with
in the jurisdiction of the magistrates,
so that all cases might be promptly anc
summarily a6judicated. Much of the
expense OF the consta bulary arises from
having to attend circuit courts as Wit
nesses and prosecutors against ollnc
tigers.
Soon after came into Office reduced
the constabulary force nearly one-hal
and endeavored as far as [ knew anc
could secure information to select mer
of character and discretion to perform
the duties of State Constables. AS public
sentiment grows in favor OF the law anc
| magistrates and their constables, ano
other officers realize that it is as muct
their duty to enforce this as any Other
law. l am satisfied that the force can be
still further reduced and finally entirely
abolished.
During the past year issued circu
lar letter to all the magistrates anc
sheritfs of the State and the mayors ant
| intendents ofthe Incorporated cities anc
towns. calling their attention to the
fact that the Dispensary Law was a:
much law of the State as any other
law and also directing their attention
to their duty to enforce it just as they
would the statute against larceny OF
any other crime, and asking their alc
and cooperation in the wise and hu
name execution of all laws. The re
sponses were numerous and unanlmou;
ia expressions of hearty cooperation
Some of them were frank enough to say
that they had been and were opposed tc
the Dispensary Law bat manly enough
TO acknowledge it as q law OF the State
aud to pledge their support and co-ope
ration in its proper enforcement. an
satisfied that this circular has resulted
in good and that in many Of the cite;
and towns the local authorities are do
ing what they can to appreheud viola
tors and that there are fewer violation;
of the Dispensary Law than OF many
other laws on the statute books.
| Mr.. w. W. Harris, who is clerk anc
is in charge of this department under
my direction, in his report to me says
There is less complaint OF the Illicit
traffic in liquor coming to this Office
from throughout the State than ever
before during the five years l have
been connected with this department
and it is verv evident that there is less
violation of the Dispensary Law over
the entire State, with the possible ex-
ception Of the city of Charleston and
two or three of the counties in the
northwest portion of the State, and II
is proba BILE that even in those sections
there has been improvement" | sub
| nit herewith table showing the com
parative cost and the work done by the
! reduced number of constables for the
last six months OF 1899 and the CORE
spording six months of 1898. 1t will
be seen that so far as the work done
the number OF seizures is about the
same. while there has been saving
| FOR the six months OF 1899 over the same
six months OF 1898 Of SS,23S. 80 in this
one item.
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