The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-02-15
Senator Mayfield'S Speech.

Senator Mayfield's Speech.
We publish herewith Senator s. G.
Mayfeld's remarks in the Senate while
the dispensary pill was under discussion.
1t will be seen from this that our Senator
contended for the most important changes
in the law, viz: The abolishing of the
present State board, the method of buy
ing whiskey, and the more equitable di-
vision of profits:
MR.. PRESIDENT: The opinion was
current, among the members of this Gen.
eral Assembly, that no dispensary legisla
ton could pass the Senate. did not share
that belief for 1 knew each member per-
sonally, and however much we differ in
opinions on questions presented for our
consideration, yet each Senator desires
that the laws of our State be enforced.
It is said "too much time has been
given to liquor legislation" 1t is true
too much time has been given and great
labor expended in controlling liquor, but
the dispensary has regulated, curtailed,
and minimized the sale of Intoxicating
liquors.
This Senate has recognized the much
good accomplished by the dispensary,
and in obedience to the public demand
has passed the bill which offered which
has for its purpose the regulating of the
State dispensary. Should this bill, as
now amended by the house, be accepted
by the Senate without going to free
conference committee whert it will be
killed by delay, I respectfully submit,
Mr.. President, that my substitute for the
Graydon bill should pass as amended for
its merits are threefold.
First. 1t abolishes the board of con-
troll, which has so grown so quarrelsome,
and which is not such board as meets
the wishes of our people. No true Caro-
linian is proud Of the personel of the
present board. If there is Senator on
this floor who commends its conduct let
him arise and say so. This bill gives a
membership of three-we hope it will be
better than the old for we have shorn it
of its power-for
Second. The directors must advertise
for the purchase of liquor both within
and without this State. Any person who
wishes to sell the dispensary is required
70 put in sealed bld-put the bid in an
envelope addressed to the State Treas
urer, Columbia S. c., and sent by ex-
press to. him. These bids are delivered to
the directors in public and by them OPEN
ed in public, the bids recorded in book
kept for the purpose and if the price and
quality are acceptable the bids are award
ed for the quarter, three months, at the
prices named. The goods are then order
ed out by the dispensary commissioner
and in such quantities as may be necessa:
sary. It is flexible enough to allow the
dispensary all the goods of kind needed
for quarter at the price named and the
seller enters into contract to furnish
these goods according to the grade and
quantity needed.
Thus we cut off the constant pouring
in of whiskey drummers, put it out of the
power to get rebates and throw the COM
pletest hedges around the board l do
not believe there will be any more scam
dal. There is no attempt to blacken the
character of any one, and I do not hesi-
tate to say that there are good men on
that board, but they can stand before the
General Assembly for reelection. The
Third proposition commends itself +"
the favorable consideration of this body n
that it lets each county govern, with Blu.
slight supervision, its own whiskey busi-
ness and get its profits. The county
boards are appointed on the recommen-
dation of the representatives in the Cen
eral Assembly and thus we are assured
that each county will do its best. Since
the dispensary law was enacted some
towns and cities had no control over the
appointments and would not enforce the
law, partly because their people were op-
posed to the law and partly because the
profits made by the dispensary went into
the State Treasury and were shared out
among counties and nothing left them.
Their taxes, county and municipal, were
increased without any benefit to them.
This law gives the people through their
representatives voice in the enforce
ment and management of the law, but
above all, the strongest point in its favor
is:
Fourth. The profit made by each
county is left in the county treasury to be
divided equally between the county and
town, except 10 per cent. to the State. Let
us see how this will work. Take my coun-
ty, Bamberg, it pays into the Treasury of
the State $26, III; our county profit is in
round numbers 81, 900; that is one-half to
the county and the other to the towns.
Under this bill our profits for the county
and towns ought to be at least $4,000.
This money expended on our roads and
highways will give US irst-class roads
and reduce taxation. 1t will give net
saving to the people of our county of
money to be expended within the county
the sum of $4,000, thus giving to our
people net gain of 5000 under this
bill. But some say this money should be
spent on schools. My answer is it is bet
ter to levy a tax on each county for
schools where the people want more
money for that purpose. In my county
the people levy special taxes for local
schools, and if they want more schools
we can raise our local tax levy. Besides
it is not proper to rely for the support OF
our schools on money arising from the
sale of whiskey.
These are sufficient reasons for the sup
port of this BILL 1t has been my earnest
effort since 1896 to turn the profits into
the county treasury; to cleanse the State
dispensary. Why deprive the counties Of
their wealth to carry it to the State Capt.
tai? There its influence is bad. In all
legislation for the handling of liquor the
central idea should be the curtailing of
its evil influences. The dispensary law
has had this effect, and hope the con-
sumption of liquor will grow less and
less. 1, therefore, favor my substitute as
adopted by the House, and hope that the
Senate will concur.
An Editors Life Saved by Chamber
Il