The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-12
CHIEF GoNsTBLE's REPORT.
Chief Hammett Informs the Gov
ernor of the Work of the
constahuiary and the
Results.

Constahulary and the
Results.
Columbia, Aug. 10.-Goyernor Hey
| ward is always anxious to let the peo-
pie of the State know exactly what is
being done in connection with the en-
forcement Of the dispensary law and
today he has given out for publlcatlo1n
the report of Chief Constable W. b:
Hammett for the months Of May and
June.
Governor Hayward keeps in close
touch with the work of the constabu-
larry of the State, and is very much
gratifed with the work that has been
accomplished by Chief Hammett and
his men. The report Shat has been
fled with Governor Hayward goes into
details and is complete in every way,
and is as follows:
| Columbia, S. c., Aug. 8, 1903.
Governor d. G. Heyward, Colum-
bia. S. C.-Dear Sir: have the honor
to transmit herewith my second re-
port of the transactions Of the con-
stabulary, which covers the months of
May and June, 1903. as compared
with the same months of 1902. The
figures given will, [ hope, prove in
teresting. from among which your at
tention is respectfully called to the
following:
Exhibit Az shows the expense of
| the constabulary for the months men,
toned. The expenses for the two
months Of this year are 50, 169.96 more
than a year ago. This has been
brought about, as You are aware, by
the necessity for an increased force
in order to better accomplish the OBJ
iects of the law, and feel confident
that careful examination OF all the
figures will convince your Ezcellency
that the "ends have justified the
mans
| Exhibit "B'' informs you what has
been accomplished in the way Of
seizures, from which you will note
that the value Of seizures made is
1928. 2s in excess of those for May and
June, one year ago. In addition to
the seizures here shown there have
been taken 1,500 gallons of beer in
kegs, which has NO value, for the rea-
son that after this beer has once been
tapped it cannot be returned to the
breWeries or otherwise disposed OF at a
1 money value, but has to be emptled.
| While this stuff has no money value,
yet the sale by sstigers" is curtailed
to that extent.
4 Exhibit tC'' will advise you as to
/ the amount of business done by the
| local and State dispensaries during
! May and June, of this year and last.
i You will note that the actual sales by
| the local dispensaries in the State
amounted to SIC. 243.f8 more for 1903
than for 1902, while the increase in
i the sales of the state dispensary
/ amounts to s72, ,04S.43. In these figures
lis not included the sales by the beer
/ dispensers. thirty of whom there are
in the State. I have endeavored to
get the exact amount Of the gross sales
of these dispensers, and regret to say
l that very few of them have responded,
but from the information I have been
able to gather it will be seen that the
/ sales of these few have increased SIT,
E262. 90 over the same months Of last
year.
Exhibit "D.7' In May and June,
/ 1902, there we're "a convictions Of
yiolators of the dispensary law in the
/ Courts. Fines were imposed to- the
amount of s.. 4s0, and S770 were paid,
while 26 persons went to the chain
gang. In the same two months oi
i this year there we're 81 convictions,
/ So, SIS in fines imposed, 81, 345 collect
ed. 81 persons sent to the chain gang
! and number Of cases appealed, which
are still pending.
l. It gives me great pleasure to be able
| to repeat, as stated'in my first report
that there has been very little friction
| in the conduct of this department.
There has been only one occurrence OF
an unpleasant mature, which was
slight, and steps have been taken to
! prevent recurrence of this affair.
] Information before me goes to show
i that there has been considerable
] diminution of the quantity OF, Whis-
4 key imported izso this State. In the
rural districts we are experiencing
less trouble dag by day, while in the
cities every possible effort is being
made TO enforce the law. The IN
crease in the diszsensary sales satisfies
me that our efforts are having theiE
/ effect. Very tEuay yours,
/ q. B. Hammet,
4 Ghief Constable.
IL