The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-01-25
PASSED THE SENATE,
4 Bill to Investigate the State Dis.
pensary thoroughly.


pensary thoroughly.
Senatorial Spokesman for Members
'ef the Board Declare Their
Willingness to be Look.
ed Alter.
The most important transaction OF
the Senate Wednesday was the pas
sage Of the concurrent resolution to
investigate the State dispensary.
There was no fght made and the
amendment suggested were embodied
without discussion. Had anyone
anticipated spicy debate they would
, have been mistaken, for the chamber
did not for any time lose its wonted
air of dignity and newspapers seemed
to engage as much attention as the
resoluti n. TIE resolution was a
special order and therefore was taken
up first on the calendar.
Senator McIver's amendment that
the ci manittee be increased from two
senators and three members Of the
house 70 elree senators was accepted.
! He a. o1ered an amendment that
instea1 vi having the committee sit
now ard report before February 1st
las provided In the resolutior) it
should meet socn after adjournment
and report to the next session. The
| com mittes is to receive 81 per diem
and mileage. Another amendment
submitted by Senator Raysor was
provision that ''stateme nts made BY
witnesses should not be used against
them in any criminal proceeding be
stricken out. This was done. Sena-
tors Mcleod and Brice submitted
amend nents omnibus in character
and giving the committee the right to
6nd out everything possible about the
dispensary and through any means,
Its past and present. history includ-
ed.
The resolution as il now stands
provides that the committee will re-
port to the next general assembly on
the affairs OF the dispen,ary. They
shall have authority to summon wit
nesses, to employ stenographers end
accountants and have access to the
books and papers Of the institution.
There are special questions for them
to investigate, particularly the follow
ing:
! Whether or not it Is a fact that
houses represented by agents who are
near relatives Of the members OF the
board of directors receive large orders
at each purchase.
| Is 1t fact that members Of the
board OF directors are, or have been,
agents for certain wholesale houses
| from which large purchases are
mads?
| Is it fact that parties to whom
large orders are given are not whole
sale dealers, but brokers and that the,
orders are filed by third persons, thus,
making the State pay the commission
of the middle m4n?.
Was it necesS Try to purchase the
large quantity or liquor ordered In
December, 1904. to fill demands, and
especially the new and f4ncy goods
purchased which is unknown to the:
trade?
. Are the extr: ordinary heavy pur-
, chases made necessary to the best
business interests OF the dispensary
system?
. What is the financial standing of
the business, and is it run on tine best
principles for the interest OF the
law as originally passed and amend
cd?
Is it fact that tie State, through
the dispensaries, Is violating the con-
,titution Of 1895, In that it is selling
Whiskey in less quantities than one
halt Of one pint?
Is it a fact that the State is selling
SIS in case goods to it's customers and
charging them Tor one quart?
Is IL fact that certain agents are
travelling over the State and Offering
special inducements to county dis
penssrs to ''push" certain brands Of
liquor, and, il SO, is it fact known to
the members Of the State board Of
directors?
Is it a fact that certain require
ments OF the law are dispensed with
by the county dispensers by order Of,
or by the consent Of the members Of
the State beard OF directors?
! Has the whiskey which has been
recently purchased been ordered out:
from the dealer or is it held in reserve:
for future delivery?
What is the Indebtedness OF the
dispensary for liquors which have
oeen bougst but not delivered?
The committee can call to it's aid
any Of the employees or officers Of the
Institution and can apply to the gen
eral assembly for additional powers.
Authority to punish for contempt Is
given by the resolution, and witnesses
shall be paid at the regular rate for
witnesses in Richland county. The
meetings shall be public. The ex--
penses are to be charged to the dis
pensary.
Immediately after the resolu tion
bad been passed the senator from
Lexington, Mr.. Efrd, announced for
the member Of the board Of directors
from that county, Mr.. John Bell To-
will, that he courted Investigation.
A similar announcement for the mem
Der from Newberry. Mr.. q. q.
Evans, but more detailed in character
was made by the senator from chat
county,
social Clubs"
The Charleston Evening Post states
that there is grave concern among the
social clubs" Of that city lest the
legislature respond favorable to the
suggestion # G y. Heyward and enact
law under which the operation Of
such organizations can be scrutinized