The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-08-25

had q detective who watched the con.
stables and who reported to me alone
whether or not they were In collusion
Win blind tigers. / had another
detective who watched the dispensers
10 see whether trey were complying
strictly with the law and regulations.
Whibkey drummers banging around
the hotels In Columbia to get q chance
to sell whiSkey were unknown and the
agents of whiskey concerns travelling
over the State and getting in close
touch with the local dispensers for
the purbose Of corrupting them were
also unknown, and che condition OF
Affairs disclosed by the Spartanburg
investigation was simply an impossi.
bility.
What are some Of the temptations
which seem to have been too great for
the State board Of directors to reslstP
Purchasing whiskey as 1t has been
done left opportunity for collusiop;
this man or that or the board receiv.
Ing money as compensation for pur-
chasing from a given concern. The
state commissioner subjected to the
temptation of sending out the case
goods Of this or that firm in prefer
ence to those ordered by the dispens.
ers. The opportunity for graft, the
pot phrase now in vogue, was i'm.
mensc. The original scheme adopted,
as l say hastily, depended for the in.
tegrity Of Its administration upon the
nigh character and honor Of the
States highest officials. But whom
we recollect that, as 1t is now admin.
istered and has been for six or eight
years, Through the breakage charges,
leakage charges, watering the liquor
In tie local diSpensaries because Of
bottles not properly sealed, changing
labels, buying places as dispenser, the
opportunity for stealing at the dis
pensary In not sending out all the
liquor bought, but shipping 1t Of, 1T
IS a wonder We have not had a worse
carnival Of corruption than seems to
exist.
| do not doubt after the exposure
in Spartanburg others will euualif rot
eclipse 1T elsewhere. l could go moro
into detail and discuss this phase Of
h subject more at length, but /
prefer to point out the remedies which
suggested themselves to my
mind and which in the future l feel
sure Will be adopted and be the mean
OF reforming the dispensary system
and making 1t we'll nigh impc ssiblc
for any II any where to steal any OF
tho public money or be corrupted b.
the temptations which have been s.
plentiful h~eretOfore
We will take the State dispensary
first. l believe the administration of
this law should be in the hands Of men
elected by the people, the same as the
other laws arc. / believe and always
have thought that q board ex offiojo.
composed Of the Governor, ATTORNEY
General and Comptroller General, to
be the best that can be devised. Now
to prevent even these high officers
from being subjected to temptation
oi laying themselves open to charges
or corruption, such as my enemies
have not hcSltated TO bring against
me, | suggest the following plan. Let
advertisement be made, as now re
qlired by law for bids to be submitted
20 fu: nish the State OF South Carolina
Tor a year with such whiskey, brandy,
rum, wine and beer as 1t may REQUIRE
Let the Act go into details and speci,
6cally describe the kind and Quality
needed. Whiskey and beer are the
two main things, and these two are
staple articles and can be described
With such definiteness and particular.
lily that there will be slight need even
OF an analysis by the chemist. Let
these bids be submitted in t~riplicate
sealed with wax. One sent to the
State Treasurer, accompanied by a
check for $40, 600 as evidence OF good
faith, one sent to the Chief Justice OF
n Supreme Court and one sent to
the Speaker Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives. Have these opened during
the session Of the Legislature In the
presence OF the disponsary committee
or the two houses, and award the
contract to the lowest bidder. Then
let the State board enter into 1t with
such lowest bidder, requiring the con.
tractor to deposit for the fulli!ment of
his obligation 800, 900 in South Car.
lima State bonds, or such AMOUNT as
may be thought necessary, which
Shal! be subject to forfeit If he does
not comply strictly with all the terms
and conditions Of his agreement.
The contract being thus made for
the purchase Of Whiskey OF a given
klnd n quality at a given price. the
State commissioner who viii have
charge OF the business part OF the dis.
penSary can order cut from the div.
slllery at such time and In such uuan.
titles as may be necessary the LIQUORS
needed to supply the demand OF the
local dispensers. Have the bottles and
other supplies that may be needed
purchased IN a similar manne to the
"hiskey, all Of these being paid for by
cash checks on the treasurer. Let the
State commissioner take out a recti-
license and have the liquor bot.
lied after dumping and mixing when
desired, and this must be under the
immediate supervision and inspection
)f q United States revenue Oficer,
whose books will be q check as to tho
quantity that will thus enter into the
Let the dispensers books
ana the internal revenue collectors
be inspected quarterly by such
person as h State board may appoint
or that purpose, to see that the dual.
.ty or the goods contracted for and the
,oods delivered correspond, and that
Ill the goods purchased have been sent
from the State dispensary or other
accounted for. The Legislature.
through It's committee, d examine
nto n report at each session upon
whole management.
Let the name and brand of the
IQuOr bn blown into tbe olno, u tLo..