The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-25

That the state board of control has
placed orders for S2oo,67o.5o worth
OF liquor, that it had not then ordered
shipped.
These orders were made mainly in
last November and December.
That the state then owed for IL
quor in hand and tentatively ordered
SS6o,ooo, and that it had stock on
hand with which to pay these obi
cations.
Only two witnesses were examined
Tuesday, Mr. Samuel T. Carter, chief
clerk Of the State treasury. Mr.. Car
ter was a most intelligent witness
His information was accurate, but in
direct, as gained through the State
Treasurer's books. The only other
witness was Commissioner ". 0. Ia
tum, who has made an excellent COM
missioner and against whom there
has not been a word said. He did not
show a disposition to butt in with
suggestions, but simply and intelli
gently answered questions.
The evidence Of these two witnesses
showed some interesting conditions.
The State Treasurer has no check
on the State dispensary. Warrants
are issued by the dispensary with no
money in the hands of the State
Treasurer with which o pay these
warrants, and they have been rejected.
The quarterly reports of the State
Treasurer and the State dispensary do
not agree at the end of the quarter
as to cash balances. This is explained
by the fact that the clerk of the state
board maintains for the commissioner
special account of odds and ends,
such as money for alcohol, barrels,
shortages collected and the like. 1t
is a sort of reserve fund, turned over
to the treasurer as needed and held
for emergencies. It is protected by
the commissioners bond for $4,000,
but for while it was mystery, not
being turned directly over to the
State treasurer as other funds are.
During the morning session it de-
veloped that there was a difference
of 10000 in the cash accounted for
by the State Treasurer and as shown
by the dispensary statement. The
treasurer's office was lost in expla-
nation, but il developed that this
seems to be a sort of ''kitty," that is
maintained to meet pressing paper.
Tuesday warrant for 5000 was re-
jected because no funds were on hand,
but after the warrant was refused pay
ment deposit of $4,000 was made
from this kitty" and the warrant
will be paid, but it only goes to show
how close the three million dollar in
stitution skins Perhaps the most in
teresting feature and significant testi-
mony Tuesday was that Commis
sioner Tatum formally and officially
called the attention of the board Of
control to the law, and suggested
compliance with the statute that Il
quor be bought from the lowest re-
sponsible bidder.
Mr.. Tatum said that his comuni-
cation is still unanswered, but he does
not imply that the boar did not have
perfect right to continue its present
policy and that it is not the better
one, but personally he insists that the
better plan and the law look to the
purchase Of liquor upon the basis Of
competition. As explained the board
now fixes minimum prices and will
not buy liquors at lower prices than
it fixes in it's advertisements. The
price is fixed and the competition is
on the grade and quality. Mr.. Tatum
thinks the state would come out as
we'll or better if it invited competi-
tion in prices as we'll as to grade and
quality.
Mr.. Tatum made it very plain that
the state chemist cannot and does
not undertake to analyze liquor to
| tell its quality. All he undertakes