The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-01-13
AT THE CAPITOL.
Legislature Fully Organized and
Down to Work-Ohcers Elected
Many Bills Introduced
Senator B1ease's Re-
solution.

OF the house were elected without op-
position. Hon. Mendel L. Smith is
again speaker and Col. Tom. Homer
is clerk again Mr. Altarnont sMoses,
OF Sumter, was made chairman dur
ing the organization. J. Fred. Schum-
pert was reelected sergeant-at-arms.
A. H. Booth has been appointed clerk
of the senate judiciary committee.
Senator Cole. L. Blease has been ap-
pointed a member of the following
committees: D.. Dispensary, federal
relations, interpretations, privileges
and elections, legislative library and
military. The house committees
will be announced today.
Among the first resolutions in
troduced was one by Senator Blease
which is as follows:
Be it resolved by the senate, the
house of representatives concurring:
Section I. That joint committee,
consisting of two senators and three
members of the house of representa-
tives, be appointed by the presiding
officer of the respective houses to in
ves.igate the affairs of the state dis
pensary.
Section 2. That said committee be,
and is hereby, empowered to. send for
papers and persons, to swear Witness
es, to require the attendance of any
parties whose presence shall be
deemed necessary to appoint an ex-
pert accountant and stenographer,
and to investigate all transactions
concerning said dispensary and its
management, and to take testimony
either within or without the state,
and shall have access at all times
during their service to all the books
and vouchers and other papers OF
said institution, especially in investl-
eating the following facts:
(a) Whether or not it IS a fact
that houses represented by agents
who are near relatives of the MEM
bers of the board of directors re-
ceive large orders at each purchase.
(b) Is it a fact that members OF
the board of directors are or have
been agents for certain wholesale
houses from which large purchases
are made?
(c) Is it fact that parties to
whom large orders are given are not
wholesale dealers, but brokers, and
that the orders are filled by third
persons, thus making the state pay
the commission of the middleman?
Cd Was it necessary to purchase
the large quantity of liquors ordered
in December. 1904, to fill demands?
(e) Are the extraordinary heavy pur-
cl1ases made necessary to the best
business interests of the dispensary
system?
(f) What is the financial standing
of the business and is it run On the
best principles for the interest OF
the law as originally passed and
amended?
(g) Is it a fact that the state,
through the dispensaries, is violating
the constitution of 1895, in that it is
selling whiskey in less quantities
than one-half of one pint?
(h)Is it a fact that the state is
selling ffths in case goods to its GUS
toners and charging them for one
quart?
CD Is it fact that certain agents
are travelling over the state and Of
fering special inducements to coun-
ty dispensers to push" certain
brands of liquors, and, if so, is it a
fact known to the members of the
state board of directors?
(i)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 board of directors?
(k) Has the whiskey which has
been recently purchased been order