The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-02-03
PASSED THE HOUSE.
Resolution to Investigate the Work
ipgs ofthe State .Bispensary.
The Bill Is Passed and Sent Back
TO the Senate With Important
. Amendments.

The resolution providing for Joint
legislative committee to investigate
the workings of the State dIspensary
passed the house of representatives
on Tuesday OF last week and was sent
to the senate with amendments.
In addition to the items heretofore
stipulated as guide for the commit
tee, the hou:e adopted the following
on motion Of Mr.. Otis of Cherokee:
Is 1t not a fact that excessive
fEeights have been paid to railroads
for Transporting liquors into the Slate
when said liquors could have been
shipped irto the State by water at
less cost 10 the State?" Eo'.~S
The hbuse amended further, on mo-
ton of Ar. q. P. Sanders Of Spartan
burg, by%providing that the commits
sioners OF fsyestigation "shall rot re.
csive pay for4neore than 80 days. '"'-
The followina was adopted m mo-
tion OF Mr. SandeSs.. to TX added to
Sec. 8 Of the original bill: Provided
that the evidence taken or adduced
before said commission shall not be
USED for the purpose ef any criminal
prosecution against the person who Is
examined at the time such evidence is
taken or adduced.'
And the following new section was
added on motion OF Mr.. Lomax Of Alb.
beyille: Sec. 9. That the costs and
expenses OF his investigation be paid
by the State dispen,ary, each mem
Der OF said commission to receive 81
per DAY and the usual mileage"
When the dispensary bill was
reached In It's regular position on the
calendar, Mr.. Ashley moved to strike
out the enacting words. During the
discussion Messrs. Fl. II. Evans AMI
j. 3. Towill Of the dispensary bard
were observed on the floor. Each
seemed TO take great interest in the
prccee diDgs.
When the bill came Up for action on
Mr.. Ashley's hostile notion MIR. Sink.
ler declared thai this bill Is an indict
ncnt Of the State board OF control.
If there has been corruption, let the
axe fall to the roofs. If there be no
corruption shown. let the accused be
vindcated. He urged for fearless
Investigation. When other States
have been charged with corruption,
t has bean the p?oud boast OF South
Carolina that the records Of her pub
lie servants have been stainless. But
the smoke is rising and IL getting
:, h.cksr and tB!cker, and something
must be done and be done at once
He wanted the committee composed
of able, fearless and incorruptib,e
men. The resolution should be
adopted at once as the session Is draw.
ing to close.
MIR. McColl declared the dispensary
system to be creation uf the South
Carolina legislature. which is itself ac.
c untable TO the people. He declared
that the people, the press and one Of
the United States senators from this
State had called attention to the
charges bsing made against the man.
agcment of the dispensary.
MIR. Ashley-Do you know how
much that former investigation cost?
Mr. McCull-No, sir, nor do care.
If there IS corruption ling on 1t
should be brought to light and it
would be nothing but right to con
duct this investigation, even II it
costs the State five mill additional.
Continuing he said that the people
of the entire State are clamoring for
investigation. There should be
committee which should be composed
OF men who had not pr, judged the
case.
Mr.. Richards declared that it has
been charged for years that there is
something wrong at the South Cara-
lina dispensary. He personally does
not believe 1t, but he thinks that the
people Of the State are demanding III
vestigation and should have it.
MIR. D. o. Herbert stated on behalf
OF the commissioner, who Is from o.
angeburg, that he has no objection to
tie passage of this resolution.
Mr. Gasqus Of Marion favored the
passage of the resolution as matter
OF Justice to those under indictment.
MIR. Ashley stated his position.
There have en- nvestlgations cost
ing the State SO. 900 or $4,000 and
they have never found anything
wrong yet. Mr.. Ashley took shot
at the au hOr Of the bill by saying that
members OF the Legislature sometimes
offer resolutions OF this kind just to
get a joo after The legislature ad.
jourrs.
The house voted down Mr.. LaFitte's
amendment TO limit the pay Of this
commission to % days. Mr.. Lomax's $
amendment to provide for the ex-
pense to be paid by the State dspen-
sary at the rate OF 81 per day for
members and the regular mileage al.
lowed members Of the general assem-.
bly, was adopted.
The house accepted Mr. Sanders
amendment that a witness testimony
cannot be used against him in Grim
inal pros .cution.
by vote of 64 to 40 the house
agreed to Mr.. Sanders motion to
limit the pay TO 80 days.
The house decided 10 accept Mr.
OTIS amendment TO have investigated
the charges.
The resolution was sont back to the
senate with amendments.
no biennial Sessions.
VIII the Legislature meet biennial