The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-08-23

SUGuleS anu Wiz ISlOi GO0 " LO e1AOao
whether or MT they were in colluSlon
with blind tigers. I had another
detective who watched the dispensers
to see whether they were complying
strictly with the law and regulations
Whiskey drunmers hanging around
the hotels in Columbia to get chance
to sell whisksy were unknown and the
agents OF whiSkey concerns travelling
over the State and getting in close
touch with the lccsl dispensers fer
the purbose Of corruptirg them were
also unknown, and che condition OF
affairs disclosed by tie SparJanhurg
investigation was simply an inpossl
bikty.
What are some Of the temptations
which seem to have beer too great 1or
the State board OF directors to resist:
Purchasing Whiskey as it has oeen
done left opportunity for collusion;
this man or that on the board receiV-
ing money as compensation for pur-
chasing from a given concern. Tne
State commissioner subjected to the
enptation OF sending out the case
gooGs OF this OF that firm in prefer
ence to those ordered by the diSpeIs.
ers. TIE opportunity for graft, the
pot phrase now in vogue, was I'M.
mense. The original scheme adopted,
as say hastily, depended for the in
tegrity CT its administration upon the
high character and honor Ct the
States highest officials. But when
We recollect that, as it is now admin
iStered and has been for six OF eight
years, through the breakage charges,
leakage charges, watering the liquor
in the local dlspensaries because Of
bottles not properly sealed, changing
labels, buying places as dispenser, the
opportunity for stealing at the dis
pensary in not sending cut all the
liquor bought, but shipping it cff, it
is a wonder we have not had a worse
carnival cf corruption than seems to
exist.
l co not doubt after the exposure
IN Spartanburg others will eq1al If not
eclipse it elsewhere. couio go more
into detail and discuss this phase ct
the subject more at length, but !
prefer to point out the remedies which
have suggested themselves to ny
mind and which in the future I feel
sure will be adopted and be the means
Of reforming the dispensary system
and making it well nigh impossible
for any one any where to steal any OF
the public money OF be corrupted by
the temptations which have been 81
plentiful heretofore.
We will take the State dispenSary
first. I believe the administration OF
this law should be in the hands Of men
elected by the psople, the same as the
other laws are. I believe and always
have thought that a board e1 cfticio,
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
or laying themselves open to charges
or corruption, such as my enemies
have not hesitated to bring against
me, sugyeat the following plan. Let
advertisement be made, as now re
Quired by law for bids to be submitted
to furnish the State of South Carolina
for a year with such whiskey, brandy,
rum, wine and beer as It may re Qaire
Let the Act go into details and Speci-
fcally describe the kird and quality
needed. Whiskey and beer are the
two main things, and these two are
staple articles and can be described
with such de6niteness and particular
ity that there will be Slight need even
Of an analysis by the chemist. Let
these bids be submitted in triplicate
sealed with wax. One sent to the
State Treasurer, accompanied by q
check for $4,000 as evidence Of good
faith, one sent to the Chief Justice o!
the Supreme Court and one sent tc
the Speaker Of the House OF Repre-.
sentatives. Have these opened during
the session OF the Legislature in the
presence Of the dispsnsary committee
OF the two houses, and award the
contract to the lowest bidder. Then
let the State board enter into it<with
such lowest bidder, requiring the con-
tractor to deposit for the fu ti:nent OF
his obligation 100000 in South Car
lima State bonds, or such amount as
may be thought necessary, which
shall be subject to forfeit if be doss
not comply strictly with all the terms
and conditions OF his agreement.
The contract being thus made for
the purchase Of WhiSkey Of given
kind and quality at given price, the
State commissioner who will have
charge Of the business part OF the dis.
pensary can order cut from the dis
tillery at such time and in such guam
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 similar manner to the
WhiSkey, al Of these being paid for by
cash checks on the treasurer. Let the
State commissioner take out a recti-
6er's license and haYe the liquor bot
tied after dumping and mixing when
desired, and this must be under the
immediate supervision and inspection
of a United States revenue officer,
whose books will be a check as to the
quantity that will thus enter into the
consumption. Let the dispensers books
and the internal revenue collectors
books be Inspected quarterly by such
person as the State board may appoint
for that purpose, to see that the quail
iuy Of the goods contracted for and the
goods delivered correspond, and that
all the goods purchased have been sent
out from the State oispenssrY or other
wise accounted for. The Legislature,
%hro>rh itc noyo ro,ttao oop evo ro;pa