Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-18

nival of corruption than seems to ex-
ist. / do not doubt after the exposure
In Spartanburg others will equal II not
eclipse 1t elsewhere. / could go more
into detail and discuss this phase OF the
subject more at length but l prefer to
point out the remedies which have sug-
gested themselves to my mind and
which in the future feel sure will be
adopted by the means Of reforming the
dispensary system and making 1t we'll
nigh impossible for anyone anywhere
to steal any Of the public money or be
corrupted by the temptations which
have been so plentiful heretofore.
I'VE will take the state dispensary
first. / believe the administration OF
this law should be In the hands OF
men elected by the people the same as
the other laws are. believe and al
ways have thought that board ex-
officio, composed Of the governor. at
torney general and comptroller general
to be the best that can be devised.
How to prevent even these high OFF,
GERS from being subjected to tempta-
tion or laying themselves open to
charges Of corruption, such as my en-
emies have not hesitated to bring
against me, l suggest the following
plan:
IIS" ~
Let advertisement be made, as now
required by law, for bids to be sub
mitted to furnish the state or South
Carolina for a year with such whisky
brandy, rum, wine and beer as 1t may
require. Let the act go into details
and specifically describe the kind and
quality needed. Whisky and beer are
the two main things and these two
are staple articles and can be described
with such deflniteness and particu-
larity that there will be slight need
even Of an analysis by the chemist
Let these bids be submitted In trtpli-
cate sealed with wax-one sent to the
state treasurer accompanied by a check
for $4,000 as evidence Of good faith,
one sent to the chief justice of the su-
preme court and one sent to the speak
er, Of the house of representatives.
Have these opened during the session
of the legislature in the presence OF
the dispensary committee OF the two
houses and award the contract to the
lowest bidder. Then let the state board
enter into a contract with such lowest
bidder requiring the contractor to de-
posit, for the fulfillment Of his obliga-
tion 100000 in South Carolina State
bonds or such amount as may be
thought necessary, which shall be sub
ject to forfeit II he does not comply
strictly with all the terms and condi-
tions Of his agreement. The contract
being thus made for the purchase OF
whisky of given kind and quality at
a given price, the state commissioner
who will have charge Of the business
part of the dispensary can order out
from the distillery at such time and In
such quantities az may be necessary
the liquors needed to supply the de-
mand of the local dispensers. Have the
bottles and other supplies that may be
needed purchased in a similar manner
to the whisky. all Of these being paid
for by cash checks on the treasurer.
Let the state commissioner take out a
rectifiers license and have the liquor
bottled after dumping and mixing
when desired, and this must be under
the immediate supervision and inspec-
ton Of q United States revenue off,
Ger 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 collec-
tors book be inspected quarterly by
such person as the state board may ap-
point for that purpose to see that the
quality Of the goods contracted for and
the goods delivered corresponded and
that all the goods purchased have been
sent out from the state dispensary, or
otherwise accounted for. The legisla-
ture through its committee can exam
inc into and report at each session
upon the whole management.
Brand on the Glass.
Let the name and brand be blown
into the glass, so there can be no
change of labels. Have no case goods
kept In stock and confine the purchase
Of these to special orders from private
individuals. Do away with beer dis
pensaries as now run and let the regu-
lar dispensers keep beer on ice to be
sold by the bottle only and not drunk
on the premises. Above all see that
the request books are always used be-
fore a purchase is made. d.
so much for the central depot.
Now for the local dispensaries. l
believe more satisfaction will result
and a better administration Of the law
be had If the supervision and control OF
the local liquor dispensaries be placed
In the hands Of the county supervisors
elected by the people, the mayor of
the town in which the dispensary Is
located, elected also by the people,
and one person to be appointed by the
state board who shall receive reason
able compensation for his time and la
Dor. Then have the local dispensers
elected by the people of the county;
where there Is more than one they can
be elected on a joint ticket. Let the
governor have the power to remove
for cause and let him exercise 1t Wig
orously.
ANY one familiar with the condi-
tions as they now exist can readily un-
derstand why such amendments to the
law as are here outlined will make
1t almost impossible for any one con-
nected with the dispensary from the
top to the bottom to steal any of the
public money.
I'VE will have better liquor and II
the grand juries do their duty we will
have no more Spartanburg scandals.
1t must not be forgotten that no law
ever devised can enforce itself