The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-25
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in the letters, and there may really be
nothing in the world in any of them.
During Col. Mixson's testimony it
was shown that ten years ago the
sales OF the dispensary aggregated
over million a year, and that at that
time the salaries and expenses were
S13,o74.3o, while at present they are
S43,37287 for salaries and similar ex-
penses. Labor is more than double,
and the constabulary cost S43,o32. OF,
as against $66,412o2 for the present
year.
The comittee prepared and present
ed detail statement Of salaries and
suggested that there were rather
many clerks, that salaries had gone
up and the inspectors account was
particularly heavy.
Commissioner Tatum was on the
witness stand the greater part of the
morning. There was nothing sensa-
tional about his testimony. He
thought we'll of the system and
through his testimony was vein Of
suggestions of how he thought the
present shortcomings might be reme-
died. Mr.. Tatum talked like a care
full business man throughout and his
testimony alone would give the legis-
lature suggestions senough for
months work at revision and tight
ening up things.
Mr.. Tatum gave a statement of the
loss of over $4,000 in cash by In
spector Clarence Brown. Mr.. Tatum
thinks Mr.. Brown really lost the mon
ey. He related how the loss was
made good by himself and by COL
lections from members of the board
of control and employees of the dis
pensary by Messrs. Mccarthy &
Charles. There was no compulsion
or inpitatioH to contribute to this
fund to make up, the loss, but he
stated that it was purely voluntary
offerings and incidentally he thought
neither his bond nor that Of 1nspec-
tor Brown was responsible to the loss.
Mr.. Tatum recalled a number of al
legged shortages, which have been out
standing for some time, and he could
do no more than he has done towards
their collection.
An interesting phase of Mr.. Ia
tum's evidence was with regard to the
trip of himself and Mr.. Boykin to Gin
cinnati, relative to the establishment
of a bottling plant at the dispensary.
Mr.. Lyon took hold of this phase with
some spirit, and the suggestion was
made that Mr.. Boykin on this trip
bought or agreed to buy $1,000 worth
of labels, to be used in the new bot
ting department. Mr.. Tatum ex-
planned that he knew nothing what
ever about this label business, except
that he understood it was cheaper to
buy labels in large lots cheaper than
in small quantities. At all events the
label incident has not yet been devel-'
oped, and as yet has no real meaning
until it is shown how many labels
were really contracted for, and the
wisdom of the contract, which may
have been wise in the light of an ex-
planation.
Mr.. Tatrm, however, said that he
was entertained while in Cincinnati by
hospita'ble men, but that he accepted
no considerable courtesy; that never
in his life has he ever been offered
subsidy, rebate, or money for his in
Auence, or for anything he could do
for a liquor house or its agents. He
has never made cent, except his SAL
ary, out of the dispensary, and had
never been offered anything.
Mr.. Tatum explained how he dis
covered the habit of liquor houses
putting extra bottles in their cases,
and how he was prompt in con6scat-
ing all such extra bottles as soon as he
found it out. and how he refused to
accept beers that had been double
labelled: that is where high price