The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-08-25

had q detective who watched the con.
stables and who reported to me alone
whether or not they were in collision
with blind tigers. / had another
detective who watched the dispensara
to see whether they were complying
strictly with the law and regulations.
Whiskey drummers banging around
the hotels In Columbia to get q chance
to sell whiskey were unknown and the
agents Of whiskey concerns travelling
over the State and getting In close
touch with the local dispensers for
the purbose Of corrupting them were
also unknown, and che condition Of
affairs disclosed by the Spartanburg
investigation wss simply an impossl.
bility.
What are some Of the temptations
which seem to have been too great for
the State board OF directors to resiStP
Purchasing Whiskey as 1t has been
done left opportunity for collision;
this man or that on the board recciv-
Ing money as compensation for pur-
chasing from a given concern. The
State commissioned subjected 10 the
temptation OF sending out the case
goods Of this or that firm in prefer
ence to those ordered by the dispena.
ers. The opportunity for graft, the
pot phrase 0 In vogue, was i'm.
mcnse. The original scheme adopted,
as L say hastily, depended for the in.
tegrity Of Its administration upon the
high character and honor Of the
States highest officials. But whom
we recollect that, as 1t is now admin
istered and has been for six or eight
years, through the breakage charges,
leakage charges, watering the liquor
in the local dfspensarles because Of
bottles not properly sealed, changing
labels, buying places as dispenser, the
opportunity for stealing at the dis.
pensary In not sending out all the
liquor bought, but shipping 1t eff, 1T
Is o wonder we have not had a worse
carnival Of corruption than seems to
exist.
l do not doubt after the exposure
in ~Spartanburg others will equalif not
eclipse 1t elsewhere. l coulu 70 more
into detail and discuss this phase Of
the subject at length, but |
prefer to point out the remedies which
have suggested themselves to my
mind and which in the future / feel
sure will be adopted and be the means
Of reforming the dispensary system
and making IT we'll nigh impc ssiblc
for any II any where to steal any OF
the public money or be corrupted b.
the temptations which have been s
plentiful heretofore.
We will take the State dispensary
first. l believe the administration OF
this law should be in the hands OF men
elected by the people, the same as the
other laws arc. | believe and always
have thought that q board ex oGicjo,
composed Of the Governor, Attorney
General and Comptroller General, tic
be the best that can be devised. Now
to prevent even these high officers
from being subjected to temptation
. i laying themselves open to charges
or corruption, such as my enemies
have not hesitated TO bring against
me, / suggest the following plan. Lot
advertisement be made, as now re
CURED by law for bids to be submitted
10 furnish the State OF South Carolina
for a year with such whiskey, brandy,
rum, wine and beer as 1t may require
Let the Act go into details and speci.
tcally describe the kind and Quality
needed. Whiskey and beer are the
two main things, and these two are
staple articles and can be described
With such definiteness and particular
ity that there will be slight need ever
OF an analysis by the chemist. Let
these bids be submitted in triplicate
sealed with wax. One sent to the
Stale Treasurer, accompanied by a
check for $40, 600 as evidence OF good
faith, n sent to the Chief Justice OF
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 dlsponSary committed
OF the two houses, and award the
contract to the lowest bidder. Their
let the State board enter into 1t with
such lowest bidder, requiring the con,
tractor to deposit for the fu,ti!ment O.
bis obligation 800, 900 In South Car
lima State bonds, or such mount as
may be thought necessary, which
shall be subject to forfeit If he doe,
not comply strictly with all the terms
and conditions Of his agreement.
The contract being thus made fol
the purchase OF Whiskey OF a giver
Kind and quality at q given price, the
State commissioner who will have
charge Of the business part OF the dis.
penSary can order cut from the dis.
tillcry at such time and In such .uuan.
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 a similar manner to the
whiskey, all Of these being paid for by
cash checks on the treasurer. Let the
State commissioner take out a recti.
lier's license and have the liquor bot.
tied after dumping and mixing when
desired. and this must be under the
immediate supervision and inspection
or q United States revenue officer,
whose books will be o check as to tie
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
Tor that purpose, to see that the dual.
lty OF the goods contracted for and the
goods delivered correspond, and that
all the goods purchased have been sent
out from the State dispensary or other.
wise accounted for. The Legislature,
through It's committee, can examine
into and report at each session upon
The whole management.