The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-01-12
DISPENSARY.

DISPEN SARI.
The only cloud which throws a
shadow over the State is the unsat-
isfactory condition of the dispen-
sary. Great dissatisfaction has
been manifested by the people in
many quarters. 1t exists, I be-
lieve, because of loss of confidence
resulting from abuses in connec-
ton with its operation. No one
can deny that the present .atmos-
phere surrounding the dispensary is
a grave reflection upon South Car
olina, for it is a State institution
and any odium which attaches to
its operation necessarily attaches to
the State. Since your last session
a large number of counties have
voted out dispensaries, but l must
say that the vote abolishing them
take to be a rebuke to the mode OF
operation rather than a reputation
of the system itself.
In my last Annual Message,
when considering the needs OF the
dispensary, said: II am convinced
if this system can be properly reg
ulated. it will be one of the best So
lutions of the liquor problem. 1t
not properly managed and control.
lied, it's usefulness will be at an end.
DESPITE the events Of the past
wear and the revelations which have
attended the Investigations of your
committee, I am by no means hope
less. I still believe that the dispen-
sary system has many strong points
and admirable features which COM
mend it, but in saying this | am BY
no means blinded to its imperfec-
! tons.
: 1t is imperative for the honor OF
the State that existing conditions
should be immediately renedied,
either by radical changes in the laws
| governing the dispensary or by the
adoption ola different system for
the regulation of the liquor ques-
ton. The details of this situation
are so we'll known throughout every
county in the State that | feel no
extended discussion, is necessary
here. 1t is incumbent upon your
body to give this matter your most
careful and serious consideration.
You are chosen by the people to
make their laws and in such crisis
as this they will be satisfied only
with direct and specific action on
your part.
: During the year that has passed
since your last session l have given
this question my earnest conslder-
IIation, hoping to devise some GER
: tain remedies for the evils COM
planned of, but have been impressed
with no better solution than was in
cluded in the recommendations ]
made to you last year. In order
that my views may be clearly un-
derstood, I shall again call to your
attention such extracts from my
last Message as I deem necessary
for this purpose. I herewith sub
init for your consideration the fol-
lowing extracts bearing upon this
subject with one change, namely
the abolition of County Boards Of
Control. These are again recon-
nnended to you as enbodying the
changes which think will best
serve the proper regulation of the
dispensary system:
The State Commissioner should
in my judgment, be the Officer
whose duty it should be to purchase
all supplies for the dlspensary. He
should be required to make con
tracts, not for any specified amount
of liquor, but for such supplies a:
may be actually required, such re-
ouirements to be determined by tho
Commissioner"
Each contract made BY thu
!; Commissioner: should require tht
firm contracted with to guarantee