The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-08-14
RAYsoR-MANN1NG BILL.
rbo Original Bill was the Work Of
Senators Raysor, of Orangeburg
and Manning, of Sumter.


Orangeburg and Manning, of Sumter
being the fruit of the matured thought
and labor of these two men; who con
scientiously believing that the dis,
pensary system, properly and honestly
conducted, offers, under the condi-
tions prevailing in the State, not only
the best, but the only practical and
satisfactory means of controlling the
liquor traffic and minimizing the evils
that attend the use Of any andall alco-
! holic liquors as beverage, to frame
law that would purge the State Dis
pensary of the corruption believed to
exist therein and so to hedge about the
management with restrictions that the
opportunity for graft and dishonesty
in the purchase of liquor and other
supplies, which the law as it stood not
only permitted, but appeared to i'll
vite, would be impossible.
Senators Raysor and Manning, with
the same object in view, viz: to make
the dispensary as nearly as possible
graft-proof business institution,
which under, the exercise OF the po-
lice power of the State should control
and regulate the liquor traffic, which
is conceded by all to be an evil that
of necessity must be regulated and cur
tailed for the public good, worked in-
dependty at first, each preparing
a bill to be introduced in the Senate.
When the legislature convened they
found that their bills were drawn on
similar lines and they, therefore, de-
cided to jointly prepare new bill,
utilizing the best features Of each OF
the two previously prepared. The
greatest care was exercised in draw
ing this bill; information and sugges-
tons we're sought from Senators and
others who desired to purify the dis
pensary system and make it the in
strument for good that it was and is
capable of being made. When the
bill was completed and introduced III
the Senate it at once came to be
known as the Raysor- Manning bill.
Upon being referred to committee III
the regular order, the bill was given
thoughtful consideration and a rigid
and patient analysis. The result OF
the committees consideration was
a substitute bill, which embodied the
distinctive features of the original bill,
that being used as frame work, and
also the ideas of the committee and
others who had made suggestions look
ing to the perfection of the proposed
new dispensary law. Among the sug-
gestions thus embodied in the bill was
one made by Senator Tillman that
liquor be purchased from United
States bonded warehouses exclusive
ly.
This substitute bill, which was in
fact, the committees bill, although
built upon the RaysorManning bill
as a foundation, was still popularity
known as the Raysor-Manning bill
and by that title it is yet known.
This is the bill that the House OF
Representatives rejected and practi-
cally refused to consider at all, after
the effort to force the Morgan
(House) bill through the Senate had
failed. This is the measure that Is
now the leading issue in the State
campaign, and which is the dispen-
sary. plank in the platform Of Mr.
Richard T. Manning in his campaign
for governor.
Occupying as it does so important
place amongst the issues OF the
campaign, q synopsis Of the bill will
be both interesting and instructive
Section 1 prohibits the manufacture
sale or keeping of spurious, malt OF
other Intoxicating liquor that is useo
as a beverage, except as hereinafter
provided, under penalty. All liquors
sold or kept in the state, whether man
nfactured here, or imported, are re-
ouired to be tested by tho chemist OF
the South Carolina College to deter
mine their purity, and all liquors no
SO tested are declared detrimental tt
the morals, good health and safety
Of the State, and all such liquors ma!
seized wherever found, without a war
rant. It also prescribes the procedure
to be followed by those who deisr'
to import liquor for personal use II
order that they may do so legally. Th'
expense of making tests of liquors t.
determine their purity are to be pail
by the State treasurer, out OF TN
!. funds of the dispensary in his hands
and not by the board Of directors a
heret6fOre.