The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-01-17
THE BEST SOLUTION
OF the Liquor Question Ii 1t IL Properly
Conducted, Which He Thinks Can
be Done. By No Means Hope.
less Because of Wrong &
Doing

:
the dispensary:
The only cloud which throws a
shadow over the state IL the unsat
isfactory condition Of the disper Ary
Great d satisfaction has been mani
tested by the people in many quar-
ters. 1t exists, believe, because OF
loss of confidence resulting from abus'
"a In connection with its operation.
No one can deny that the present at.
mosphere surrounding the dispensary
Is 8 grave reflection upon South Caro-:
lima, for 1t is state Institution, and
any odium which attaches to it's oper.
alton necessarily attaches to the
state. Since your last session 0 large
number Of counties have voted out
dispensaries, but I must say that the
vote abolishing them take to DO .
rebuke to the mode Of operation ratn
er than a repudiation Of the system
itself.
In nv last annual message, when
considering the needs Of the dispense
~, I said: - am convinced If this
system can be properly regulated, 1t
will be one of the best solutions OF
the Iiouor question. If not properly
managed and controlled, It's usefulness
will be at au end.
Despite the events Of the past year
and the revelations which bave at
tended the Investigations of your c'm
mittee, am by no means hopeless, l
still believe that the dispenssry sys.
tenn has many strong points and ad-
nirable features whicn commend It,,
but in saying this I am bT-no means
blinded to it's imperfections.
1t ia imperative for the honor OF the
state that existing conditions should
be- Immediately remedied, either by
radical changes in the laws govern
ing the dispensary or by the adoption
of q different system for the regula-
tion Of the liquor question. The de-.
tails of this situation are 90 well
known throughout every county IN
tho state that I feel no extended dis
cussion Is necessary here. 1t Is incum-
bent upon your body to give this mat
tor YOUR most careful and serious con-
siderstion. You are chosen by the
people to make their laws, and In
such q crises ss thiE they will be sat.
isfied only with direct and specific &C
SiOn on your psrt.
During the year that has passed
since your last session have given
this question my earnest consldera'
tion, hoping to devise some certain
remedies for the evils complained Of,
but have been impressed with no bet
ter solution than was included IN the
recommendations I made to you last
year. In order that my views may
be- clearly understood, I shall call to
your attention to such extracts from
my last message as deem necessary
for this purpose. ] herewith submit
for your consideration the following
extracts upon this subject with one
c1ange, namely: the abolition OF
county boards Of control. These are
again recommended to you as erabody.
ing the changes which I think will
best serve the proper regulation OF
the dlspensary system.
1.-THE state commissioner should, in
nv Judgment, be the oiioer whose
duty it should be to purchase all
supplies for the dispensary. He she uld
be required to make contracts, not
for any specified amount of liquor,
but for such supplies as may he aetu.
ally required, such requirements TO
be determined by the commissioner. "
Each contract made by the com.
missioner should require the firm
contracted with to guarantee the sale
of such goods as may be ordered and
shipped to the state dispensary, said
guarantee to be entered as a part OF
the bond. All advertisements fJr bulk
goods should be placed strictly
and absolutely upon a competitive
basis, By letting IL be distinctly under
stood that the lowest responsible bid.
der shall be awarded the CONTRACT. 1t
should further be the duty Of the COM
missioner to make each year. quarter
ly reports to the state board or dlrec.
tors, showing the amounts contracted
for the previous quarter, including
the brands and prices. and the names
OF parties from whom goods are pur-
chased, which report the state board
Ct directors shall have published IN at
least two daily newspapers OF the
state"
The board should be required to
meet each week at their ctiice In the
state dispensary, to remain IN session
as long as may be necessary for the
transaction of their busine s. Inc
general supervision and management
of all county dispenSarIes should be
in their charge and they should be
specifically charged with the duty of
seeing that all restrictions governing
the various dispensaries should be
strictly enforced. These are response
BILE and arduous duties for which the
members Of this board should receive
a salary of not less than $1,000 per
annum each, and should be required
to file bond Of not less than slO,-
900.
II further recommend that the law
as to the location of county dispen.
saries be amended to restrict them Jo
such incorporated towns aud cities as,
- %ho I,oorl NJ Hiron-