Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-01-24
WALHALLA, 3. C.s
WEDNESDAY,. JAN. "a, Iso6.
The Way to Save the State Dispensary.

Washington, January 20.-It has been
learned here that Senator Tillman had
several important conferences when in
Columbia with the supporters of the
iispensary in the Legislature and that
when he left them it was with a mighty
good understanding that bill will be
agreed upon by the dispensary people
and pushed at the present session. The
bill will seek to remedy defects of the
existing law, the especial object being to
place the leading afficers of the institu-
ton beyond the temptations of corrup.
ton.
Your correspondent is in position to
state that the main features of the pro-
posed bill will be these:
l. The purchase of rye, corn and
bourbon on yearly contract, bids to be
advertised for and opened during the
sessions of the Legislature, the State TO
buy everything from the lowest bidder.
2. No bid will be received from any
firm that has not put up with the Treas
urer of the State certified check for a
large sum rs an evidence of good faith
The firm receiving the bid to be required
to put with the State Treasurer per
cent of the gross sales OF the State dis
pensary for the previous year. This will
be guarantee of faithful and honest per-
fOrmance of contract.
3. The State to get the whiskey direct
from the bonded warehouses of the gov
ernment, before there has been mixing
or blending and when the product is as
pure as the government can guarantee it.
4. The State to do it's own blending
and mixing, thereby guaranteeing an
absolutely pure article, there being no
chance for doctoring, unless the officials
of the State do so themselves, which
would hn moAn nnpic hnh1a hp
sentence.
5. Every bid-and Senator Tillman is
understood to regard this as about the
most important feature--to be submitted
in triplicate, one bid going to the Gov
ernor, another to the Speaker of the
House and third to the Treasurer,
these officials to hold the bids until the
presented at once. In the opinion of
Senator Tillman this would absolutely
prevent collusion and the altering Of
bids, as the law would provide that all
bids received should remain until
opened at a certain time and in a certain
Office.
Senator Tillman believes that the only
way collusion would be possible would
be for the dispensary officials to cornive
with the bidders to deliver q poorer grade
OF proof whiskey, but this could be
avoided because the specifications would
call for goods of a certain proof, direct
from the government bonded warehouses,
and the proof of whiskey is easily ascer
tanned.
Still another important feature will be
changing the personnel of the State
Board of Control so as to give the people
of the State confidence in the manage
ment. This is understood to be now
under consideration.
SAYS DIsPENSARY WILL WIN
"In my opinion the people of the State
are overwhelmingly for the dispensary,"
said Senator Tillman. seven in the coun-
ties where it has been voted out. The
system is all right, but the people are
tired of the bad odor and want to see a
change in the law. The advocates of the
dispensary will, in my opinion, amend
the law at tho present session so as to
prevent corruption and insure the sale of
pure whiskey. If the enemies of the
law prevent tie Legislature doing any
thing in that direction they will have to
be accountable to the people. We will
see to that, but unless the Legislature
attempts to do something, there is grave
danger of the death of the law. l am
sure, though, that the friends of the dis
pensary will make every effort at this
session OF the Legislature to purify con-
ditions and to again establish the system
in the confidence of the people If they
fail 1T will be because the enemies of the
law unite against them.
mo, there is no danger of the law
being knocked out at this session, as |
sec it, The Legislature knows the peo-
Pile prefer the law to anything else and
will knife it. Then when we go before
the people this summer and put out can
didatcs for Senator and Members of the
House we will line up things so as to
show the hands of everybody. There
will be much difference then, and this
vote that has been remaining at home
will show UP for the dispensary."
Senator Tillman expressed the opinion
that if counties that have recently voted
out the dispensaly nnder the Brice law
should elect Senator's and Representa-
tives this summer committed to the dis
pensary those elected on the dispensary
platform would have perfect right to
put the dispcnsary back in the counties
that are now enjoying blind tigers in
large doses.
Senator Tillman believes the Brice
law will be repealed when the Legisla-
ture elected this summer meets next
January. w. w. Price.