Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-09
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Some Carefully Considered >Reeommen.
dations to the General Assembly.

Some Carefully Considered >Recommen-
dations to the General Assembly.
| Correspondence Of the Norkville Enquirer.
COLUMBIA Jan. Ex-Governor Hey
wards annual message to the general
assembly was read today and as usual
it is a most interesting document or
much strength.
The governor begins his message
with an Acknowledgement Of the graf
itude we should all feel at the season OF
| prosperity that has come upon the
state, and takes occasion to point out
that the annual revenues, which have
been falling behind expenditures dur
| ing several years past, exceed expendi-
lures this year by about $125,O00.
The efforts of Comptroller General
Jones to secure a re-assessment OF the
property of the state on a basis Of
actual values Is endorsed in detail. In
order to get rid of the danger of rails
ing more money than is necessary for
the purposes of the government, 1t is
suggested, that after the general as
sembly has made its appropriations,
the comptroller general and state
treasurer may put on the levy for state
purposes and the county board OF
commissioners may put them on for
county purposes.
The governor repeats his recommen-
dation of last year that the nomination
of auditors and treasurers should be
taken out Of the primaries.
The Dispensary.
Discussing the dispensary situation
at length, the governor says:
The only cloud which throws a shad-
ow over the state is the unsatisfactory
condition of the dispensary. Great dis
| . toto hoS haan ron Infested fhP
people in many quarters. 1t exists,
believe, because Of loss of confidence
| resulting from abuses In connection
with its operation. No one can deny
that the present atmosphere surround
ing the dispensary Is grave reflection
upon South Carolina, for 1t is state
institution, and any odium which at
taches to its operation necessarily at
taches to the state. Since your last
session, large number of counties
have voted out dispensaries but l must
say that the vote abolishing them l
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 dispen-
sary l said: II am convinced If this
system can be properly regulated, 1t
will be one of the best solutions OF the
liquor question. If not properly man
aged and controlled, its usefulness will
be at an end"
Despite the events of the past year
and the revelations which have attend
ed the investigations Of your commit
tee, am by no means hopeless. I still
believe that the dispensary system has
many strong points and admirable
| features which commend it, but in say
| ing this / am by no means blinded to
| its imperfections.
It Is imperative for the honor of the
state that existing conditions should be
| Immediately remedied, either by radt-
cal changes in the laws governing the
dispensary or by the adoption Of diff
ferent system for the regulation Of the
liquor question. The details of this sit
uation are so well known throughout
every county in the stat" that I feel
no extended discussion is necessary
here. 1t is ircumbent 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 a crisis as this they
will he satisfied only with direct and
specific action on your part.
During the year that has passed
since your last session have given this
question my earnest consideration,
hoping to devise some certain reme-
dies for the evils complained of, but
have been impressed with no better So
luton than was included in the recon-
mendations made to you last year. In
order that my views may be clearly
understood, I shall again call to your
attention such extracts from my last
| message as I deem necessary for this
purpose. I herewith submit for your
consideration the following extracts
bearing upon this subject with one
change, namely: the abolition Of
county boards Of control. These are
again recommended to you as embody-
| ing the changes which think will best
serve the proper regulation Of the dis
uensary system:
"The state commissioner should, in
my Judgment. be tho officer whose duty
II should be to purchase all supplies for
the dispensary. He should be required
| to make contracts. not for any spe-
Gifted amount of liquor. but for such
supplies as may be actually required
such requirements to be determined by
the commissioner.
Each contract made by the commits
sioner should require the firm contract
ed with to guarantee the sale of such
goods as may be ordered and shipped
to the state dispensary, said guarantee
All advertisements for bulk goods
should be placed strictly and absolutely
upon a competitive basis, by letting 1t
be distinctly understood that the low
est responsible bidder shall be award
Cd the contract. 1t should further be
the duty Of the commissioner to make
each year. quarterly reports to the state
board of directors. showing the
amounts contracted for the previous
m, rfn In Nl,,1t he I1 o,,I
prices, and the names Of parties from
whom goods are purchased. which re-
port the state board of directors shall
have published in at least two daily
newspapers Of the state.
"The board should be required to
meet each week at their office in
the state dispensary. to remain in
session as long as may he necessary
for the transaction of their business
The general supervision and man.
agement of all county dispensaries
should be in their charge, and they
should be specifically charged with
the duty Of seeing that all restric-
tions governing the various dispen-
saries should be strictly enforced
These are responsible and arduous
duties. for which the members of
of this board should receive a SAL
ary Of not less than $1,500 per an
mum each, and should be required
to file a bond of not less than S10.-
900.
II further recommend that the
law as to the location of county dis
pensaries be amended to restrict
them to such incorporated towns and
cities as, in the opinion of the board
Of directors, furnish adequate police
protection to the public against dis
turbances Of the peace"
In this connection I might add that
dispensarieS are now located in places
which are without adequate police
protection. All dispensaries so To-
Gated, in my opinion. should be
closed.
After mature reflection l am con-
strained to recommend that the
county boards of control be abol-
ished, and the dispensers appointed
by the state board Of directors upon
the recommendation of the legisla-
tive delegations of the various coun-
ties.
1t should never be the policy Of
the state to force dispensaries upon
counties or communities desiring
prohibition, nor to maintain them
when ii is the wish of the majority
| of the people to substitute prohibi-
II