The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-03
TO Enforce Dispensary Law.

H1ey"ard does not propose to have
the burden Of the non-use Of request
books placed at his door. He has
written q letter to the state board
clearly defining his position and viii
lingness to do all he can towards hav-
ing the law enforced even to the point
Of removing all officer who refuses to-
do what the law requires. The trouble
really is with the county board and
the dispensers, themselves. The
avoidance comes from the unpopulari-
ty Of request books and the quiet pro.
test on the part of the dispensers
themselves and it is just as we'll to
keep the record perfectly clear. The
letter from Mr.. James, the member
of the county board from Lee county,
who brought the issue up, was print
ed in full yesterday in the Greenville
News and the whole tone of that LETT
ter was that the county board did not
approve. of nor did it wish to encour-
age the use Of request books. T.,
Governor Hayward has placed him.
self unequivocally on record In the
matter and does not propose having
the burden unloaded d on him when the
request books have never been used
and there is apparently little hopes
Of it being done. With the letter Of
Mr. James, already printed, in view.
it will be we'll to give the reply Of
Governor Hayward to the hoard Of
control in full. 1t reads: s
"Dear Sir:-Your recent commnni-
cation, through Mr.. M. H. Mobley,
clerk, enclosing copy of resolution
adopted at a meeting of the state
board iof, directors held March 6, 1906,
in regard to the use Of request books,
has been received. With this commu-
nication came also a copy Of letter.
from MIR. w. S. James, member Of the
county board. ofAcontrol> Of Lee zconps
ty, which bears upon the same sub
ject.
"The record before me. does not
contain any letter or official communi-
cation from the county auditor Of Lee
county, and judge from the tenor of
the letter of Mr.. James that the 'coun-
ty board disapproves of and does not
care to have request books used be-
cause it would make, as they think,
the dispensary law unpopular in that
county. I wish it plainly understood
that am ready at all time to see that
those officers under my jurisdiction,
who have any duties in connection
with the dispensary, fully discharge
these duties. The first step, it seems
to me. for the county boards to. see
the law with reference to request
books is enforced by the dispensers
themselves and if in the discharge Of
this duty it is found that officers un-
der my jurisdiction refuse to do their
duty then it is time for me to take
action. I wish to assure your board
OF my purpose to cooperate with you
at all times, and if for any reason
request books should not be generally
used it will not be through lack Of CO.
operation on my part. And I will be
very glad if you will at any time call
my attention to any specific derelic-
tion on the part Of any officers ap-
pointed by me- i. am advised by the
comptroller general that the county
auditors on account of the large vol
ume Of business where the use of re-
quest books is enforced will not have
time to check up the books and give
such time to their other. duties, in
.conection with the tax department as
they should. The primary duty of an
auditor is in connection with the tax
department.. and I am satisfied that in
the interest Of the enforcement Of
law and business economy that ar
rangements can and should be made
by which county auditors can get
such assistance through the county
boards the expense will be slight and
will be equally borne sby both county
and town as it should be. The law
is plain with reference to the use4of
request blanks. I fully sympathize
with your board in its efforts to en-
force this law. And to this end I beg
to assure you that whenever coun-
ty auditor refuses to carry out the
law when assistance is furnished him
or when 1t is shown that he is able to