The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-20
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE CAREY-CoTHRAN BILL
PASSED BY THE SENATE.
The Bill as Amended Abolishes the
State Dispensary and Leaves the
Counties to Struggle With the La.
auor Eyil-Counties That Have
Dispensaries Not Permitted to EN-
ploy Constables.
Columbia, Feb. 13.-The State dis
pensary has been abolished and the
agony is over for those who have
made it their life work to destroy the
aispensary system, and have suoor-
dinated all other matters, questions,
principles and issues to that end. The
Carey-Cothran bill, as amended, pass
ed the senate and was sent to the
house. The vote, when finally taken,
stood % for and Is against the bill,
senator Clifton voting with the mi
nority.
There was no speechmaking last
night OF the bill proper. Several SEN
ators spoke, however, on amendments
offered. Full two hours were taken
up in considering amendments. One
proposed by the senator from Marl-
boro to provide for a, State constabu-
larry caused more or less discussion,
and the senator from Newberry Of
fered an amendment which provided
that the question of State dispensary
ar local option be submitted to the
Senator OTIS insisted on his motion
to strike oconee out Of the bill at
this poin mhereupon Senator Blease
complained that his motion was
discourtesy to the senator from Oco-
nee.
Upon the motion to strike Oconee
out as indicated, the yeas and nays
were demanded. By a vote Of 25 to
IL the senate refused to strike oco-
nee out. AS is unnecessary to state,
there was no factional division on
this vote, as many of the local op-
tionists voted against the. motion OF
Senator Otis, who acted, no doubt,
upon the wishes Of the house eelega-
ton from oconee.
when the senate recpnvened Sena-
tor Rogers had the floor and made an
argument for the adoption Of the
amendment which he proposed to the
-Cothran bill providing for
State constabulary.
Senator Kelly opposed the amend
men for the reason that it would
tax his county and other counties
having dispensaries for the enforce
ment of the law in counties not hav-
ing dispensaries. He considered that
ample and just provision was made
in section 40 of the bill, which clear
" provides that the governor may at
any time employ special constables
voters OF South Carolina at an cleo
ton to be held the fourth Tuesday in
August
Both of these were rejected, as well
as an amendment proposed by the
senator from Sumter providing that
the county dlspensary boards may
employ two or more dispensary con-
stables in their respective counties,
whose duty it shall be to see that the
law is properly enforced.
AT the morning session an amend
ment was adopted putting Oconee in
the list of counties whose delegations
are to recommend the appointment OF
the county boards Mr.. Otis moved to
reconsider the vote whereby Oconee
was included in the list. Upon the
motion to reconsider being adopted,
Mr.. Otis moved to strike Oconee out
and leave the selection of the dis
pensary board Of that county as pro-
yided for in the general terms OF the
bill. This motion did not meet with
the approval of Senator Earle Of
oconee. who announced that he de-
sired that Oconee should remain in
the list of counties as adopted at the
morning session.
and detectives for enforcing the law
whenever in his discretion it is neces-
sary, or upon request from counties
wherever the law is violated.
Mr.. Kelly moved to table the
amendment offered by Senator Rog-
ers. The amendment was tabled by
vote Of 81 to 5.
Senator Blease read his amendment
providing that the Carey-Cothran bill
shall not go into effect until Septem-
Der 1, 1907, and not then if, after an