The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-27
DISPENSARy COMMISSION.
DR.. w. j. Murray Made Chairman
Members Qualified and Gave Bond
in the Sum of $4,000, Each Mem
ber Signing Bond Of Others.

Columbia, Feb. 21.-The commits
sion to wind up the affairs of the
State Dispensary held its first meeti--g
Yesterday and organized by electing
DR.. W. ]. Murray Of this city presi-
dent, and Mr.. B. F. Arthur Of Union
secretary. The other members of tn :
commission are: Messrs. Avery Patton
Of Greenville, John McSween Of Tim
n1onsville and c.. K. Henderson Of
Aiken. They qualified and gave bond
I in the sum of $4,000 each, every
member signing the bond Of the
others.
There were two meetings held yes
terday, one in the morning, when the
board organized, and another in the
evening at the capitol when the
board went over the situation con-
fronting them and mapped out the
plans. There was nothing of general
public interest in the meeting in the
evening and it will probably be sew
eral days before the regular work
begins The men who are on the
commission want a businesslike
.+wind-up'' of the affairs of the insti-
tuition and they showed it yesterday.
AS soon as the Organization was
perfected a visit was made to the
wholesale dispensary. Here Comnis-
sioner Tatun and those under him in
the various departments have con-
tinued in charge Of the bookkeeping
since the governor closed all dispen-
saries. They will check up and will
turn over everything as soon as the
new commission is ready.
In the casual inspection Of the dis
| pensary it was found that about
100000 worth Of whiskey bought by
the former board was stored in one
of the departments formerly used for
glass. The bottles are at present
stacked in the yards and the supply
/
of whiskey takes up all the room
available in the glass warehouse. This
is a part of the large purchase made
by the former board and afterwards
held up by Messrs. Lyons and Chris
tensen. Some Of this was returned at
| the time, but some Of it was refused
| by the liquor houses and was report
ed by Mr.. ]. E. Mcdonald, who was
the special attorney appointed by the
new board.
From the expressions by the COM
mission it is evident that the whiskey
house will be called upon to take
this back. 1t is not wanted; in fact,
there is much larger stock than
can be disposed Of by them for some
time, even supposing that some Of it
is sent to the e.county dispensaries on
their organization.
The commission will today consider
the advisability Of employing an at
torney to look into the legality Of all
claims and help them in the questions
that arise Expert auditors and others
VIII also be used in clearing up the
mass Of documents that will be gone
over. The commission will wind up
the institution exactly as it would do
any mercantile concern and the ut
most care will be taken with every
account.
They think that with hard work
this might be done in six months, but
this is only an estimate as they as yet
only have an idea as the general bus
mess. One of the members stated last
night that he would not agree to
open one local dispensary in the State
until all Of the stock in the State dis
pensary and in all the local dispen-
saries could be checked over. He
wishes to know every dollar Of assets
and of liabilities before any more is
made.
The members OF the commission
stated last night that they had re-
ceived information from Commission
er ,Tatum as to the general condition
OF the dispensary. They ordered him
to begin stock taking at once. This
will be done by representatives of the
board and Mr.. Tatum jointly After
this there will be other work to be
done.