The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-12
WILL SOON CLOSE.
5ispensary Commission Fast Winding
Up Affairs.-Expert Account
ants Work.
Columbia State.

The state dispensary commission
Tuesday held its first meeting for
I two months and transacted some rou-
tine business. Messrs. John Nc
Sween of Timmonsville and Mr.. G. K.
henderson Of Aiken were present, as
(Mere Chairman ". J. Murray and
Hon. W. F. Stevenson, special attor-
ney for the commission.
One thing which was source of
much qualification to the commission
was the Fact that there is at pres
ent less than $4,000 in stock on hand
at the state dispensary and the pros
poets are that it will be disposed Of
this month, certainly before August
IS gone.
On account Of the decrease in the
amount Of work at the old dispensary
the office force has been cut down and
expenses hghtened.
There has been some criticism by
those not on the inside on account
. Of the time consumed by the repres-
entatives Of the American Audit COM
pany. Two men, Mr.. Richmond Of
New York and Mr.. Franklin Of At
lanta, have been at work since the
second week after the organization Of
the commission and an extra man
from the New York Office, Mr.. Den
mis-, came here and assisted in the
work Of auditing the accounts for
several weeks, returning to New
York in April. For several weeks
now two additional representatives
Of the audit company have been here
at work on a special line. These are
high salaried men, Mr.. Richmond,
who has charge Of the work at the
state dispensary, being paid $40 per
day and expenses.
The two men who have been doing
special work will probably conclude
their labors today and return to New
York, while Mr.. Richmond and Mr..
Franklin will be ENGAGED for two to
three weeks yet.
A member Of the commission said
yesterday that these men had succeed
ed in saving several thousand dollars
to the state, many times over what
they have been paid for their servi-
ees. It is unauthoritatively stated
hat the amount which the state has
Zen saved as a result Of the work Of
pese expert accountants is in the
ighborhood Of $4,000. This saving
Is been made through the finding Of
Frors in the accounts Of various
whiskey houses. This brings up an IN
teresting feature Of the investigation
pf the manner in which the G. M. I.
matters have been in the past admin
stered, and if these men have sue
ieeded in showing by the books such
discrepancies it may be possible that
many thousand dollars have been
wrongly paid whiskey houses by
former directors Of the institution.
Mr.. Stevenson made a report Of his
trip to Washington on July 2, when
1he appeared before the commissioner
Of internal revenue in the matter Of
: the payment Of the amount claimed
to be due the revenue department. by
!. the state dispensary on account Of al
legged wholesale of liquors by the dis
pensers in various counties under the
old system. No decision has, been
rendered in the matter by Mr.. Cap
ers and Will not be until after Mr..
Stevenson has submitted his printed
brief in the case. He is confident Of
winning out before the commission
er. ..
All Of the money received from the
various counties for supplies bought
of the dispensary commission has
been deposited in banks in all parts
Of the state, drawing 4 per cent. in
terest. Each bank that receives a loan
from the commission is required to
give collateral sufficient to cover the
amount deposited.
= The detailed report Of the auditing
committee Will probably be submitted
to the commission at its first meeting
in August and will be then given out
Ito the press. It. Will doubtless at
tract a great deal Of attention and
will be eagerly read by every person
in the state who has felt the least in
terest in the matter.
TIM CROW law AFFIRMED.