The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-03
COTHRAN PLANS AMENDMENTS
one OF The Authors Of Carey Goth
ran Law Proposes to Cure De-
fects in The Law.

"a special from Greenville to the
Columbia Record says: At the COM
lng session OF the state legislature
Hon. T. p. Cothran, who, with Rep.
resentative j. p. Carey, Of Piokens
framed the present liquor law, known
generally as the CarcyICothran law
VIII endeavor to secure several
amendments to that act. While none
of Mr.. Cothran's proposed amend
ments effect the material principles
or the law, still they are interesting
and Will go far toward smoothing
over somc Of the defects which
Mcssrs. Cothraa and Carey have
long recognized us existing in the
law.
THE most interesting amendments
to be proposed by Mr.. Cothran are
those providing for a county chemist,
or chemist to be appointed by the
county dispensary board, who shall
test all liquors and beverages to be
sold in the county; permitting county
dlsp1nsary boards to deliver all sam
pies Of whiskey to dispensers for
sale. provided such samples bear pro-
per certificates; allowing county
boards to sell alcoholic liquors in
bulk to the state hospital for the
INSANE; changing section % by strik-
ing out the "personal use' clause,
and making it a misdemeanor to Of
for for sale or solicit the purchase
Of any liquors.
This last amendment will complete
ly knock out The whiskey soliciting
business for "personal usc," pro-
ri'lcd, Mr.. Cothran succeeds in hav-
ing it blended into tho present law.
Mr.. Cothran proposition would cause
section % to read as follows:
"Any person who shall in this
state offer for sale, or solicit the pur-
cnasc Of, any liquors or beverages
mentioned in section | Of this act
whether for present or future deliv-
cry, shall be deemed guilty Of a mis-
"cm2aAor, and upon conviction in a
court OF competent jurisdiction shall
b" punished by fine Of not less than
cne hundred dollars, or imprisonment
tor not less than three months.O
In the present law. the words 10th
er Than For personal use" appear Just
after the word "Act." Many big
whlskcy houses in other states. I'M
der protection of the "pcrsonal usc'
clause, have rcapcd rich profits by
soliciting in the "dry towns' for or
dcrs for home consumption. Tf Mr..
Cothran succeeds in his efforts to
wipe out the personal use feature of
the law, whiSkey drummcrs will be
exceedingly scarce in This state.
The amendment with reference to
the sale Of samples will permit coua-
ty boards to make use Of commodi-
ty which heretofore has been the
source Of much difficulty There was
no provision made in The original
law in regard to samples, and Mr..
Cothran would nbviMla this source
Of annoyance by making it incumbent
upon the county boarIs to turn over
all samples I" the dispensers to be
sold Us purchased goods.
IL Mr.. Cothran'S proposed change
i'll tnc present law as to county chem
isis is enacted into the liquor legis-
lail"n, county boards will be able to
test their liquors without sending
them to Columbia to tn. state che
mist. Thr present law makes no pro-
vision whatever rs 10 who snail max.
the tests and where they shall be
made
There are quite number Of min
or changes among Mr.. Cathran's
proposed amendments, aimed princi-
Tally ut errors which appeared in the
actual operation of the law which
were not apparent to the authors
when the bill was drafted.
Mr.. Cothran WAS asked bv YOUR
correspondent il he intended to
make amy amendment to section 21,
witn reference to the destruction of
all liquors seized in dry Complies.
"AS far as ann conccrncd,n Ire
SAID. "thcrc will be no amendment
III that respect. What ccs is thcr,
to he done with contraband liquor
Ill those eounties9 What right mas
the county Of Grecnvillc. for in
stance. TO do with what it prohibits
ITS citizrnS from doing? Then
again, what whiskcy establishment is
going to purchase contraband IL