The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-01-15

such date to hear the testimony of
each claimant along that line as we'll
, as such other evidence as Is at hand.
Helping Mr.. Lyon.
There was undoubtedly strong
grounds to suspect very great de-
hnquencies In the former manage
ment OF the State dispensary by it's
high officials. The commission con-
ceived 1t its duty to give all the assist
ance possible to the attorney general
In discovering and bringing before the
proper forum any party or parties
guilty Of misdeeds, and it has, as a
result, incurred considerable expense.
the result Of which will no doubt ap-
pear at the proper time and place:
the said expense being charged ir;
the expense Of administration, and be-
ing covered by the broad power given
to investigate in the act creating the
commission.
There are few suits which have
gone to judgment against officials Of
the State dispensary, State consta-
bles and other otiicilas, there being
one for about $40H against q. W. Ia
tum, State dispensary commissioner.
and u. B. Hammett, chief constable.
The commission has been advised and
holds that the judgments are not
charged against the State dispensary
but are merely judgments against
these officials in their individual ca
pacity, and that It is not liability
which this commission is authorized
to pay. In the case above referred to
against Tatum and Hammett the
state received the goods and sold
the same and 1t would appear that IL
should make good the Judgment for
the recovery Of the same. but as a
matter for the committee on claims
Of the legislature. as this commission
has no further power than to dircc;
attention 10 the samc.
City Using Property.
The attention of the legislature is
hereby called to the fact that the cit,
Of Columbia is occupying a strip
real estate Of the State for a sidewalk
rhe measurement will probably show
IL feet to Is feet of the lot on whicf
the State dispensary is located, Gov
red and occupied by the sidewalk q
iervais street and this should hav,
attention before this occupation
ripens into right. AS to the rea'
estate. we are holding. it intact, suo
ject to the legislature. The besi
thing, we think. to be done with /.
would be to sell the property and turn
the proceeds into the hands Of the
State treasurer. The reason We re-
commend this is that real estate now
seems to be at its height and we feel
that the price obtained from it would
no as much as they could ever get for
1t and would save an expense Of inr
surance and salary Of watchman, day
and night as 1t is insured in the
sinking fund. and this Is one of the
requirements of the sinking fund
commission. All the buildings will
deteriorAte rapidly If not occupied
and the expense Of maintenance will
be heavy.
AS will be seen by this report, il
will be necessary for the commission
to. continue in session for probably six
months. but this is left to the dis
erection OF the legislature.
w. J. Murray,
Chairman.
The report on debts of county dis
pensary boards shows total Of $780,
621.43. Of which nearly half Is hue
from Richland. the board here secur-
ing some very valuable stock at
bargain.
The total maount due from II Of
the counties voting out the dispensary
is $22,SS0.S9, Lancaster having
credit of $s4.07 and Cherokee s11.2H
The receipts from the State treas
urer were $12s,216.07 and the amount
received from sales and collections
$63s.302.44, making a total of $685.
520.51.
The disbursements up to the time
the commission took charge amounted
to- $25,127.36 and the commission ex-
pended $59,389.66, leaving q cash bal
aIce Of $6S4,O0s.4s.