The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1909-01-20
Gov. Ansel's Position
On Liquor Question.

Since the last meeting Of your hon.
orable bodies, four counties of the
State have voted out county dispen-
saries, Chesterfield, Chester, Claren-
don and Laurens, leaving twenty-one
counties in which there are county
dispensaries and twenty-one counties
in which we have county prohibition.
In my last annual message, 1recom-
mended that the Carey-Cothran actbe
amended by providing 'that not more
than one county dispensary be allow
ed in any county where liquor ls al
lowed to be sold, exceptin those cou1i-
ties where there are cities with pop
ulation exceeding twenty-five thou
sand.n This suggestion was not en-
acted into law, and I now renew the
recommendation and recommend that
the said act be further amended by
making all the counties dry, that 49,
not allowing liquor to be sold in any
of the counties of the state, with the
right of any of the counties now hav-
ing dispensaries to vote upon the ques-
tion as to whether liquors shall be
sold in said counties according to the
rules and regulations as provided IN
the -Cothran act, said election
to be ordered upon a petition being
filed with the county supervisor of such
county, signed by at least one-thlrd
of the qualified electors Of such coun-
tv. This is in the furtherance OF tenn
nerance and for the best interest OF
our people. I also recommend that
the act be further amended by not al
lowing any county in which liquor Is
allowed to be sold to have bottling
plant or mixing or blending plant, and
that all liquors of every kind shall be
purchased in bottles or in jugs, and
sold in the original packages.
The commission appointed to wind
up the state dis pensary were proceed
ing with their work during the past
year until they were enjoined by the
United States circuit court from pay
ing out any of the funds in their hands.
Receivers were appointed by the Unit
ed States court to take charge of the
fund and An order was made provid-
ing that the sam be administered in
that court. From this decree an ap-
peal was taken to the United States
circuit court to take charge of the fund
and an order was made providing that
the same be administered in that
court. From this decree an appeal
was taken to the United States circuit
court of appeals, which court affirmed
the order of the circuit court, and the
case was then to the United States
supreme court, which court granted
the writ Of certiurori asked for. The
whole cause il now before the United
States supreme court and is to be
argued on the 23rd day of February Of
this year. We fully expect that a
decision will be made in favor of the
state, and that the commission ap-
pointed will be allowed to wind up the
affairs of the state dispensary in the
near future and in accordance with
the act under which they were ap-
pointed. A full detailed report will
then be made by said commission of
all its actings and dolngs as such COM
mission.
For history of the litigation in the
United st .tes court respectfully re-
fer yOu 10 the report of the attorney
general.
I recommend thaI p: ovision be made
for the per diem of the members of
he commission for the year 1909.