The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-07
BUYING SUPPLIES.
IMPORTANT DECISION BY GOV.
ANSEL ON PURCHASES.
Affects Coming. ElectiOn-COunties
Voting Out Dispensaries Must Dis
pose of Their Stock Before Novem-
ber is.

iuicio' July I.-IOV. AnSeI mas
given an important opinion in the
matter Of purchasing goods for the
county dispensaries in connection
with the August election on dispen-
saries in 21 counties. This opinion
was given at the request Of Dispen.
sary Auditor West and states that un-
der the act no goods may be pur-
chased or any order filled after the
August election in those counties that
vote out the dispensaries.
Mr.. West wrote Gov. Ansei as fol-
lows:
"In the event of the disestablish-
ment of any of the county dispen.
saries as a result of the coming cleo
ton, it is quite probable that there
will be considerable portion of the
awards made at the last purchase of
the boards untitled on August II, and
l am asked to get an opinion as to
whether or not the county dispensary
boards will be obligated to receive the
untitled portions of the awards, or
whether or not it is legal for them to
receive any goods whatsoever after
the election, if the result of the cleo
ton is against the dspensary. I most
respectfully submit this matter to your
eXcellency that may be able to prop
erly advise county dispensary boards
as to what action they will take in
the matter.
The Governors Ruling.
Gov Ansel, after consulting the
law, made the following ruling:
Your letter of the 30th ultimo,
asking as to where awards have been
made at the last purchase of the
county dispensary boards, which are
untitled on August II, the date the
election is to be held, the county
boards would be allowed to receive
the untitled portions after that time is
az hand and in reply will say that I do
not think they will.
'The act prescribes in the first Sec
ton that the election shall be held
or the third Tuesday in August, and
in those counties voting against re.
opening their dispensaries, the stock
shall be taken, and the act also says
they shall continue to sell the stock
on hand at retail or wholesale until
November Is, and further provides
that no purchase of liquor shall be
made after the thid Tuesday in Au-
gust.
$50 my opinion is that in all those
counties refusing to vote in the dis
pensaries. no liquor can be purchased
or received after the third Tuesday in
August, even though the awards for
the same had been made at the pre-
vious time Of purchase.
The act to which I refer is on page
423, act Of the general assembly of
1909, being an act to provide for the
closing Of the several dispensaries in
this State and for the sale of all
stocks of liquors, beverages, fixtures
and other property belonging to the
several dispensaries.
The Act.
The act referred to by Gov. Ansel
is, in part, as follows:
BE it enacted by the general as
sembly of the State of South Caro-
lima. That Immediately after the cleo
ton to be held on the third Tuesday
In August the county dispnsary board
IN each county which may vote
against reOpening the dispensary or
dispensaries, shall reopen said dis
pensary or dispensaries and continue
to sell the stock on hand at retail or
wholesale until November Is, 1909,
county dispensary board shall dis
pose of all remaining goods and prop.
erty belonging to the said dispensary
then on hand, in the manner herein
after provided: Provided, That no pur-
chase of liquors shall be made after
the third Tuesday in August 19O9."
The act goes on to provide for the
taking of inventories and the dispo-
sition in other respects of the stock on
hand. The whole matter hinged, it
appears, upon the word purchase"
which is now construed to mean de-
livery of the goods.
Set your sail according to your
wind.-Italian.