The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-10
WEBBHOLDS VIEW
OF LOCAL DEALERS
Author of Liquor Act Says It
Docs Not Prohibit Private
Use Shipments.
.EN]oINs EXPRESS COMPANY
Chief Justice of South Carolina
Orders Abbeville Agent to
Deliver Consignment.

In the light of a statement by Con-
Gressman l.. Y. Webb, of North Caro-
lima, co-author of the Webb kenyon
antiliquor bill, and an act OF Chief
Justice Gary, of the South Carolina
Supreme Court, there appears ground
for the belief that the liquor dealers
of Richmond and othor cities will be
supported by the courts in their claim
that they have a right under the
laws of interstate commerce to ship
their product into South Carolina.
Following the refusal by agents of
the Southern Express Company I'm
South Carolina to deliver shipments of
signed to citizens of that State, on the
ground that the Webb Kenyon act,
recently passed by Congress- in con-
Junction with the State liquor laws,
prohibited such deliveries, appeal was
made TO Congressman Webb for a
statement as to the operation of his
law.
The law" said the Congressman.
with reference to the recent congress
sional act, does not prohibit private
use shipments, and will not unless the
State forbids it, and the State cannot
where it allows sale to individuals by
any one in the State"
Corroborates Itichmond View.
This statement by the co-author of
inc webb kenyon act corroborates tho
argument presented to Judge Waddill
Saturday by lawyers for the whole
sale liquor dealers of Richmond and
Petersburg. who applied to him for an
Injunction to enjoin the Southern EX-
press Company from refusing to ac-
cept shipments of intoXicants destined
for points in South Carolina. The fact
that the laws of that State accord to
fu Ctt tuatn .s--lxA
under certain restrictions, ii was ar
gued by lawyers for the dealers. gives
the business n legal standing and in
validatcs the right OF South Carolina
TO deny the Same privilege to citizens
of other States
force in South Carolina, differs from
the system as first instituted by act
of Legislature In 1896. AS first con-
stituted, 1T was State monopoly. The
institution became unpopular, as the
result of fragrant abuses, and finally
gave way to nm amended dispensary
system. in which the counties assumed
control on the basis of local option
1t ds this state of affairs. according
TO counsel for the liquor dealers, which
makes South Carolina essentially local
option instead Of prohibition territory,
IN which the state recognizes the right
OF certain of Its citizens TO deal in
lntoxicants. To bar citizens of other
States from delivering a commodity
which is legally supplied locally, 1t is
held. is violation of the laws of in
lterstate commerce.
Chief Justice Grants Order.
The question was brought to an is
sue in Abbeville, S. c., Saturday, when
D. Il. Collicutt obtained from Chief
Justice Gary, of the Supreme Court of
South Carolina. an order requiring the
agent of the Southern Express Com
pany in that city to deliver to him a
package said to contain liquor. which
tho company had declined to deliver
The case, 1t is reported, may be taken
to the Supreme Court of the United
States to test the validity of tho Webb
Kenyon law.
The outcome of the controversy in
South Carolina is awaited with con-
Germ by Wholesale liquor dealers in
Richmond. Petersburg, Norfolk and
other Virginia cities, whose sales to
customers in that State form n large
portion of their revenue In this city,
particularly, the situation is said to be
grave.
decision from Judge Waddil on
Saturdays application for an injunc-
ton is expected tomorrow. The late
ness of the hour when the hearing ter
minated, 1t is believed, will prevent his
examining into the merits of the an
plicatton until to-day.