The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-05
HOUSE PASSES LICENSE BILL.
LIQUOR LAWS FOR CHARLESTON
GOES OVER TO SENATE.
Passage of Special Bill Affecting
Liquor Situation I'm City Of Charles
ton Regarded as Remarkable De-
velOpmcnt-FOr Years Other Sim
liar Bills Have Failed-Varying
Sentiment OF Members.

passage today by the House of a bill
which undertakes to provide license
system for Charleston. 1t was dis
tinctly the result of the appeal to
reason by Mr.. Whaley, Mr.. Barnwer,
Mr.. Rittenberg and other members Of
the Charleston delegation and was a
tribute to the reasonableness Of the
members Of the House. There were a
number Of appeals to the prohibition
sentiment and several unsuccessful ef-
forts were made to stir the smould-
ering embers, but the members evi-
IDENTIFY appeared to believe that the
situation in Charleston needed parti-
cular treatment and they, by their
votes, indicated their willingness to
let Charleston have a trial. Last night
the bill was passed by a decided ma
Jorlty and today, upon two record roll
calls after the most insistent impor-
tuing to kill the bill and dire predic-
uons that the license system would
lead to bar rooms, that is to say, with
eyes wide open, the members on a di-
rect vote refused to recommit the
bill and then again voted affirmatively
to pass the bill. Year after year and
time after time similar bill has
been proposed and the same heroic ef-
forts made to get Charleston from un-
der the dispensary system has been
fruitless The fact of the matter is
that when Mr.. Rittenberg introduced
his bill this year there was little hope
OF it's passage. 1t soon became ap-
parent that many of the counties
that are disgusted with the present
alleged prohibition situation wished to
join hands with Charleston, and then
the Charleston delegation took a hand
in the situation and the delegation
has suggested numerous amendments
that were favorable to Mr.. Ritten-
berg, and the bill had the undivided
support Of the Charleston delegation.
Yesterday, through a misunderstand-
ing, Mr.. Barnwell was quoted as say
ing that the wholesale license privilege
was to be stricken out What was
really done and what Mr.. Barnwell
stated was that the wholesale license
contemplated did not permit Of the
shipment Of liquor outside Of Char
lesion County
The bill passed by the House per-
mits retail and wholesale license and
retains the beer and bottling privil-
eyes upon a graduated scale, based
upon the number OF barrels bottled.
The onslaught on the bill this morning
was started by Mr. Nicholson, who has
b"en a consistent prohibitionist. He
argued that this was only the opening
wedge and the members had better
think before they committed them
selves on the bill. Mr.. Epps and Mr..
lrby joined in the chorus of opposit-
ion to the license bill Mr.. James, of
Bishopville, thought there was merit
in the bill and was rather inclined to
give Charleston chance to redeem
itself. Many years ago." he said,
men grew to be old in Bishopville,
but now there was only one old man
at Bishopville and this may be ac-
counted for by the fact that in olden
days men got their liquor from Char
leston.' At all events he would not
favor the bill unless the Charleston
delegation agreed TO allow 10 per cent
of the license fees to go into the State
treasury. This they would not con-
sent to do. Mr.. Bowers of Greenwood.
was in favor Of recommitting the bill,
while Mr.. Miley insisted that he was
Il progressive Democrat and in favor
of allowing Charleston to run it's own
affairs to a large extent.
Mr.. Whitehead thought that the
time had come when the state ought
TO refuse 10 bow to corrupt influences
that he had no sympathy for the open
and ilagrant lawlcssness in Charleston
and thought the people there ought to
be made to enforce the laws before
thcy ask for any concessions. Mr.
Slurkie, of Calhoun, thought that
Charleston ought not to have any diff
fcrcnt privileges from any other coun-
Ties In the state and ne wanted the
counties To he considered alike.
l)r. Wychc, of Ncwberry, offered "a
new phase to the situation and said
the open and nagrant Violation of the
law against racing as applied to
charleston ought to make every one
take notice of the spirit that prevailed
IN charleston. 1t looked to him that
TN" state was shacklod with the spirit
Of law-hrcaking i'm Charleston and no