The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-02-11
Upper Branch Would Re-
dude by Half Quantity of
Liquor South CaroIinian
May Import Within Four
Weeks.

Prohibition measures were further
entrenched in South Carolina yester-
day when the senate by vote of 26
to 18 reduced the amount of liquors
that may be imported each month
from one gallon to two quarts. Earlier
in the morning an amendment to limit
monthly shipments to one quart was
rejected by vote of 81 to %. Sew
eral other amendments were offered,
among these being two to allow the
alternative of beer shipments. One by
Senator Hughes of Union would pro-
vide for 600 bottles or one-half bar
rel of beer monthly. Senator Sinkler
of Charleston offered in substitute an
amendment to provide for 80 bottles
of beer. Vote was not taken on the
alternative amendments during the
morning session.
In the evening session the bill was
further modified by the adoption of
the Hughes amendment, which pro-
vided for monthly shipments of 60
pint bottles of beer in lieu of the two
quarts of whiskey. The amendment
was adopted by vote of % to 49,.
The Hughes amendment was further
modified to preclude shipments of
beer with content of alcohol greater
than per cent. Provision was also
made to have beer shipped in open
cases, that rigid inspection might be
enforced. The bill in it's entirety was
passed by vote of % to IL.
Each senator was in his seat yes
terday morning, and complete vote
was polled on the two amendment
calling for decisive action. One
changed vote on the first amendment
would in all probability have cut the
shipments to one quart. Such change
would have divided the forces equally,
thus compelling the president of the
senate, who is an ardent prohibition
ist, to cast the deciding vote.
Spirited. debate was engaged in
during the morning, the arguments
following the age worn lines of cleav-
age between legislation with loop
holes and that which knows no COM
promise. Senator Banks argued that
adoption of the amendment would
run counter to the expressed wish of
the people, who had favored prohibi-
tion, contingent upon retention of
the gallon month law. Senator Car
Isle emphasized that the referendum
referred particularly to manufacture
and sale only, without relation to i'm
portation.
Senator Black of Bamberg believed
the reduction of the amount would
aid materially in eliminating blind
tigers. Stock for illicit selling, he
said, could be easily supplied when
three or four would pool their monthly
shipments.
Senator Ketchin argued for the re-
'tention of the law without modifica-
tion. Shipments could be received
from each express Office in the county,
and reducing the amount, he said,
would only necessitate an increase in
the number of offices to which the
purchaser would have packages
shipped.
Senator Brice argued for the pas
sage of the amendment, expressing
the belief that the reduction of the
amount to on equart would be more
effective in ridding the State of illicit
liquor dealers than would the Lilies
bill, which proposes Imprisonment
sentence, without the fine alternative.
Senator Alan Johnstone, Sr., of
Newberry, characterized the Sinkler
amendment as dangerous bill"
Express packages, the Newberry sem
ator pointed out, could not be broken,
and bottles of whiskey could be easily
inserted when cases were made up in
liquor houses. It's passage, he pre-
dicted, would open gateway which
would destroy the dignity and eff
fectiveness" of the senate's act and
that passed by the people.
Senator Wightman of Saluda saw a
greater peril in soft drinks, which
form "the stepping stones to drunk
enness." The Saluda senator said he
had never taken a chew of tobacco,
smoked a cigarette or taken drink of
whiskey." If he had to be debauched
by either soft drinks or beer he'd
prefer the beer. He pleaded for total
elimination or the retention of the act
in present form.
Senator CHM of Hampton favored
the passage of the amendment. His
chief objection to the beer proviso was
that percentages of alcohol in beer
could be readily increased until the
content was nearly all alcohol, and
yet retain the name beer.
The vote for the Carlisle amend
ment, reducing the shipments to two
quarts, which is duplication of the
laws in effect in Georgia and North
Carolina, was:
Yeas-Beamguard, Black, Brice,
Carlisle, Christensen, DuRant, Earle,
E. c. Epps, r. d. Epps, Evans, CHM,
Gross, Harvey, A. Johnstone, Laney,
Lide, McCown, Nicholson, O'dell, Pad