Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-03-29
LOTTERY TICKETS

We give below an address to His Excellency,
the President of the United States. urging upon
him the prOpriety of taking some measures to
compel dealers in lottery tickets to pay some
tribute to the government, from their enormous
profits from this gigantic sWindle. We are op.
posed in toto to the whole system Of lotteries,
but while they exist, we can see no reason why
their managers should not be compelled to pay a
just tax towards the support of the government.
We hope that the President and the authorities,
will act on the suggestions Of the address. The
following is the address:-
TO His Ereelleaey, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President
q The United States Of america;
DIR We the loyal citizens and Taxpayers Of
the United States, do most respectfully and ear
nestly call your attention to the following state.
ment:
There are three Lottery Grants now in the
United states IN full operation, two in Kentucky
and one in Missouri The average daily sales n
these lotteries, in States where the business is
pursued, illegal or Illegal is not less than $50 :
700 (thirty thousand dollars The profit unon
each and every scheme, being not less than 30
per cent, upon every dollar sold. For the man.
ayers to carry on this large business of the sale
OF lottery tickets, ordere, devices and policy
numbers. they have no less than 1000 vendors
in New York 1000, Boston 500, Philadelphia 600
Baltimore 800, Washington City 200, Cincinnati
| 900, Louisville 100, and ST. Louis 200. Tbns.
there are over 1000 vendors doing business in
loyal cities, without paying license or any tax in
support Of the government.
The managers Of the lotteries whose sAles.
Through these yendors,) average thirty thousand
dollars per day, and whose profits are so ner
cent, are also doing this enormous business with.
out paying one cent Of tax-lt is true that a law
was made last session by Congress-, creating a
stamp tax, but these managers have by various
devices, managed TO evade it.
Secretary Chase observes, sithat adeauate nro-
''Vsion by taxation for expenditures, for prompt
.'payment of interest on the public debt, exist
'ing aud authorized, and for the gradual ex-
"tinctiOn of the principal, is indispensable 10 a
sound system Of finance"
The good and loyal business men, (whose pro.
fits are not one-half that of the lottery mahae-
ers,) have cheerfully and promptly complied with
the tax law, and an enlarged system Of taxation
would be eheerfully submitted to by them. and
even the industrious lives Of the loyal people
would be cheerfully given in aid Of the govern.
,nent' aud it is but justice to them that the tax
ne made equal, and one OF the means to increase
s tnv revenue is this very lottery system. The
l0iowing statement will verify such increase:
stamp oi lO cents upon every dollar ticket
lor fractional part thereby order, policy or de.
MSei stamp oi 20 cents upon every SIS ticket,
order, policy or device stamp Of 80 cent cents
upon every $40 ticket, order, policy or dsv;es
and Of one dollar upon every $50 ticke, oris.'
policy or device. Such stamp would croa,e Osuei,
! a revenue Of 100000. A license Of SiSN "a q
each vendor, land which would be a yerv lovO ~
Iaie) would produce the like sum Of s4OO, ,00o
From the above it will be perceived, thai an
. annual revenue Of $780, 900 would be put into
the Treasury of the United States, and this rate
Of tax is not greater than is now paid BY the
loyal merchants and manufacturers, whose sales
are like amount, and whose business is far less
profitable. Justice 10 the loyal people demands
! therefore, that both managers and vendors paw
tribute. F"'
The government has been oVer-reaehed and
dome" quite long enough by these lottery man.
SSgers, some Of them occupying high position,
oenylng their Rebel propensities, and yet on
esery occasion, through the press and otherwise,
speaKing boldly and ''squarely" against every
% lOyel measure, and secretly, chuckling over their
pront and their cunning.
10 tSe5e must necessarily be limit to these
-eNa doings." If these lottery managers arc 10