The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-06-16
The Art OF RobbIng a State.

Mr.. Charles Nordhotf continues his
admirable letters from Now Orleans
In nis latest, be makes brief mention
Of some of the means by which the
people of Louisiana were pilfcred,
plundered and robbed by their car
pet bag rulers. Take the s.Louisiana
State Lottery Company, for instance.
Tho monopoly is Ito last twenty-five
years it is made criminal offense
in any one unauthorized by the com.
pany to sell any kind of lottery tickets
anywhere III the State +; tho company
is exempted from all taxes aud
}icensc., fees whatever-State, CITY
or parish and for these monstrous
privileges aud exemptions it pays
into tho State Troasury-for the
educational fund-the ;potty sum of
forty thousand dollars per annum
The company is now con- posed almost
entirely Of a few mon living in New
York and New Jersey. On a nil.
lion of capital they make not loss
than seven hundred. and fifty thous-
aud dollars claer profit every year :;
they have established policy shops
and petty gambling dens around tho
markets and other public places in
New Orloans, wbioh PERI etually
demora'izo the laboring cluss, aud
particularly negro men and women,
and over which the city government
has no control and they have agents
and solicitors all over the State,
tempting the poor and ignorant to
gamble, providing for this end what
they call a combination game," which
can bo played even by the owner of u
ton o,nt piece. .-...
Dir. NordhoR gives numerous other
iustances Of fraud, but We have space
only for few. In 1871 the Mis-
sissippi River Packet Company was
Incorporated by an act of the Logis
lature- Among the incorporato
b were Antoine, now Lieut.. Governor,
then Senator; Kelso, NJ cnette, Pinch.
back, Ingraham and Barber, all State
Senators, and Pollard, member OF
Assembly. The object of the com
pany was to run steamb boats on the
Mississippi river. The State was
pledged to subscribe $250,000 on the
organization Of tho com pany and, 80
far az I can see 10 the act, it was to
enjoy no benefits or privileges what.
ever. The same. Legislature estab.
lished tho Louisiana Warehouse
Company, "to promote the interests
of commerce." Among tho iucorpo
rators I fud mentioned in the act
Senator w est, then Administrator OF
Improvements in New Orleans, and
Collector Casey. The company was
!. authorized to issue bonds to the
L amount of $l,5OO, ,0e0, and the State
d was required to guarantee the pay.
ment Of the interest and principal OF
these bonds, on condition that the
4 company should deposit seeuritie.
q equal in value TO the bonds issued
q which seourit les, tho act says, may
a be "bank Endorsements or other good
and solvent bonds. %" - a.
q BY an act authorizing a company
"A to improve bayous Portage and
Il Yokelcy. the State gave the company
q 100000 by way of aid, and af the
improvement should coat more than
this sum the company was empowered
to lay a,tax on all tho lands benefit.
tod to mako up the 'deGoienby and
TO sell for taxes any such lands whose
fspwDers had not paid aft err sixty days
No limit is set. Of .cJst, and
Asble company Is mad o its own tux COL.
Hector. Atuompahs 'el5artered9 sin,
Sprove Loggy Bayou and Lake Bis
3 toneau received $5o,009 State aid
s and, tho people say, pulled ont ahou