The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-24
THE LOTTERY BILL.

The bill TO abolish the Louisiana Lottery
Company was yesterday referred by the sen
ata 10 the Committee on the Judiciary. IheIe
vvaa no earthly uae for this course. Inc OH
ia thoroughly understood by every member
ar the Senate. There IL not man 70
cha state who does not know the merits
Nv Aha measure. It In simply to
braak nm the power Of dangerous
and corrupt monopoly. and prohibit gambling
IN lottery tickets IN Louisiana. mat ,s aii.
The Senators could have voted just as intel
liuently on the bill yesterday az they cal, a
month hence. The Judiciary Committee will
throw no new light upon the subject. The
only real effect OF the reference is TO cause
delay. We submit that II this Is the object OF
the Senate II is not proper course TO pursue,
The people Of the State desire that this bull
shall be passed. Their wishes In this respect
are well known to their representatives In the
Senate. They desire their Senators to put
themselves on record. az their representa-
tives IN the House have done. Thus
far the Senators have not done this.
They have lodged the Issue. They
have sent the bill 10 committee. knowing
that the session Of the Legislature was draw
Ing to close. and that the delay of two or
three days may be fatal to the BILL A course
Of delay IL not the open and manly course
that high-minded and conscientious Senators
are expected 10 take. They should bring the
bill TO a vote, and then those who are opposed
10 II could evidence their opposition In fair
and legitimate way, while those who favor
She adjustment of the lottery could make
their views effective In the same manner.
The Senate has failed to come to direct
vote upon the bill, and has RENTED IL TO the
responsibility of the Judiciary Committee.
That committee consists Of Messrs Garland.
Stubs, Heron, zacharie, Wheeler. Ellis.
Breaux, Wells, Ducros and Harding.
These gentlemen cen report this bill to-day
n they will. They have only to 80 determine.
There Ia really no legal question involved
that the committee should consider. Tho Lot
terry, IL Ia understood, has already determined
b test ita legal rights In the courts II the bill
should become law. The committee can
we'll afford to give the people of the State an
opportunity to see what rights IL has. The
entire responsibility for the bill now rests
upon the Senators named and will continue
30 remain with them until the bill lie reported
UHCk w bte geHtts lHe iohEeE buey
delay the greater becomes that respon-
sibility. II they fall to report 10 in
time TO reach a final vote, making all due al
lowances for parliamentary lodging and fill
clustering, they must render an account TO
the people for their action. The DEMOCRAT
tells them this plainly. We know that a num-
Der Of the most determined opponents OF tho
Lottery are on the committee, and we believe
that they will do all In their power to force
an early report, II there is any opposition to
Il. We. therefore, expect this early report
and square vote in the Senate upon this
question.
The Senate should understand that IL can
not afford to trifle with this bill. The people
OF the State will watch its course In the mat
ter with The utmost interest. This interest Is
intensified by the fact that bills abolishing
the Lottery Company have been smothered
In the Semitic no less than three times. 1t
may as we'll be understood that If this Is done
again, the people Of the State will know the
reason why.
Under all the circumstances the Senate
cannot afford to delay action on the pending
bill. or refuse 20 pass It. We, therefore, 10 k
for an immediate and favorable report from
the Judiciary Committee, and prompt rati-
fication Of the action of the House by the
Senate. Any other suggestion would. we
believe do gross injustice to the sentiments
and intentions OF the members Of the upper
house IN this regard