St. Landry democrat., 1879-04-05
The Lottery Bill Signed.
AND THEREBY HANGS A TALE.-IS II
BREACH OF FAITH.
New Orleans Times. March %.

New Orleans Times, March 29.l
Governor Nichols, on Thursday NOM
ing, approved that act repeating the
charter of the Louisiana State Lottery,
which passed ut the last session of the
legislature.
The act will be promulgated in the
official journal Oh Monday morning.
The publication of this executive act
in the Times of last evening eStensibly
created peculiar sensation, and among
certain gentlemen prominentin politics
in the winter of 1877 there WAS undiS-
guised disgust.
One gentleman, known to be one of
the prime moversssssin establishing the
present government, stated to a Times
reporter that this promul CATION which
finally cOnSummated the repeal Of the
Company violated solemn compat
which was known at the time to every
man in Odd Fellows Hall and certainly
to every member OF the legislature.
He declined to furnish any details of
the transaction, but did not hesitate to
say that the signing of the act repeating
the charter of the company violated Il
pledge which no government should
ever break.
The Times reporter, later in the after
noon, was so fortunate as to discover
another gentleman, equally responsible,
well informed, and much more commu-
NEGATIVE, whose recollection of the cir
cumstances appears to be clear.
Having been afforded an insight to
the inner ring in political councils dur
ing the exciting January of 1877, his in
formation was that ut Il joint caucus of
the Nichols legislature, then in session
at Odd Fellows Hall, IL committc was
appointed to wait upon Mr.. Charles Il.
Howard, president of the Louisiana
influence in behalf of the good cause.n
In consideration of this money and
influence, the Democratic party, through
its representatives, the joint caucus,
pledged its faith to never by future
legislation, attempt to abridge, curtail
or divest the Louisiana State Lottery
of the rights granted under its charter.
The report is that Mr.. Howard ex-
planned to the committee that the details
of his business were much too absorb
ing to afford him time to transact any
business of political character, and
and he referred the committee to Mr..
John A. Morris, his confidential partner,
and large stakeholder in the company,
who would respectfully hear their pro-
position, and no doubt devote the at
tention its great importance deserved.
The story is that the cOmmitte waited
upon Mr.. Morris and reiterated the pro-
Dosition made to Mr.. Howard. 1t was
at once entertained, whether at the first
interview OF one Immediately snbse-
seems certain that MI. Morris handed
the committee several thousand dollars.
Matters are reported to lhayc gone on
swlmmingy for some time after this,
and it is saidithe relations between the
committe and Mr.. Morris were extreme
" confidential, but suddenly some one
offered in the house bill repeating the
char er of the Louisiana Lottery Com
pany, and it finally passed that body. The
next interview with Mr.. Morris does
not anuear to have been so confidential
1t is intimated that he expressed a
doubt in the genuiness Of their creden-
tials, and apprehended that they might
not, after all, be able to deliver the goods
they had so ardently promised. The
situation must have been somewhat en-
barrassiug, but the story is the COM
mittee was profuse in its apologies and
its explanations.
The committee, it is said, informed
Mr.. Morris that as community the
Deople of New Orleans are peculiar, and
it would never do to impart to them
the devious methods to which 1t was
necessary to resort to the right
ful authority and bring prosperity to
the State.
The committee, however, could offer
an emphatic, pledge which would be
nnansw cradle, and control the Demo-
rr,+;, ,or+y for all future time
The bill repeating the charter of the
lottery would he taken up in the senate,
and instead of the usual method OF re-
ferring it to committe, where it could
die, natural death, q motion would be
made and adopted to indefinitely post
pOne the bill. :,
considered satisfactory, and 1t is asserted
fha the proceedings of the Odd Fellows
Hall serate of February "a, 1877, will
show that the act repeating the lottery
bill was called up and was indefinitely
.postponded by an unanimous vote OF
one very nearly SO.
This legislation at once restored con-
fidence, and the committee was furnish
ed with $4,000 in cash, which was dis
bursed under their direction.
This money, it is claimed, was the in
gtrument by which a quorum OF both
-heuses i'm the legislature, sthat is a quor-
nm returned by the returning board,
was transferred from the st. Louis
Hotel, under Packard, to Cd d Fellows
Hall, under Nichols. The story is that
during the interregnum, required Tor
this cOnsummation, the committee anu
Mr. Morris were extremely intimate,
seeing each other daily, and that it fire:
m entity happened that he was visited
at his residence long after midnight,
and discussed the situation until dawn.
The events of that period are too
fresh in the memory of all to render
narration necessary. :
All can recollect wien Drury deserted
Packard toward the last, the caucus III
the Republican Office, the election OF an
United States senator, ETC., but mean |
while it is claimed that the Louisiana
State Lottery is out 900 in the rather
expensive experiment. of erecting a gov |
and that it's destruction by |
the same government is the exhibition
punic faith.
However. it was reported. yesterday
that the Lottery Company will resist in
the courts, and that the war bids fair to
continue to the bitter end.
WANTS HIS CONFEDERATE BONDS Re-
individual by the name
Of L. w. Phillips has sent to the treasury
4