The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-20
NEW oRLEAN.. JANUARY 10. ls7D.
THE LOTTERY AND THE SENATE.

To-day the bill to abolish the Louisiana
Lottery Com pany will come before the State
Senate. The ordinary course Ia 10 read by
title and refer to committee. For many
reasons II Ia 10 be hoped that the ordinary
course will not be followed In this instance.
There Ia not the slightest necessity for a refer
ence of the bill. II originated IN the House
Judiciary Committee, and II may be assumed
90 be entirely legal; otherwise that strong
and able committee, composed OF good law
yers, would not have drafted IL. IL has
been printed In the House journal and
In the public press, and the members
OF the Senate are thoroughly familiar with IT.
IL In. pure and simple, n bill 10 destroy the
present lottery monopoly, with all its far
reaching political and corrupting schemes,
and to prohibit the sale OF lottery tickets OF
every kind In Louisiana. Each Senator must
have made ~ his mind az to how he will vote
upon the bill when hia name ia called. He
knows the wishes Of his constituents and the
pledges he has made to them and 10 bls own
conscience with regard to this measure.
Therefore we repeat, there IL no necessity for
reference Of the bill TO a committee.
Should the bill go 10 y committee IL might
back TO the Senate. The session Of the Leg
sislature Ia short and delay Of few days
would probably be fatal This has been tho
case heretofore, and can happen at this time.
The lower house of the last two Legislatures
passed n similar bill, which In each case was
lost In The Senate for want Of action. This
must not be permitted to occur this year.
The Senators are expected by their con
stltuents 10 come to a vote upon this ques-
Zion. The members Of the House have al
ready put themselves on record on IL, and
nothing less IL looked for from the nom
bera Of the Senate
To prevent the possibility OF failure 10 do
this we urge immediate action upon tho bill.
When II comes up to-day It should DO passed
TO a second reading, and II tho constitutional
rule cannot be suspended In order Ia put 10
through that reading 1t should BIO made tho
special order FOR Tuesday and every other
day until II Ia disposed Of
The friends OF the bill should 500 that no
amendments are made TO IL. II In perfect as
Ststands. II h severely simple and impartial,
abollshing not only the present monopoly. but
prohibiting traffic In every species Of lottery
tickets whatever. All the amendments that
can be suggested cannot improve IL. Az IL
stands IL suits the people, and Just as IL
passed the House IL should pass the Senate.
Amendments would cause delay. and delays
are proverbially dangerous.
There is no doubt that the bill will pass tho
Senate bya large majority when q vote Is
reached. That body liz as much IN favor Of
reform IA the other branch OF the Legislature
and as nearly representative of the wishes OF
the constituencies which sent its members 10
the Senate The Senators know tho impor-
lance the people attach to the passage Of tho
bill IN question. They know tho baneful In
huence of the Lottery Company upon the pol
itics OF the State and its immoral tendency In
this aud other communities. Therefore, they
will destroy II when IL IL within reach viii
the Senators not, az they do with so many
bills Of minor Importance. depart from the
usual custom and bring IL within reach to-
day II can be easily done, and It Is In the
power Of the friends of the bill to do it. This,
we believe, they will do