Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-09
The District Commissioners COMPLAIN
Oh OBSTACLES in the Way Of Executing it.

THEY SUGGEST THAT NEWSPAPERS ADVERTISING
LOTTERIES BE EXCLUDED FROM THE NAIIS-ANu
THAT DEPARTMENT CLERKS BE FoRBIpDEN TO PIT r.
CHASE TICkErS
The District Commissioners addressed the follow
ing letter to the Postmaster General under date OF
the 9TH inst:
Sir The Commissioners desire 10 call your atten-
ton TO the statute OF Congress approved April o.
1873, 10 prevent the sale or lottery tickets in the
District Of Columbia. Also 10 the COMPLAINT OF
Major Dye. chief OF police. that among the serious
obstacles 10 executing the law are: First. nearly all
the daily and weekly newspapers published In this
ftSlTlct continually display extensive advertise
in.NtS LOT the lottery companies, tempting people
INTO that species OF gambling In tbs, absence OF
any law prohibiting such advertisements or eNCud-
Ing Sch newspapers from the mails, these publica-
Tons VIII probably continue, according To repot
they derive such prutit thereby OF from 500 to
S3.h0 per annum, and 50 ta.ily lend their powrrtr
influence against the execution OF laws, and
second, IN the absence Of law 10 prevent il, 10y the
device OF clubs large numbers OF tickets are pur-
chased oy a common agent who serves profeSSedly
without profit 10 himself, aud thus In the opinion
or the Police Court SUCCESSFULLY eyades the law
ms praciice prevails more especially among gov
erhineEt clerks and employees in the same depart
mentS We forward herewith copies of two notes
addressed to Us by Major DYE on these subjects 10
one or Which we have called the attention OF the
lion secretary or the Treasury as IL relates To an
elnploye In his department, as shown by the copy
OF letter herewith enclosed. The object OF tits
communication Is to say that in the OPINION
OF the COMMISSIONERS further legislation is
desirable TO enable them to enforce the
pieNtHt INV VI NbtSftSS. ana 10 ASK YOU
to consider the propr.ety OF legislation eNciud-
ing from the mails in the District OF Columbia all
newspapers that publish lottery drawings. and for
bidding, upon pain OF dismissal the purchase OF lot
terry tickets by government employees
The extraordinary profits gained 10y lottery COM
aged financially, are tempted 10 invest their small
gains In the vain hope OF great prize or from the
Ignorant who do not understand il the lottery COM
pinieS honestly fulfill what they promise they
would still RETAIN as profit, one-half Of All they re-
ce1Ve.
III Is reported that OF the first class there are
several thousand clerks and employees OF the
government. but confined mostly TO those who re-
ceNe small salaries and the more easily yield to the
temptation and that the aggregate of their remit
tsnceS Tor lottery tickets from this District amounts
10 many Thousand dollars monthly. The anxiety
ana hopes OF drawing prize, seldom never real
Ktdanu the consequent mentaldcmoraliZationo of the
ucket-holderS, do not promise good service by Them
ana doubtless constitute one OF the evils sought to
be remedied by the act in question and add further
lhducfment for submitting the question to your
consideration"
Signed nv all the Commissioners