Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-08
IFrom the New YORK Indepenlcnt.l

We are glad to learn that the authorities in
this city have commenc ed criminal proceed
ings against the most insidous and danger
Gus form of the lottery business Se. devised
for the purpose of swindlinG homes. country
people. We refer to the scheme adopted by
several manufacturers OF cheap and inferior
goods by which prizes or tickets are given
emitting purchasers to "a gift if they
chance to get lucky number with the pack
age bought. 1t is somewhat refreshing
however, to learn that recently the manufac.
turer Of a laundry soap. and also
a spice dealer, who in this way
offered gifts to purchasers of their packages
have been arrested upon indictments of the
United States Grand jury for lottery swind-
ling, and are now awaiting trial in this
city The latest candidate for criminal
prosecution in this direction is the manu-
facturcr Of baking powder, who is en-
deavoring, by similar lottery trick, to palm
off upon servant girls and unsuspecting
hcusekeepers an article called baking pow
der. but which really is an alum compound
of a corrosive nature and detrimental to
health. 1t is, therefore, really a source Of
conGratulation that the authorities have
taken the matter in hand for while all forms
of lotteries are iniQuitous, they are infinitely
more so when made the aids to swindling,
which profits at the expense of the health of
the poor and unwary. We are informed
that this form of lottery is being not only
peddled from house to house, but that, under
the promise Of larger percentages or
profits than can be realized from
! the standard goods, the swindels are
entrcncEing themselves behind the coun-
tiers of many glocers, by getting them to
offer the Objectionable goods with the prize
tickets incloscd, thereby shifting the liability
| to prosecution, in large measure, upon
other and perhaps innocent parties. Every
grocer or dealer, for instance, who sells or
offers for sale any Of this eift baking powder
is Il criminal in the eye Of the law, and upon
conviction is liable to fine and mprison-
meat. This is a prcdicament in which we
do not believe our groCers will care to place
| themselves when aware of the fact, more
| especially now that the attention OF the
criminal authorities has been drawn to the
| matter.
| Aside, however, from the criminal liability
thus incurred, the immoral tendency OF ich
a business is so great that it should be mos.
severely denounced and discouraged by every
one having the best welfare of the comnun.
itY at heart. The purchase of an Article Of
food with gift ticket inclosed in this way is
made to appear as tritling affair; but II is
no less immoral and an offence against law
than are the big lottery swndles which the
government Is trying to suppress. Besides,
us every teacher Of morality knows, it is the
apparently lriiling sins which are winked at
where large ones would daze, that form the
entering wedge to undermine the conscience
and harden il for greater ones. We cannot
believe that cur business men will care to aid
in any such swipdCs. nor that the people or
their second thought will eXprcttD benefit by
purchasing baking powders, or what not
which may he Offered under such suspicion,
circumstances