Huntsville gazette., 1890-08-02
TIE LOTTERY WAR
The President Sends Message to
Congress on the Subject.
Attention Called to the Magni-
tude Of the Evil.

He Urges Legislation That Will Give the
Po>s'u .ster General Authority to Pro-
teet the Nails. and Suggests n Law to
Prevent Express Companies Carrying
L. t.rs tor Lotteries.
WASHINGTON, July 3l.-President
H;;rr son has sent the following message
20 Ccng ess:
10 tie Senate and House of Representa-
tlsrs:
I..e recent attempt to secure charter
ifoiil the STATE OF North Dakota for lot
terry company, the pending effort to obtain
iIolh the state OF Louisiana renewal of a
charter Of tile Louisiana state lottery. and
The establishment Of one or more lottery
'ompanies at Mexican towns near our
2"rder have served a good purpose of call
ING pubic attention to an evil Of vast pro
portions. II the baneful effects of the
lotteries were confined to states and gave
the companies corporate powers and a
license To conduct 4 business. the citizens
OF other states, being powerless to apply
~Sal tenIeiie.., mi x,ht clear them elyes of
reeponsibiiilt by the use II such moral
a.enc.e- - sere within the reach.
Bui GAG LIS is not so-tue poo lie of all
Tie states are dcb.uched alt - fraudcd
4 he vast Sims q. money one. ed to the
states for charters are y AVN from the
people " the nited States. and the yen
eral government, through its mail system.
is Made thu effective and profitable me-
dlum OF Int recourse between the lottery
company aud its victims The use of the
mails Is quise ~ essential 20 the compa-
aies rs the state license. II would be
practically impossible for these COMPANIES
TO exist if The public mails were once
effectually cl,sed agaiu.t their advertise
meats aDi Iemittances The use of the
mails tE tLesa compa aies is prostitution
" al a!enc, cnly intt2lled to serve pur-
poses 4 legitimate trade and decent
soci:L Intercourse. 1t is not necessary,
am sure fol me to attempt to portray the
robbery Of the poor, and the widespread
corruption OF public and private morals
which are thu necesSa ~ incidents of these
lottery schemcs.
The National capital has become a sub
headQ quarters OF the Louisiana Lottery
company, and it's numerous agents and
attorneys are conducting here a business
involving probably larger use of the
mails than that Of any legitimate enter
prise In raIe District of Columbia There
seems to be good reason to believe that
the oOrruptmg touch Of these agents has
been felt by the clerks in the postal serv-
ice and by some Of the police officers of
the District. Severe and effective legisla-
ton should be promptly enacted 10 enable
the postOffics department to purge the
mails OF all LETTERS, newspapers and circu-
lars relating 10 the business. The letter
OF the postmaster general which | trans
init herewith, points out the inadequacy
y ps S1V0g stptestAs, SAd angsessS leu-
Atbn Ah Houh b. e<Axtivs h MY
aAso liz noaesAary b 50 regulate the carry
Ing 1t hettsts by ttls express companies IL
b prevent the isAe vi these agencies to
maintain communication bet ween the lot
terry companies aud their agents or custo-
nSers in other cities
1t does not seem possible that there can
be any division OF sentiment as to the pro-
priety Of closing the mails against these
companies, and l, therefore, ven ture to ex-
press the hope that such proper powers a.
are necessary TO that end will be given to
the pOstOffice department
BENZ. HARRISON.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, july -, 1890.
The letter Of the postmaster general
referred to by the president calls atten-
ton to the inefhciency of the present
law, and recommends the passage of the
bill recently reported to the
house.