The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-10-17

ASSISTANT attorney 6eneral lyner,
under the direction of Postmaster Gen
eral Wsnamaker, has prepared a cir
cular letter to postmasters containing
for their guidance in treat
ment of 'lottery" matter under the re-
cent anti-lottery act. After quoting
the law in full the circular reads as
follows"
1. Section 3St94, above quoted, ap-
plies to any letter, ordinary or register
cd, if it concerns any lottery, gift con-
Germ, or scheme described in the Sec
ton, and to lottery tickets, checks,
drafts, bills, money, postal notes, or
money orders for the purchase of lot
terry tickets, of any share Of chance in
lottery or gift enterprise, and to the |
list of the drawings at any lottery or
similar scheme, and forbids the carry
ing Of them in the mails or the delivery
of them from post Offices.
LETTER SEALS MUST NOT BE BROKEN.
2. The seal Of letter, or of any seal
ed packet prepaid at letter rates, must
not be disturbed for the purpose of
ascertaining if its transmission in the
mail or its delivery at post Office is
forbidden by the provisions of this act.
Nor will the mere suspicion that such
letter or packet relates to lottery, or
the fact that it is addressed to any por-
son known to be engaged in the bust
ness of conducting a lottery, justify its
detention or delivery of registered
letters at the office of destination shall
be withheld when the Postmaster Gen
eral has issued specific orders, under
the provisions of Section 1929, to that
effect.
8. Postal card , and circulars unseal-
cd and all other unsealed matter may
when suspected of having been depos-
tied or mailed in violation of the
provisions of this oct, be examined for
the purpose of ascertaining their
character.
4. The mailing of matter interdicted
by this act by citizens to lottery con-
panies and their representatives is as
clear violation of the law as the mail
ing of such matter by lottery COM
panies to their customers or other per-
sons.
DUTIES OF POSTMASTEks
5. When it is known at the time oi
depositing them for mailing that postal
cards or circulars are unavailable under
the provisions OF Section 1894, above
quoted, the postmaster should decline
to receive them. If they be found in
post office aud the sender is unknown
to the postmaster, or if they be dis
covered in the mail in transit, they
should be withdrawn and marked Of
stamped and sent to thu
Postmaster General, accompanied by {
special report from the postmaster ex
planning the reason for their detention
6. The provisions of this act apply t
letters, postal cards, and circulars cor
cerning lotteries or similar scheme
that come in the mail from foreign
countries, and such matter 80 receive'
should be treated as if it originated i
the United States.
7. Matter sent in violation of tn
provisions of Section 1894, discovers
by postmasters at intermediate Offices
should be withdrawn from the maj
and disposed of in the same manner a
if 1t had been discovered by the pos
master at the Office of mailing or tn
office of delivery. But postmasters 6
intermediate offices should not della
the transmission of other mail in NAL
ing special search for anything decla
ed by this act to be unmailable.
8. Newspapers, pamphlets, and pu
locations of all kinds, bearing date b
fore or since the 10th day of Septer
Der, 1890 (at which date the act toe
effect), which contain the advertis
ment OF any lottery, gift enterprise,
similar scheme, or the whole or part
the list of prizes awarded ststhe dra,
ings of lotteries or similar scheme
are, by the provisions of this act, den
ed carriage in the mails or delivery
subscribers, addresses, or to any 9th
persons, or az sample copies" Pos
masters should refuse to receive the
for publishers or to deliver them
inadvernce they reach the office of fde
tination. When found by postmaste
in the mail In transit they should
held until report concerning the
can be made to the Postmaster Ge
eral and instructions received fro
him as to the disposing cf them.
8. Foreign newspapers, pamphle
and publications of all kinds, contai
ing printed matter forbidden by Il
provisions of this act, should be trea
ed as if they were published in Il
United States.
TO- Clerks in the Railway M;
Service discovering matter the carrial
of which is forbidden by the provisio
of this act, should withdraw it and fc
ward it to their respective divisi'
superintendent. Division superinte
dents should treat such matter in 4
same manner as postmasters are her
in instructed to treat it.
ii. The term ''lottery," as used
this act, embraces all kinds of schem,
general or local, for the distribution
prizes by lot or chance, such as gift G
hibitions, enterprises, concerts, ratti
or the drawing of prizes in money
property at fairs. Hence, lette
postal cards, and circulars concerni
them, and newspapers, pamphlets, al
OluCi
ments of them, are unavailable.
IL. The provisions of Section 80:
relating to registered letters and
Section 4041, relating to money ord'
(both of which sections are set out
full in the preceding copy of the &C
apply to such matter at offices of (
livery only, and are to be enforced U
on the direct orders of the Postmss
General.
Is. Postmasters and other pos
officials and employees are expe cted
be diligsnt in carrying out the forl
ing instructions for the enforce ment
the provisions of this act.
"On All-Hallows Eve, says Willil
Black, 'there is one form of incan