The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-30
FATHER AGAINST SON.

lIno tf08l0o0t WOUlO O3pf1vO hnAAGAYA
Organ OF Much Revenue.
WASHINGTON, July 29.-President Harri-
son to-day sent the following message to
congress: ITO the Senate and House of
Representatives-The recent attempt to
secure charter from North Dakota for a
lottery company, and the pending effort to
obtain from the state of Louisiana re-
newal of the charter of the Louisiana lot
terry. and the establishment of ono or more
lottery companies at Mexican towns on our
border, have served the good purpose Of
calling public attention to an evil of vast
proportions. If the baneful effects
of lotteries were confined to the states
that give the companies corporate powers
and license to conduct business. the citi-
zens of other states, being powerless to ap-
ply legal remedies, might clear themselves
Of responsibility by the use of such moral
agencies as were within their reach, but the
case is not so. The people of all the states
are debauched and defrauded of vast sums
of money. and the money offered to states
for charters is drawn from the people of the
United States, and the general government,
through the mail system, is made the effect
i've and profitable medium of intercourse
between the lottery company and its vic
Tins. The use of the mails is quite as es-
sential to the companies as state license.
It would be practically impossible for the
companies to exist if the public mails were
once effectually closed against them, and
the prostitution of an agency only
mate trade and decent social intercourse
would be ended. It is not necessary, I am
sure, for me to attempt to portray the rob-
berry of the poor and the widespread cor
ruption of public and private morals which
are necessary incidents of these lottery
schemes; The national capital has become
the sub headquarters of the Louisiana Lot
terry company and its numerous agents and
attorneys are conducting here business
involving probably a larger use of the
mails than that Of any legitimate business
enterprise in the District of Columbia.
This seems to be good reason to believe
that the corrupting touch of these agents
has been felt by the clerks in government
service and by some of the police officers of
the district. Severe and effective legisla-
tion should be promptly enacted to enable
the postofice department to purge the mails
of all letters. newspapers and circulars re-
lating to the business.
which transmit herewith, points out the
inadequacy Of the existing statute, and suR-
gests legislation that would be effective. It
may also be necessary to regulate the car
rying of letters by express companies 30 az
to prevent the use of these agencies to
companies and their agents or customere in
other cities. It does not seem possible that
there can be any division of sentiment az
to the propriety of closing the mails
against these companies, and therefore
venture to express the hope that such
proper powers as are necessary to that end
will be given to the postoffice department. -
| The letter of the postmaster general re-
ferred to by the president calls attention to
the ineficiency Of the present law and
recommends the passage of the ntilottery
bill recently reported to the house.