The morning call., 1890-07-30
The Presidents Message to Con-
6reSS on The Subject.
Legislation Urged That Will Prevent the
Use Of the Mails by Companies.
a Letter From the POStmaSter:General Point
Ing Out the InadequaCy Of the Existing
Statutes Senate and House.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL

{ WASHINGTON, July 29.--President Har-
rison to-day sent the following message to
Congress:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
The recent attempt to secure a charter from
North Dakota for lottery company, pending an
effort TO obtain from the State Of Louisiana
the renewal of the charter OF the Louisiana
State Lottery. and the establishment OF one or
more lottery companies at Mexican towns near
our border, have served the good purpose OF
calling. public attention TO an evil OF vast pro-
portions. II the baneful effects OF lotteries
were confined TO the States that gave the CON-
panies their corporate powers aud license to
conduct business, the citizens OF other States
being poweress to apply legal remedies, they
might clear themselves of responsibility by The
use OF such moral agencies as were within their
reaci But the case is not SO.
The people OF all the States are debauched
and deirauded. The vast sums Of money offered
to these States for charters are drawn from the
people of the United States, and tile Government,
through its mail system, is made an effective and
pfohtable medium OF intercourse between the
lottery company and IT'S victims. The use OF the
mails Is quiie'as essential TO the companies as
State license. 1t would be practically impossi-
Bile FOR these companies 20 exist II the public
mails were once effectusly closed against them,
and thus stop the prostitution OF an agency only
Intended to- serve the purposes of legitimate
lade and decent social intercourse.
IL Is not necessary, am sure, for ME TO at
tempt TO portray The robbery OF the poor and the
widespread corruption of public and private
morals, which are necessary incidents OF these
lottery systems The national capital has be-
come the sub-beadquarters OF The Louisiana
Lottery Company. and its numerous agents and
attorneys are conducting here business involv-
Ing probably larger use OF The mails than that
OF any legitimate business enterprise in the Dis
trict of Columbia. There seems TO be good rea-
son TO believe the cOrrupting touch OF these
agents has been felt by the clerks In the postal
service. aud by some OF the police officers of the
district Severe and effective legislation should
be promptly enacted TO enable the POstOfllce De-
parIment TO purge the mails OF all letters, news
papers aud circulars relating to the business.
The letter OF the Postmaster-G General, which i
transmit herewith. points out the lnadeQuacy of
tie existing statutes, aud suggests legislation
that would be effective 1t may also be ueces-
sary TO so regulate the carrying Of letters BY ex
press companies az To prevent The use OF these
agencies 10 maintain communication between
Ihe lottery companies aud Their agents Gus
toners IN other eties. II does not seem possible
that there can be any division Of sentiment as TO
The prOprlety OF closing the mails against these
companies, and l the efore venture 10 express
the hope that such proper powers neces-
sary 10 that end Will be given 10 the Postoilice
Department.
The letter of the PoStmaster-General re-
ferred to by the President calls attention TO
the iDefficiency of the present law, and
recommends the passage of the Anti-Lot-
terry Bill recently reported to the House.