Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-30
LOTTERY COMPANIES.
THE PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS ON
THE SUBJECT.
He Calls for Further Legislation to Effect
Absolute Prohibition of Letters
and Circulars.
IBy telegraph 10 the plspatch. ]

Rress regarding the use OF the mails by
lottery companies:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
The recent attempt to secure n charter |
from the State of North Dakota for lot |
terry company. the pending effort TO obtain
from the State Of Louisiana renewal OF
the charter Of the Louisiana State Lot
terry, and the establishment of one or
more lottery companies at Mexican towns |
near our border have served the good pur- |
pose of calling public attention to an evil
of vast proportions. If the baneful effects
of lotteries were confined TO the States
that gave the companies corporate powers
and license TO conduct business, the citl- |
zens Of other States being powerless
10 apply legal remedies. might clear
themselves OF responsibility by the
use, of such moral agencies as were
IS not so. The people Of all the States are
debauched and defrauded. The vast sums
Of money offered 10 States for charters are
drawn from the people of the United
States. The General Government, through
its mail system ls made an effective and
profitable Medium Of intercourse between
the lottery company and its victims. The
use Of the mails is quite as essential 70 the
companies as a State license. II would be
practically impossible for these companies
20 exist if the public mails were once
closed against their advertisements and
remittances. The use Of the mails by
these companies is the prostitution Of an
agency only intended to serve the pur,,
poses Of legitimate trade and decent social
Intercourse.
THE DEMoRALIZATIoS WROUGHT
II is not necessary, | am sure. for me
TO attempt 10 portray the rob
s L.. hn NxFlfl
spread corruption Of public and pri-
vate morals which are necessary incidents
of these lottery schemes. The national
capital has become sub-beadquarters OF
the Louisiana Lottery Company, and lts
numerous agents and attorneys are con-
Quoting here business involving proba-
bly, a larger use of the mails than that OF
any legitimate business enterprise in the
District of Columbia. There seems TO
he good reason 10 believe that the cor
rupting touch of these agents has been felt
bv clerks in the postal service and by some
Of the police officers of the District. Severe
and effective legislation should be prompt
IL enacted TO enable the POst-Oflice Depart
mcnt TO purge the mails OF al! letters.
newspapers, and circulars relating to the
business.
wANAMAKfR's PLAN ENDORSED.
A letter OF the Postmaster-Gen which
| transmit herewith points out the made
quacv of existing statutes, and suggests
legislation tina; would be effective.
II may also be necessary 30 so regulate
the carrying of letters by express COM
panies as to prevent the use OF those
agencies TO maintain communication be-
tween the lottery companies and Their
agents or customers in other cities. IL
does not seem possible that there can be
any division Of sentiment a. TO the pro-
priety of closing the mails against these
companies, and | therefore venture 20 ex-
press the hope that such proper powers as
are necessary 20 that end Will be given to
the Post-O Office Department.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
ELcc,dire Mansion, July %, 1890.
WHAT "wASNY" HAS TO SAY.
In the accompanying letter Postmaster
General Wanamaker says he feels COM
PEELED, in view Of the urgent necessities Of
the case, TO anticipate his annual report IN
regard to the use of the mails by the
Louisiana State Lottery Company He SAYS
that Notwithstanding the declaration that
no letters or circulars concerning lotteries
shall be carried in the mails, and that pub
lie sentiment condemns the use of the post
Office for lottery purposes, every railway
postal-car, star route, mOney-ordcr, ana
registry-office is in active daily use by the
Louisiana Lottery Company. and tnat the
foothold of the business seems TO be hrrner.
ito operations wider, and It's enterprises
bolder than ever before. This vast busi-
ness is terribly demoralizing 20 the postal
service. The postal employee readily as
sumes that a letter directed to the Lottery
COMPANY contains money; that 1t is IN the
mail in violation of law; that its loss would
be difficult TO trace. and that an attempt
To punish the offender who shall abstract
II will more likely fail than prosecutions OF
an ordinary character. Hence the tempta-
ton 10 puroin II Is exceptionally great.
The DEPARTMENT PowERLEss.
The Postmaster-G General says further that
with all the admitted evils within and
without the postal department resulting
from its injurious traffic, as head OF the
department he Is powerless TO act. IL Is
huniliating position, and even more hui
initiating 10 contemplate that the entire
Post-O Office Department is in point of fact
the principal agent of the Louisiana state
Lottery Company, and that every extern
sion of the postal system spreads the hurt
full power and influence of that company.
STRONGER LAWS NEEDED.
The postmaster-General IN review OF
the legislation enacted for the purpose OF
DENYING the use of the mails 10 lottery let
ters and circulars and the failure follow
inc all attempts TO enforce these statutes,
saws il is manifest that the object OF the
law has been successfully thwarted and
that without additional legislation the
mails must continue 90 carry this class OF
matter. he presents for the consideration
of the President the draft of a bill
which. if enacted into law. will enable
the department TO get this business under
control. The bill is the one reported last
week TO the House from the Committee on
Post Offices and POst-Roads and is set forth
in the report of the committee published
at that time.
PROPOSED INVESTIGATION.