Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-01
In DEFIANCE OF LAW
A Mexican Lottery Company is Now
Making Use of the Nails
TO ADVERTISE ITS DRAWINGS.
Pittsburg Flooded With Circulars, and the
Government Notified.
THE POSTMASTER AWAITING A REPLY

Postmaster Mexican is now anXlously
awaiting a reply to a letter sent by him to
the postal authorities at Washington re-
garding the deluge of Mexican lottery COM
munications now being sent to parties in
Pittsburg and passing through the mails
en- route to other cities. He has received
these circulars from persons all over the
city, who had been sent them through the
mails and wished to call the postnaster's
attention TO this seeming defiance of the
new anti-lottery law.
AS would appear from the communica-
tions received, the new anti-lottery law,
while pretty effectually stopping the sue
cessful operations OF lottery companies in
the United States, has not resulted in crush
ing out the business. Instead, it has only
transferred the points of operation from the
United States to other countries. And, in
stead of the thousands of dollars going into
the pockets of Americans, Mexicans and
citizens of other countries capture the huge
profits.
MONEY LEAVING THE COUNTRY.
By the present traffic. not only the citi-
zens of the United States lose their hard
earned money, but the country loses it also.
Before, the money in part benefited the
State of Louisiana directly, and benefited
all by so much more free circulation. Now
the money leaves the States, and other foreign
countries reap the benefits.
These foreign companies, according to
their statements, can openly defy the anti
lottery law, and send their communi-
cations openly through the mails.
Uncle Sam may sluirm, but the company
will send its communications just the same,
and for its vindication will rest assured Of
protection under the international postal
treaty laws. What will be the result of the
company's stand rests with the Government
authorities at Washington to decide.
Pittsburg is now being flooded with COM
munications from the Loteria De La Bene-
fcencia Publica, of the City of Mexico. The
company has evidently obtained city di-
rectory, as the street addresses are given in
every instance. 1t is also a strange fact
that many of those receiving letters have in
times gone by patronized the Louisiana
State Lottery. Whether thIsfact is merelya
coincidence, or the latter company has
something to do with it, has not been
learned. It is stated as possibility that
that Louisiana State Lottery Company may
have sold the addresses, or is in league with
the Mexican concern.
SOME CLAIMS OF THE GREAsERs.
In one of its circulars the lottery COM
pany says:
spectfully invited to the fact that the terms of
the new anti-lottery law do not and cannot in
the least apply to letters sent to this company
by ordinary mail. Therefore, correspondence
with it can be continued with impunity and
without risk whatsoever, precisely as hereto
fore.
The patrons are requested to address all
communications simply to the name given
as the manager of the company, without
using the name of the lottery company.
The inference drawn is that the company
takes the stand that the Government has no
right by law to open letter directed to an
individual. Remittances are to be made by
bank exchange on New York or express
money order. AS an extra inducement the
company offers to pay the express charges
on all amounts of So and upward sent by
the United States or Pacific Express Com
pany. Laredo, Texas, is designated as the
transfer point to the Mexican National Ex-
press Company.
MONEY THAT IS WASTED.
The company, in its scheme, saws that the
capital prizes each month will be over $780,
900. The amount that could be carried out
of the country can be estimated by compari-
son with other lottery companies prizes and
receipts. The general lottery and "philan-
thropic" schemes OF the company are much
the same as those employed by the Louisiana
concern.
Some people who received the circulars
were of the opinion that the company is a
bogus one, that hopes to make one or two
good "hauls" of money, and then, if caught,
would suspend operations. However,
10 hat 10
old and rich one, and has the support of
the Mexican Government. Its officers are
said to be members of Congress and others in
government positions. The company gives
large sums to the Charity Hospital of the
City of Mexico, and is furnishing the funds
for the erection Of penitentiary.
Postmaster Mexican said last night that
he did not see why the Mexican company
can DEFY the anti-lottery law. He added:
81 know the law applies to Canada as well
as the United States, and don't see why it
would not be the same with Mexico. How
ever, have called the attention of the
authorities at Washington to the matter.
AWAITING A LEGAL OPINION.
"My letter will, suppose, be referred to
the legal advisors of the postal department.
and will receive a reply when their opin-
ion is given or the legality of the traffic as
certained. The mail would have to be in
tercepted on the border, and not allowed to
enter the country. 1 have no idea how
many circulars have been sent through our
mails, and only knew that such was being
done when commenced to receive the cir
culars from people in different parts of the
CITY,"
The circulars are inclosed in plain en-
velopes, with nothing on them but the ad-
4
be recognized, even by the postal authori-
ties, is query advanced by many. Another
point probably now under consideration by
the Government is, whether it has the right
to intercept mail sent to individuals, even
were it certain of stopping the right letters.