The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-04
THE ANTI-LOTTERY LAW.
uANAMAKER ISSUES A CIRCULAR
OF INSTRUCTIONS.

,.,,ad Letters or Sealed Packets at
Letter Rates Not to Be Broken.
p,,nIicstions Advertising Lottery
.scbemss Forbidden Carriage in the
ntans-Postmasters Exhorted to Dill
gencs.
U.sH1NeroN, Oct. 3.-The Assistant At
.o-nev General, under the direction of Post
ras.er General Wanamaker, has prepared
,irculer letter to postmasters containing
Instructions for the guidance in carrying
- tho anti-lottery law. The instructions
.o.eJ that tine law applies to any letter,
"rS;nsrv or registered, if it concerns any
Iottarv gift concert, or scheme
Sosor;hed in the act, and to lot
,erv tickets. checks, drafts, bills, money.
Tostsl notes or money orders for the pur-
ttbose of lottery tickets, or any share or
,bance in lottery or gift enterprise. and to
ists Of drawings Of any lottery or similar
theme. and forbids carrying them in the
mails or the delivery OF them from post
offices.
SEALED PACKAGES NOT TO BE BROKEN.
The seal of letter or any sealed packet
mepaid at letter rates must not be dis
mrbed for the purpose of ascertaining
AOo
5syery at a postoffice is forbidden
Iy nroyision of the act, nor will mere sus-
oicion that such letter or packet relate to
INV lottery. or the fact that it is addressed
nanv person known to be engaged in the
BUSINESS of conducting lottery, justify its
iaantion or non-delivery, except that the
istvery of registered letters at the Office of
estimation shall be withheld wnen the Post
MASTER General has issued specific orders to
thateffect Postal cards and unsealed matter
NAV be inspected when suspected of being
lottery matter The mailing of matter by
cjtizens to lottery companies is In violation
of the law as well as from companies.
When it is known that any postal cards or
unsealed matter Is unavailable under the
provisions of the act the postmaster should
decline to receive it, and whenever such
matter is discovered in the postoffice or in
transit it should be stamped ''fraudulentn
ana sent on to the Postmaster General with
special report on the case
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS.
Newspapers and other publications con-
: tanning advertisements of a lottery or gift
enterprise scheme, or lists Of prizes awarded,
are forbidden carriage in the mails. Post
masters should refuse to receive OF deliver
them, and when found in the mail in transit
they should be held until instructions can
be received from the Postmaster General
Thesection of the act relating to registered
letters and money orders apply at the office
of delivery Only, and are to be enforced
upon direct orders from the Postmaster
General
The term lottery" as used In the act,
embraces all kinds of schemes, general or
local, for distribution of prizes by lot, such
IS gift exhibitions, concerts, raffies, or the
drawing of prizes in money or proparty at
fairs. Hence, letters, postal cards and cir
euars concerning them, and newspapers,
pamphlets and other publications contain
ing advertisements Of them, are unmailable.
The act applies to foreign as we'll as domes-
tic mail.
The instructions close with a notice that
PStmasters and other postal officials and
employees are expected to be diligent in car
ryl1g out the Instructions for the enforce
nent Of the act.