Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-04
Instructions to Postmasters Regarding
Lottery Matter.

| WASHINGTON, October 3d-Assistant
| Attorney General Tyler, under the direc-
| ton of the Postmaster General, has pre-
pared for publication in the postal "Bul-
/ letin" circular letter to Postmasters, con-
| tanning instructions for their guidance in
the treatment of lottery matter under
| the recent Anti-Lottery Act. 1t is very
explicit in its instructions, and allows
| Postmasters to examine all unsealed matter,
but forbids the tampering with sealed
matter.
After quoting the anti-lottery law in
full, the circular reads
|. Section Ss9I, above quoted, applies 10 any
letter. ordinary or registered If 1t concerns any
lottery, gift concert or scheme described in the
section, and to lottery tickets. checks, drafts,
bills, money postal notes or money orders, for
! the pui chase of lottery tickets or any share or
chance in lottery or gift enterprise, and TO the
list of drawings at any lottery or similar scheme
and forbids carrying them in the mails or de-
| liveries of them from the Postothce.
2. The seal of letter or of any sealed packet
prepaid at letter rates. must not be disturbed for
the purpose of ascertaining If its transmission in
the mail. or its delivery at the posofice is for
| hidden by the provisions of this Act. Nor will
| the mere suspicion that such letter or packet
relates to a lottery or the fact OF its being ad-
| dressed to any peron known TO be engaged in
the business of conducting lottery, justify its
| detention or non-Gelivery except that the
delivery of registered letters at the Office desti-
nation shall be withheld when the Postmaster
| General has issued specific orders under the
provisions of Section 929 to that effect
| 8. Postal cards,S and circulars unsealed and
| all other unsealed matter NAV, when suspected
of having been deposited to be mailed in viola
! tion of the provisions this Act, be examined for
the purpose OF ascertaining their character
| 4. The mailing of matter interdicted by this
Act, by citizens, to lottery companies and their
representatives, is as clear violation of the law
as the mailing of such matter by the lottery
| companies to their customers or other persons.
| 5. When it is known at the time of depositing
| them for mailing that the postal cards or circu.
lars are unmailable under the pro visions OF Sec
ton 1854 above quoted, the Postmaster should
decline to receive them. If they be found in
| the POstoffice and the sender is unknown to the
Postmaster, or if they be discovered in the mail
in transit, they should be Withdrawn and
marked or stamped Fraudulent" and sent to
| the Postmaster General, accompanied by a spe-
| cial report from the Postmaster explaining the
| reason for their detention.
| g. The provisions of this Act apply to letters,
| postal cards and circulars concerning lotteries
| or similar schemes that come in the mails from
| foreign countries, and such matter SO received
should be treated as if it originated in the
| United States.
T. Matter sent IN violation of the provisions of
| Section 1894, discovered by POstmasters at in
| termediate offices, should be withdrawn from
| the mail and disposed of in the same manner as
| if it had been discovered by the Postmaster at
the office OF mailing or the Office of delivery,
| but Postmasteys at intermediate offices should
| not delay the TRANSMISSION of other mail in
making special search for anything declared by
| this Act to be unmailable.
s. Newspapers, pamphlets and publications
of all kinds bearing date of or 81 ce the 18th
day of september, 1890, at which gate the Act
took effect, which contain advertisements OF
| any lottery, gift enterprise or similar scheme,
or the whole or part OF list Of prizes awarded
| at the drawings of lotteries or similar schemes
are, by the provisions of this Act, denied car
riage in the mails or delivery to subscribers,
addresses or to any other persons. or as sam
pie copies" Postmasters should refuse to re-
ceive them from publishers or deliver them II
by lnadyertence they reach the office of desti-
natson, and when found by Posmasters in the
mail in transit they should be held until a re-
port concerning them can be made to the Post
| master-General, and instructions received from
him to disposing of them.
| 9. Foreign newspapers, pamphlets and publ
cations of all kinds, containing printed matter
forbidden by the provisions of The Act should
be treated as if published in the United States
| 10. Clerks. in the Railway Mail Service dis.
covering matter the carriage of which is for
hidden by the provisions of this Act should
| withdraw and forward to the respective Divis-
ion Superintendents. Division superintendent
should treat such matter IN the same manner es
| Postmastersare herein instructed to treat it.
IL. The term Lottery" used in this Act
embraces all kinds of schemes, general or local
| for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance
such as gift exhibitions, enterprises, concerns
raifles or the drawing of prizes in money OF
property at fairs. Hence, letters, postal cards
and circulars concerning them, and newspapers
pamphlets and other publications concerning
the advertisements of them are uumailable.
| II. The provision of Section 1929, relating tc
| registered letters and Section 4041 relating tC
money orders. apply to such matter at the Offices
| of delivery only, and are to be enforced upon
direct orders of the Postmaster-6eneral.
.l3. PostmasterS and other postal officials and
employees are expected TO be diligent in carry.
ing out the foregoing instructions for the en-
| forcement of the provisions of this Act.