New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-27
THE ANTILOTTERY BILL.
REPORT OF TIE HOUSE COMMTTEE-MEAN'
TO SUPPRESS \ GREAT EVIL.

Washington. July 2G-Tho report OF the House Com
| mttee OH Po,tOn,cc, and Post Roads. 20 ACCOMPANY
| the substitute Ant-Lottciy bill aGc.d upon ycstc9
| dav va, flied this afternoon. The committee SAYS
! the intent OF CJu-rr,s to exclude matter from thc
mails which relate, lotteries is evidenced hy The
fact that several acts have already been pS@ed t.
! accomplish that purpose. II also evident thSt
Congress intended T. give the PO>mastcrGcnoTal j'
power 10 execute these scycea' laws, hut cNpen.nc'
has demonstrate that the gis!i.ioa f. inad"Gna;" "
! this ol1co. and that without lurtAo and NOR
/ forc.bc legislation the Use Of TIE mall by I'N'r
! companies VIII cohiintc 10 grow Ia d greater rti'
| than 1t has in the past. The lhrF business 10"
! IS in the hands. practically, Of one coh'eTh-'hc
Louisiana Lotcry CoMpaHyand 4 has reached alarm
| Ing proportions. In Washington atone. II IS estimated
! .hl' tais company mails not less than 5000 lctUr
a mon,h a:Id in New orleans II, mail deposits aLoa"i
TO five or ten times much All this is declared 10
! lo urrn,ilatle under the laws: but II go, without
Let or hiudrancc, because, under existing sta'itS' J.
seems t. lie impossible obtain proof oil Is character
The committee quotes the first Law pa ed declaring
lottery circulars or letters unmaiia5le AM 'ho"
LIZ the decisions Of several Attorney Generals That u
can be enforced by the courts only. aid conveys 40
power to the Postmas crt cneTal TO sozc' dctph o.
withhold from Transmission and delivery any ordinary
oer or packet not known by him 10 relate 70 lotteries
Accounting this construction Of the law as correct the
Postmaster Generals ability TO purge the mails OF tins
class of matter limited 10 unscaed circulars ana
similar matter not protected by the sancuty OF tie
seal and which for this reason caa be expected "A
person who deposits cOntraNand matter can DC ca'cH
by the law only when he can DC Identified a. inc man
| who deposited II fl the mall Ey a Ion OF thc
supreme Court scaled letters in the mail can 10 opened
and examined only under search warrant properly
issued That decision says: No law OF Congress can
place in the hands Of officials connected with the
Postal service any authority 10 Invade the sc~y oi
letters and such scaled packages IN the mail IL Is
,. d. ID say
| the committee to extend the authority Of the Post
master General or 10 render Insecure by reason OF
unlawful searches or seizure any core pOndenoo OF
| any Kind whatever one OF the main benefits 70 be
q rived from the substitute bill, if it shall become
| law is that which makes the act of mailing lottery
letters and circulars continuous offence, Ulabie by
the court in any Jurisdiction through which they nal
ms. or into which ihcv nay 20. Conviction, under
existing i,c even where the proof, can b. procured,
are not only difficult but believed to be next TO
iI1pJssbc IN the state Of Louisiana, where the bnlk
OF the lottery compauy's mail IS deposited owing 70
| the extended and diversified power Of the company
which, IL IS Claimed, reaches lurcs ana defeats tho
end Of justice. ~ The provisions Of the substitute
ill., letter mailed at NcwOrlean, may be traced into
an other state ana identified BY IL delivery 30 tha'
II the act OF mailing Le located upon al Individual
or individuals, at si.d city, he ocnc: may p9S dor
the review Of courts the place Of del!very, thus
| securing fair tal IN localities where the influence
| OF the lottery is not established.
Other advantage, TO be derived from the substitute
bill tic extension 0: the penalty for mailing let
tens intended for the lottery by the pubic lns tcbl
Of ccnGniag II 10 the mailing Of them by such com
raules 10 The public and the enumeration Of several
things. checis. money etc. for the pnrtha9c or
lottery tickets. the mailing Of which Is prohibited.
4 bod and daring company, says the committee
abOuuding in ,ultTfugc,. acCu-tcad 10 violating tn
and Skilled in the art OF finding detection, Will
not hesitate to commit itnumer,blc Offences. ~hil
the citizen who respects the laws Is afraid Oi
ts majesty, Will hcsi tltc to tike the chance, Of
Prosecution. The gr'it,r tGaeiit; If 20 s;1l VII lo
lottery advertisements and list Oi prizes thu. paT1i
ANY cutting OIL c9mmnnpic.lln be'"ecn tl@ lolte]
us victims Another important feature. IN \ l"--t
sense Is that violations OF provisions Of ne blu ma}
! be PRECEDED against By Indictment or Information
and that the cxtcnt Of the punishment IS within tn
discretion Of the cOlrt.
to the defects in the cAistuE Law ~ means OF
which letters intended for the lottery company may
agent by including within It's provisions any agent
! or representative Of the company acting indl
vlduai firm bank corporation. Or association Of az;
lottery concern that remttances for IL may be made
To any other person; firm, bank, corporation o. a.
the existence of said agency py nj the parc, named
therein. If enacted would permit the Postmaster
| panv the benefits Of the registry and money oric,
systems. and would result in compelling the ott'ry
company tO obtain rcTiitlrcc t3gough express cOla
panics. or similar channels.
| In conclusion the committee says:
Tha. Congress- lie willing TO provide remedy ios tn
correction Of this evil within the letter and spirit Of th
Constitution Win be accepted fact
tho committee has THEREFOR proceeded IN IT, work with
Wow Of providing law which Is believed win Ilac'
within the reach Of executive officers and within the Jus
dctoa OF the courts that be adopted
crush out the bancfu Of these concerns whcth
chartered by Organized and protected outside t
% laws.