Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-04
THE ANTI-LOTTERY LAW.
An Explanatory Letter from the Post
master-General.
fpr tnlnrranh 70 the Disnatch.1


WAsuIvGroN, d. c.. October assistant
Attorney General Iyner, under the dlrec-
ton of Postmaster General Wanamaker.
has prepared a circular letter to postmas-
tiers containing instructions for their guild
auce In carving out the 8nti-lOttery law.
The instructions stated that the law APP
plies to any letter, ordinary or registered,
If it concerns any lottery. gift concert or
scheme described in the act. and to lottery
tickets, checks, drafts. bills, money,
or postal notes, or money orders
for the purchase OF lottery tickets, or
any share or chance in a lottery or gift en-
terprise, lottery tickets, checks, drafts.
bills, money. postal notes, or money orders
for the purchase of lottery tickets or any
share or chance in lottery, or gait enter
prise, and to list drawings at any lottery or
similar scheme, and forblds the carrying
of them in the mails or the delivery OF
them from post-offices.
SEALED PACKAGES NOT TO BE DISTURBED.
Seal of letter or any sealed packet pre-,
paid az letter rates must not be disturbed
for the purpose of asceTtaining If It's trans
mission in the mail or its delivery at the
post-office is forbidden by a provision OF
the act. Nor will the mere suspicion that
such letter or packet relates to lottery,
or the fact that it is addressed TO any per
of conducting lottery, justify its deten-
ton or non-delivery, except that the de-
livery of registered letters at the Office OF
destination shall be withheld when the
Postmaster-Generalh has issued specific
orders to that effect.
WHAT MAY DE INSPECTED.
Postal cards andiunsealed matter may be
inspected when suspected of being lottery
matter. The mailing Of matter by citizens
to lottery companies Is violation OF the
law as well as from companies. When IL
is unknown that any postal cards or un-
sealed matter is unavailable under the pro-
visions of the act the postmaster should
decline TO receive 1t, and whenever such
matter is discovered In the post-oiiices or
in transit it should be stamped " Fraudu-
lent" and sent on to the Postmaster
General with a special report on the case.
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS.
Newspapers and other publications con-
tanning advertisements of a lottery or gift
enterprise scheme or the lists of prizes
awarded are forbidden carriage in the
mails. Postmasters should refuse to re-
ceive or deliver them. and when found IN
the mail in transit they should be held un-
til instructions can be received from the
Postmaster General. The section of the
act relating to registered letters and
money-orders apply at the Office of de-
livery only and are 10 be enforced upon
direct orders Of the Postmaster-G
WHAT Is MEANT BY LOTTERY.
The term lottery" as used in the act.
embraces all kinds of schemes. general or
local, for the distribution of prizes by lot
tery or chance, such as gift exhibitions,
enterprises, concerts, ratfies. or drawing
of prizes in money or property at fairs.
Hence. letters. postal cards. and circulars
concerning them and newspapers, PAM
phlets, and other publications containing
advertisements of them are unavailable.
The act applies to foreign as well as do
mestic mail. The instructions close with
the notice that postmasters and other
postal officials and employees are expected
to be dlligent in carrying out the instruc-