The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-08-06
DOWN WITH LOTTERIES.
CONGRESS IS URGED TO DO
SOMETHING.

President Harrison Calls Attention tS the
Evil aud the Necessity for Lssislstion
tn Prevent the Use of the United states
Mais-Postal Clerks Ina tho Pay Of the
Louisiana Gamblers.
The following message has been sent
10 Congress by President HaITisoni
TO the Senate and House OF Representatives
"The recent attempt 10 secure n char
ter from the State of North DAKOTA for a
lottery company, the pending effort TO
obtain from the State Of Louisiana re-
newai of the charter Of the Louisiana
State Lottery, and the establishment Of
one or more lottery companies at Next
can towns near our border, have served
good purpose of calling public attcn-
ton 10 an evil of vast proportions. III
the baneful effects Of the lotteries were
confined TO the States that gave the com
panies corporate powers and license 70
conduct business, the citizens of other
States, being powerless TO apply legal
remedies, might clear themselves Of re-
sponsibility by the use of such moral
agencies as were within their reach.
But the case is not so. The people of all
the States are debauched and defrauded.
The vast sums OF money offered TO the
States for charters are drawn from the
people Of the United States and the Gen
eral Government, through its mail sys-
TEN, is made the effective and profitable
medium Of intercourse between the lot
terry company and its victims.
The use OF the mails is quite as essen
tial to the companies as the State license.
1t would be practically impossible for
these companies TO exist If the public
mails were once effectually closed against
their advertisements and remittances.
The use OF the mails by these companies
is prostitution Of an agency only in
tended TO serve purposes Of legitimate
trade and decent social intercourse. 1t
Is notnecessary, II am sure, for me TO at
tempt TO portray the robbery OF the poor
and the widespread corruption of public
and private morals which are the neces-
sary incidents Of these lottery schemes.
"The National Capital has become a
carbohydrates of the Louisiana Lot
terry Company, and its numerous agents
and attorneys are conducting here a busi-
ness involving probably larger use Of
the mails than that of any legitimate
business enterprise in the District of
Columbia. There seems 10 be good rea-
son 10 believe that the corrupting touch
of these agents has been felt by the
clerks in the postal service and by some
of the police officers in the District
Severe and effective legislation should DO
promptly enacted TO enable the postoflice
department TO purge the mails of all let
ters. The letter of the postmaster-gen
eral, which | transmit herewith, points
out the inadequacy of the existing stat
utes and suggests legislation that
would be effective. 1t may also be
necessary to so regulate the carry
ing of letters by the express companies as
TO prevent the use of those agencies 10
maintain communication between the
lottery companies and their agents or
customers in other cities. II does not
seem possible that there can be any di-
vision of sentiment as TO the prOpriety OF
closing the mails against these compa-
MES, and | therefore venture 10 express
the hope that such proper powers as are
necessary 10 that end will be given 10 the
pOstOflice department.
"BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, July 20, $780,"
The letter Of the Postmaster General
referred TO by the President calls atten-
ton 10 the ineflciency Of the present law,
and recommends the passage Of the anti
lottery bill recently reported 70 the
House.