Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-04

WASHINGTON, October 3.-Assistant At
torney General Tyner, under direction OF
Postmaster General Wanamaker, has pre-
psred for publication Postal Bulletin, -
a circular letter to postmasters containing
instructions for their guidance in the treat
ment of lottery matter under the recent
anti-lotterv act. After quoting the law in
full. the circular reads as follows:
First-Section 1884, above quoted, applies to
any letter. ordinary or registered. if it concerns
any lottery, gift concern. or scheme described
in the section relating to lottery tickets checks,
drafts. bills. Uoney postal notes, or money
orders for the purchase of lottery tickets or any
share or chance in a lottery or gift enterprise,
and to the list of the drawings at any lottery or
similar scheme, and forbids the carrying of
them IN the mails, or the delivery of them.
MUST NOT BREAK SEALS.
Secord-The seal of letter or of any sealed
packet, prepaid at letter rates, must not be dis
turbed for the purpose of ascertaining If its
transmission in the mail or its delivery at a
postoffice is forbidden by the provisions of this
act Nor will the mere suspicion that such let
ter OF packet relates to lottery or the fact
that it is addressed to any person known to be
engaged in the business of conducting lot
rerv Justify its detention or non-delivery except
that the delivery of registered letters at the
office os destination shall be withheld. when
the Postmaster General has issued specific
orders under the provisions of section 1929 to
that effect
Third-Postal cards and circulars unsealed
and all other ursealed matter may. when sus-
pected of having been deposited or mailed IN
violation of the provisions of this act, be ex-
amined for the purpose of ascertaining their
character.
A VIOLATION EITHER WAY.
Fourth-The mailing of matter interdicted
b. tins act by citizens to lottery companies and
their representatives is as clear a violation of
the law as the mailing of such matter by lot
terry companies to their customers or other per-
sons.
Fifth-When it is known at the time of de-
posting them for mailing that postal cards or
circulars are unmailable under the provisions
of section 1894. above quoted, the postmaster
should decline to receive them. II they be
found In pOstof1ice and the sender is unknown
TO the postmaster, or If they be discovered in
the mail ID transit they should be Withdrawn
and marked or stamped fraudulent and sent
10 the Postmaster General, accompanied by
special report from the postmaster, explaining
the reason for their detention.
SiNth-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 il it originated
in the United States.
ALL ALONG THE LINE.
Seveuth-NatUer sent in violation of the pro-
visions of section 1884 discovered by post
masters at intermediate offices, should be with
drawn from tine mail, and disposed of in the
same manner as if it had been discovered by
the postmaster al the office of mailing or the
office of delivery But postmasters at inter-
mediate offices should not delay the transmits
sion of other mail in making special search for
ANYTHING declared BY this act to be unmaIlable
EiChtk-New- papers, pamphlets and publlca-
tons of all kinds bearing date before or since
the 18th day OF September, 1890 (at which date
the act took effect), which contain the adver-
tisement of any lottery. gift enterprise SIM
liar scheme or the whole or part of the list of
prizes awarded at the drawings of lotteries or
similar schemes, are, by the provisions of this
act, denied carriage in the mails or delivery to
subscribers addresses or to any other persons
as sample copies" Postmasters should refuse
10 receive them from publishers or to deliver
them if by inadVeTtance they reach the Office
of destination. When found by postmasters in
The mail in transit they should be held until
report concerning them can be made to the
Postmaster General and instructions received
from him as to the dlspOsing of them.
Ninth-ForeIgn newspapers. pamphlets and
publications OF all kinds containing printed
matter forbidden by the provisions of this act
should be treated as if they were published in
the United States.
WHILE IN TRANSIT.
Tenth-Clerks in the Railway Mail Service
discovering matter. the carriage of which is for
bdden by the provisions of this act, should
withdraw and forward it to their respective
division superintendents Division superin-
sendents should treat such matter in the same
manner as postmasteIs are herein instructed to
treat it.
Eleventh-The term lottery" as used in this
act embraces all kinds of schemes general or
local Tor the distribution of prizes by lot or
chance, such as gift enterprises, concerts, raf-
1es or the drawing of prizes in money or
property at fairs Hence letters, postal cards
and circulars concerning them and newspapers
pamphlets and other publications containing
advertisements OF them are unavailable
Twelfth-Ihe provisions of section 1889 re-
latIng TO registered letters. and of section 4 O4l
relating to money orders, (both of which sec
tiOns are set out in full in the preceding copv
Of the act). apply to such matter at offices Of
delivery only. and are TO be enforced upon the
direct orders of the Postmaster General
Thirteenth-Pustmasters and other postal off,
cials and employees are expected to be diligent
IN carrying out the foregoing instructions for
the enforcement of the provisions of this act