, 1890-07-31
THE LOTTERY CURSE
A Message to Congress by
the President.
The MAILS MUST NOT Be USED
Washington the SUD- Headquarters
of the Louisiana Company
Legislation Urged.

WAsHrscroS, July 2s.-President
Harrison to-day sent the following mes
sage to congress:
10 the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives; The recent attempt to
secure charter from North Dakota for
lottery company, pending the effort to
obtain from the state OF Louisiana
the renewal of the charter OF the
Louisiana lottery, and the establishment
OF one or more lottery companies at
Mexican towns on our border have
served tho good purpose Of calling
public attention to an evil OF vast pro.
portions. IL the baneful effects of
lotteries were confined TO the states that
gave the companies corporate powers
and license to conduct business, the
citizens ofother states, being powerless 10
apply leenl remedies, nigh, clear them
selves Of responsibility by the use Of
such moral agencies as were within
their reach, but the case Is not
so, and 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 general gov
eminent, through the mail system, is
made the effective and profitable me-
dunn OF Intercourse between the lottery
company and its victims. The use of
the mails is quite as essential 10 the
companies as their state licenses. it
would be practically impossible for any
company to exist II the public mails
were once effectually closed against
t,h tt,fA
agency only intended to serve the pur-
poses of legitimate trade and decent So
cial intercourse.
1T is not necessary, l am sure, for me
TO attempt to portray the robbery OF the
poor, and the widespread corruption of
public and private morals which are the
necessary incidents of these lottery
schemes. The national capital has be.
come the sub'hendquarters OF the Louis
lana lottery company, and Its numerous
agents and attorneys are conducting
here business involving probably n
larger use OF the mails than that of any
legitimate business enterprise in the Dis.
trict of Columbia. There seems 10 be
good reason to believe that the corrupt-
ing touch of these agents has been felt
by clerks in the service, and by some
of tho public officers OF the district.
Severe and effective legislation should
be promptly enacted to enable the post
Office dcpartme nj to purge the mails of
all letters. newspapers and circulars re-
lating to the business.
The letter of the postmaster general,
which | transmit herewith, points out
the inadequaoy Of the existing statutes,
and suggests legislation that would be
effective. 1t may also be necessary to
regulate the carrying of letters
by express companies so as
to prevent the use of these agencies
to maintain comm unication between the
lottery companies and their agents or
customers In other cities. 1t does not
seem possible that there can be any
difference sentiment as to the propri-
ETY. of closing the mails against these
companies, and | therefore venture to
express the hope that such proper
powers as are necessary to act will be
given to the postofiice department"
The letter Of the postmaster general,
referred to by the president, calls atten.
tion TO the ineticiency of the present
law and recommends the passage OF the
anti-lottery bill recently reported to the
house.