The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-30
a Disturbing Issue in Louisiana.

| A Disturbing issue IN LOUISIANA
The question of extending the charter of
the Louisiana Lottery Company for twenty
five years will be a big issue in the state
election in Louisiana next spring. And it is
an issue upon which the Democratic party
in that state viii be divided. 1t won't
bother the republicans a great deal The
vast majority Of them are blacks, and there
is an impression that for a satisfactory con-
sideration they Will vote as the lottery COM
/ pany wants them to.
! But the issue is going to make trouble in
the democratic ranks. The better class Of
democrats are opposed to the lottery com
pany, and they will do all they can to de-
feat the constitutional amendment which
| provides for the extension OF its charter.
| When the last legislature passed the act
| providing for submitting the constitu-
tlonal amendment in the lottery companys
| interest TO the people Gov. Nichols vetoed
it. According to his belief the legislature
had been influenced to pass the measure by
the lottery company's money, and, besides,
he was satisfied that the lottery business did
more to corrupt the people and keep them
poor than any other thing.
The legislature did not attempt to pass the
amendment over the governors veto for the
reason that the necessary two-thirds MAJ
iority could not be obtained. A two-thirds
majority voted for the amendment when it
was originally passed, but one or two men,
bers favorable to the lottery company died
before the governors veto was received.
1t was claimed by the lottery company
that it was not necessary for the
governor to sign the messure-that it was
a law without the governors signature.
The secretary of state, however, refused to
promulgate the act, and the lottery com
pany took the matter into the courts. The
decision of the lower court was against the
lottery company. but the supreme court on
Monday gaNJ a decision in favor of the
company. The question, therefore, whether
or not the lottery company shall have an
extension of its charter will be submitted
to the people at the next state election.
And the prospect is that the lottery COM
pany will be victorious, not only because it
has money to spend in furthering its plans,
but, also, on account of the bride which the
lottery company offers to the people. This
bride amounts to 81 100000 per annum for
twenty-five years, and is almost sufficient
for the support of the schools and hospitals
of the state and for the repair of the levees
But. unless the restriction which the last
congress placed upon the mails relative to
newspapers containing lottery advertise
ments is removed, the lottery company will
hardly be able to pay any such sum as it
proposes to pay for the privilege of carry
ing on a lottery business in Louisiana. And
a vigorous effort is being made to have that
restriction removed. A case is pending in
the United States supreme court in which
the question whether or not that restriction
is constitutional is presented. Although
two newspapers appear as plaintiffs in
the case, there is not much - if
any-doubt that the lottery company
is bearing the expenses of it. The
best lawyers which money can obtain
appear for the plaintiffs, and they seem to be
confident that the decision will be in their
favor. The case was to have been argued
last Monday, but on account Of the illness
of Mr.. Justice Bradley it was postponed
until next October.
The lottery company is very rich, and it
| is going to spend a great deal of money
to get a renewal of its charter and
to break down the law which shuts
lottery advertisements out Of the mails.
And IN the fight it is making, the Demo-
crat party Of Louisiana may suffer irrepa-
rabie damage, because the democrats of
that state who are against lotteries are not
going to withdraw their opposition to it even
if the lottery co nplny should be successful
in getting an extension of its charter.