The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-05
xaE END OF THE LOUISIANA LOT
Terry.

Terry.
The decision Of the United States su-
preme court sustaining the constitution
atty of the law of congress excluding all
lottery advertisements or material of any
sort from the mails has caused the mana
gers Of that nefarious enterprise to hang
out the white Gag of surrender.
Lotteries date back to the worst days Of
pagan Roma. They were universal in the
middle ages, and were chartered resource
Of nearly all the free cities. They -four
ished under Louis the Fourteenth Of
France. and are sometimes permitted by
the government of France today, as in the
case Of the Panama canal lottery. Lot
.teries still flourish in several European
cities, but they ali distribute from q to 80
per cent. more Of their proceeds than the
Louisiana lottery, which out of its net an
nual income OF not less than $4,000. 900
paid $40, 900 in lieu Of all taxes to the Char
ity hospital, of New Orleans. Massachu-
sets allowed Harvard college to contrive
and administer q lottery by which it OBJ
tanned $4,000 The state of Rhode Is
land made such grants until 1910, and
Maryland continued these even later.
England abolished lotteries in 1926.
John A. Morris. who, speaking for his
associates in the control and management
OF the Louisiana lottery, now hauls down
its battle flag, comes of horse-racing pedi-
gree. He is estimated TO be worth 500
000.000 and has invested sl.756.oo0 in the
arh
The most remarkable figure in the Louisi-
ana enterprise, after John A. Morris, was
Charles T. Howard. who was killed by
fall from his horse six years ago. The
lottery amendment to the Louisiana
state constitution to be voted upon by
the people in April next seeks to re-estab-
Iish the lottery for twenty-five years
from January l. 1894, upon the condition
that John A. Morris and his associates
shall undertake that during the life Of the
lottery $31. $50 900 shall be paid 10 the state
in yearly parts of 81, 25o. 900. the latter sum
to be apportioned Tin quarterly payments)
as follows: $4,000 to the public schools;
$4,000 to the levees; $4,000 to state hos
pitfalls; $4,000 TO state insane asylums;
$4,000 for the deaf, dumb and blind;
5000 for the Soldiers Home "a state in
stitution); $4,000 for pensions to dis
abled, infirm or INDECENT Confederate
soldiersi 100000 to the city of New
Orleans. for drainage aud other sanitary
purposes: and $3.50. 900 for the general fund
Of the state. Rival lotteries are effectuaily
shut out by the necessity Of coming into
life in the same way and of paying an
equal amount TO the state. The comp any,
besides, Is TO be exempt from taxation.
In September, 1880. congress passed a
law which made IL possible to prosecute
for the posting Of lottery tickets or adver-
tisements along the route or ct the destin-
alton.
At the New Orleans postoffice In ten
days prior to the passage of the new law
the lottery company received &c. 600 letters;
in the same time the New Orleans National,
the lottery bank, received s.484 registered
letters. For ten days in July, 1891, the
lottery received only 63i letters. and the
bank only forty-one registered letters.
one-third Of the New Orleans mail
formerly went to the lottery, the receipts
OF the postoffice on that account alone
amount ing to si25, 900 year.
Postmaster-General wanamaker in his
last report says: "Thc mails are no longer
used by the Louisiana State Lottery Com
pany for the transmission of printed mat
ter In packages or unsealed envelopes Its
patronage Of the post Is now limited to
letters and packages under seal, and |
have reason to believe that such matter Is
sent only to points that cannot easily be
reached by the express companies"
necessary the lottery would no doubt
conduct its carrying business by pony ex-
press or even by foot-messengers: but
Just at present 1t finds the express comna-
MES handy agency. agains. whom, how
ever. the postmaster general is preparing
legal warfare.
The surrender of Morris. since the an
nouncement Of the decision OF the United
States supreme court. will be q surprise 10
those who argue that the lottery company
was not dependent upon the United
States mail for transportation; that the
express companies can be used for this
purpose But the directors of the great
express companies that are adequate to the
business of the lottery company could not
long endure the hostility of enlightened
public opinion. backed by the power of
national legislation and the executive
opposition OF the postofiiee department.
Furthermore, the Anti-Lottery League in
Louisiana Is made up of ex-Confederats
soldiers of distinction headed by Cover
nor Nichols. and other conspicuous
citizens, who are nerved by the determine
ton of desperation to break the coils of
the anaconda OF the lottery now
wound shout the state. The forces of
public opinion have been reused and organ
ICED in every state of the North by the
Louisiana Anti-Lottery League, aud Nor
ris, who is man of ability and high intel
hgence, saw that he could not safely defy
the public opinion of the whole nation;
and that he and his confederstes were in
possible, If not probable, danger of armed
instruction against the lottery and all its
works. The decision OF the United States
supreme court gave him an opportunity 70
retreat with dignity and he has shrewdly
awaited himself of il,
The universal opposition 70 lotteries by
enlightened states is due to the fact that
Ii is gambling in its most frightful and
pestilential form. A writer in the current
number of the Cosmopolitan says:
Now there needs DO argument TO show that a
state OF nation that is undertaking to sun.
press gambling is belying its owu word, ~ Al
the same moment IL creates an elaborate and at.
traesiye system Ct gambling, and gives to II all