The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-04
FLORIDA AND THE LOTTERY
Senator PaScO Thinks 1t Will Be
Driven Out Of the State.

IF There Is Not Sufficient Power in the
State he Will Bring the Matter
Before Congress-The Senator Thinks
the Existing Statutes of the State
Are Sufficient to Cope With the Evil.
Washington, Feb. 3.-The alleged at
tempt to re-establish the Louisiana Lot
terry Under nominal Honduras charter, at
Port Tampa city, Fla, was not unknown
to Senator Pasco who has been interest
ing himself in the subject the last few
days and looking into the law, with the
end in view of doing all he can to remove
the evil from the state. If there is not
sufficient power in his own state, Mr..
Pasco says he will bring the matter be-
fore congress.
1.-The Florida constitution contains a
prohibition of lotteries" said the senator
this morning, land our laws have hereto
fore been in harmony with the constitu-
ton for their suppression. A law passed
by the last legislature modified the exist
ing statute, but the general impression
was that instead Of making it less severe,
the change made the law stronger. Ru-
mors have existed for some time that
some change made in the law rendered it
possible for lotteries to carry on their
work in that state.
II have not been able to ascertain upon
what that idea rested l have taxed to u
number of members of the legislature,
and they all say there was nothing of the
kind done. Still, there are buildings
going up at Port Tampa. aud it is mani
fest that they are connected with some
lottery scheme.
POINT IN THE LAW.
Gin some portions of the law, instead of
prohibiting lotteries generally, the legisla-
ture added the words, in this state the
intention of those who put the law,
through, no doubt, being to make the claim
before the courts that only Florida lot
teries were permitted, and that lotteries
in other states or foreign countries
might carry on their operations, or
some of them, at least, without violating
the laws of Florida. 1t is evident that
this law must have been introduced and
carried through the legislature by some
person in the secret, although it was I'M
known to the great body of men in the
legislature, and the governor who APP
examined the law critically, and
do not pretend to pass my opinion
thoroughly, but my impression is that
the first clause of the law in which it
prohibits the people from permitting or
conducting lotteries. will check. in a great
measure, the plans of those who expect
to carry on these operations. My impress
sion is that the first clause of the law
makes a distinct ofense aud the clause
which follows and is connected by
| the word or, makes another Of
tense. IL is this second clause that has
been modified. Another law prohibits
the sale of tickets of any such lotteries as
are mentioned in the first section, and
under the law l am sure our courts can
| find the opportunity to check the evil, If
not to prevent it entirely.
SENTIMENT AGAINST 1T.
''The governor of the state and the
leading lawyers from various parts of the
state and public men generally" said the
senator, with whom l have talked, have
expressed their views, and a very general
disposition exists TO check this evil and
break up the operations of this organiza-
ton. If there is not sufficient
strength iE present laws, 1 feel
sure that the next legisla-
ture will carry out public senti-
ment, which is against the lottery. I'm
der existing law, whether the real head
quarters are in Honduras or in Florida,
the concern will not be able to use the
United States mails They will be pre-
vented from this by the present law,
which the supreme court has held to be
constitutional. IfO additional national
legislation should become necessary II
will undoubtedly be had, so far as the con.
stitutional power exists in congress To
legislate against the lottery evil.'