The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-18
MONTREAL PEOPLE ARR SUFFER-
ING FROM BANEFUL EFFECTS.
Institutions Run Under the Name of
Art School 10 Avoid the Laws
Lumber Question N Serious Que

teCtS the whole nation, Dominion legiSla-
ton Is now being invoked There is at
present a large and increasing number of
lottery concerns. which do business under
such deceptive guises as the Canadian Ar
tistic Society, the Royal Art Union. the
Society OF Sculpture. the Free Schools,
the Promotive of Arts, etc. Their char
tiers, obtained from the provincial govern
ment under a clause in the Dominion
criminal code, give some color of right TO
these concerns. This clause, passed in
1893, although forbidding lotteries in this
country. allows members of an art union
to hold drawings. but among themselves
only, for works of art made by members
of such art union. This provision In the
code has been exploited by promoters of
lottery concerns to afford a complete COW
err under which these so-called art So
cieties" and other like Institutions may
now successfully operate in defiance OF
the law.
Although lotteries are forbidden all over
The world. they exist and flourish to an
alarming extent in the city Of Montreal.
The reason for the beginning Of the lot
terry evil there was that, in 1883, a bona
fde artistic association. believed that a
means of encouraging young Canadian
painters would be found in the speedy dis
posal of their work, and as some of these
works were high priced, the members OF
the association sought and obtained an
amendment to the law permitting them TO
purchase tickets and draw lots for these
paintings. II was then that ambitious per-
sons saw a good opportunity for working
the lottery scheme. and soon there arose
on every side artistic societies for the os-
tensible purpose Of the encouragement OF
art. Some sold oil paintings, others chro-
mos, others chalk statues, but all could.
in some way or other, be redeemed at their
scheduled valuation In cash, and thus the
.xf,~ -a.,aht fAr a nd Intended ~ hn RfNEn
was in reality a money prize to the lucky
ticket holders. Fraudulent practices are
also extensively carried on under these
lottery schemes by which the lottery pro-
meters are daily fleeing the gullible pub
lie. particularly the working classes. II
has been shown that out OF every $tDNNv
expended in one OF these art societies only
$4,000 was returned to the public in prizes.
Some Of these lotteries are controlled by
very prominent and wealthy citizens or
Montreal.
The spectacle presented by the Montreal
lotteries has become a reproach TO the
dominion. II Is not only shocking TO Ca
nadians, but especially so to strangers,
who ask whether the province OF Quebec.
a country Inhabited by the Latin race. Is
any better than the small republics of the
same complexion, where alone among civ
ilized nations flourish those immense
abuses of human simplicity. These art So
cieties extend their operations into I'll
the principal cities Of the United States
NttE 49, 'N'NNE ~ ~
and they meet Will considerable success
there in spite OF the close watch which
the American postal authorities keep upon
them. Men. women and even children, In
Montreal, gamble in these art concerns.
Within the past three months there have
been several cases OF emhexzlement In
prominent business circles in Montreal
which are directly traceable TO the fas-
cination held out by the licensed lotteries
TO those who handle trust funds.
Thus the lottery puts out its tentacies,
embracing the Whole CITY and UnIpHnlnR
over the pr0vince and throughout the
country until it's grip soon will be so firm
as TO he almost impossible TO shake on.
This Increasing danger to the community
generally has at last aroused public con-
science ana an effort. which is being
-strenuously opposed by the lottery men, Is
now being put forth In the dominion par
lament 20 pass such an amendment TO
the criminal code Of Canada as Will eff
fectually remove every pretext or cloak
for the further prosecution Of the lottery
business In the dominion.
Grave Question In Ottawa.
4 grave question. resulting from the
late FIRE. which is now agitating the
minds OF the people AT the Canadian cap
ttal, and which has also been informally
discussed IN the f. whether the
privilege OF allowing lumber piles within
the city limits shall be cancelled or not.
The nre has been a striking lesson as TO
the dange Of wooden roofs on buildings
and lumber piling IN the city, and Ira or
der TO prevent a second visitation Of the
FIRE hend a stringent bylaw - now before
the city couuGi. II the city lumber yards
are abolished Il means a death blow,
practically, 20 Ottawa immense lumber
Ing industry. There "a, however. a large
force Of public opinion at present behind
the demand 10 eNpei the lumber plies.
hut there are also strong and what Will
probably prove more powerful influences
opposed 20 their Punishment
II IL pointed out that In Chicago. Mime
apolis. 81. Paul. Detroit. Toledo and other
large cities In the United States are TO he
found lumber plies 10 much more Danger
oBs positions than in ottawa, yet IN none or
these cities. u ~ claimed. ~ lumber viewed
with such suspicion o. IN Ottawa As an
Illustration ~ the value 0f the lumber in
dustry 20 this city - may be cited that the
Rooth NUMBERING establishment alone pays
5000 a week 20 min hands The Canada
Atlantic railway shops. depending upon
Mr.. Hooth's lumber operations. have a
payroll q 5000 a week. The wages for his
WuudmeW, driVcmen and others also total
aa1ut sgi0.0oo a year. Altogether this ore
establishment pays an average of 22s-ep0
weekly. or 500 per day, Ia wages II Is
easy. therefore. 20 calculate the injury
which would result 20 the city should any
serious check be placed upon the lumber
Ing industry. u 81 also a fact worthy u
notice hat none ~ the great nres which
have devastated the city % Hun oriEi-
mated IN the iurnher piles nor have they
offered SO great a means 20 The spread ~
conGagration as The shlngie-roofed houses.
Price ~ Paper L. tn.
The Dominion government. in rcuHe-
oueuee ~ the destruction q the I'D uuiu
and paper mills is considering ,se a4yie
ability Of either reducing 90 entirely SUE
pending the customs tariff ov foreign He8s-
priut. The paper manufacturer % Canada
nave Increased the price 81 uHptr - tEr
ceI g. and 4ge likely ~ fartner rairn the
figure ~ IA9 ter cent Daring "a d.~cuasi9n
upon the subject iu the huuee 'ata wFrk.
sir Wnfrd Lauricr stated thaf tls pro
pasal o. lighter Tire burden moss weizhiu;
upon The publishing trade was engaging
the attention NJ tire Ruvcrumfdt TIE
postnge rate on neN Wiz he ab1i.
lshed and. u The duty on neHApr'ug e no'
Suspended foT a term - years. 10 wal b
- rrodifed AZ 20 facilitate the in1pqrta-
lion u paper from the United States For
ever six months all the p4Uer mills -
Canada have been working ~ 90 their f1r
capacity. and all q them. al tho present
time. are cgersCid. The manager % ths
Canada Paper Company states that N the
day following the Hull-Crtawh nro ne re-
ceiVed teleEFsma from twenty-five news.
papers in various parts u C8naIt asking
a.. -