Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-29
At THE White HOUSE
Important Cabinet Meeting
Held Today.
TO REPRESENT AMERICA
CHOICE LIES BETWEEN THREE
REAR ADMIRALS.
Guessing Contests Declared by Attors
ney General to Be Lotteries-Pro-
posed Increase of Salaries.
TO REPRESENT AMERICA

dent Roosevelt from St Louis. Two ques-
tions of concern. particularly, were con-
sidered, the first being the appointment by
the President of representative OF the
American government who probably would
be a naval officer Of high rank, on the tri-
bunal which is to determine the questions
which have arisen between Great Britain
and Russia over the firing by Admiral Ro-
jestvensky's Baltic feet upon the British
trawlers in the North sea, and the other
being an opinion rendered by Attorney Cen
eral Moody regarding the legality, under
the lottery laws, of guessing contests
which have been conducted by many news
papers and magazines.
The President, Secretary Hay and Secre-
tary Morton considered the invitation or
England and Russia most carefully When
the cabinet adjourned no definite conciu-
sion as to who should be selected had been
reached, but 1t was definitely settled that
rear admiral of the navy would be named
for the purpose desired. The discussion
took into consideration the opinions OF
number of prominent officers OF that rank,
but it is practically certain that the seiec-
ton will be made from among three men
Rear Admirals Davis, Chadwick and SANDS
The probability is in favor of Rear Admlrai
Davis with Rear Admiral Chadwick second
and Rear Admiral Sands third. There has
been much talk of Admiral Dewey. and the
desire general that he should nave tne
position but he made IL known that ne did
not care for the honor and would not desire
the appointment. Consequently the seiec-
ton will be made from among other men OF
high rank An announcement will be MADE
in a few days
Guessing Contests Lotteries.
Some time ago. on the request of Post
master General Wynne, the President d.
racfed the Attorney General to submit TO
him an opinion as to the propriety. under
the law restricting the operations OF lot
terry, enterprises through the mails, OF
ruessins contests of various kinds which
have been features OF many phoaosuvhs Nsa s,.s,s
mitted today and was turned over ~ the
President to Postmaster General ynne.
who, hereafter will be guided In his direc-
tion of the department by the opinion ne
opinion Is of most sweeping character.
and while the Postmaster General mas no
inclination to work hardship upon any
body, he will put the Attorney Generai ?
Judgment into effect as soon as may be
practicable He realizes that many thou
sands of people have invested small or large
amounts of money in the various schemes
In the hope or expectation, In the words or
the opinion, that luck would enable them
TO win large returns. "A comparatively
small percentage of the participants Will
realize their expectations. Thousands VIII
get nothing" The Attorney General says
the schemes are, in effect, lotteries under
the guse of guessing contests. he quotes
a unanimous opinion of the New YORK
court of appeals. rendered on august .,
1904 in which 1t was held that where a
scheme lacks the elements of legitimate
business enterprise it is lottery within
the meaning of the statute.
Hitherto the Post Office Department mas
been operating in respect to guessing con-
tests under opinions rendered by the De-
partment of Justice. These opinions nave
held that where persons could use dope
book or records. or scientific Information.
In making their calculations, their guesses
were an application of knowledge which, In
the view of the Attorney General. elimi-
mated to an extent at least. the factor or
chance The opinion held, to quote one OF
them directly that calculation, foresight,
knowledge, inquiry and Information en-
abled the participants to approximate tne
correct results and the use of the malls
in promoting such enterprises is not Vio-
lation of the law.
Attorney General Moody points out, how
ever that ''snce these opinions were writ
ten the Supreme Court of the United States
and the court of appeals of New York have
ruled that cases identical In principle TO
these under consideration were guessing
contests"
Postmaster General Wynne indicated that
1t was not his purpose to apply the Nopln-
ion of Mr.. Moody indiscriminately, saying
ii was his intention to consider each case
brought before the department on its In
dividual merits. 1t is likely, too, that the
opinion will not be made in any sense re-
troactive SO far as the Post once Depart
in operation In such a way and at such
time as may be least embarrassing to either
the promoters of or the participants In
the guessing contests.
For Increase of Salaries.
Leading republicans of the House and
Senate propose to give support to meas
ure at the coming session of Congress, or
at the Aext one, increasing the salaries OK
the President, Vice President and members
of Congress, and between now and the
time for pushing the bill they viii seek
to obtain the views of the President as TO
such legislation. Representatives Dalzeli
and Littlefield are among those who are
understood to be willing to give their sup
port to an increase all along the line.
The salaries of Supreme Court and other
federal Judges were some time ago In
creased and the feeling has been growing
stronger that the salaries of members or
Congress are too low and that the Presi-
dent and Vice President ought both 10
have more money. The question OF how
much the increase ought to be Is expected
to be the main one II 1t Is found that senu-
ment favors increase of some kind
AS to the President, there appears to be
something like a unanimous opinion that
his salary ought to be 100000 a year. ana
that the Vice President ought to get
$4,000 a year. The feeling is also favor
able to $4,000 year for senator's and
representatives This would double the
present salaries There are others who be-
lieye that a 30 per cent increase would not
be Objectionable to the country at large.
where there might be serious criticism of
a 100 per cent increase. especially for men,
bers of Congress.
The opinion of those who have given the
matter any consideration is that such a
measure ought to be made operative at
the beginning of some future Congress, SO
that members of the Congress passing the
bill may not be accused OF doing so Tor
their own benefit. The idea is that IL the
present Congress should pass such q law
the date for its going into eject would be
fixed about March 4, 1907. AS to the
President the increase could go into ef-
feet at that time also If President Roose-
velt would be willing TO consent. but he
might also object to having the measure
benefit him while he is in Office. If so
the increase could go into effect March !.
1909.
Hundreds of members of Congress are
required to spend more money to live
here than they receive from the govern
manf and In dainR SO they do NOT culti~