The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-25
LOTTERY ADVTS.
Postmaster General Tells What should
Not Be Printed.

The number of people, some times rep
resenting a high grade business and
most respectable societies and organic
atoms, who try to get lottery and ques-
tionable advertising printed in the State
Journal, without success of course, is
surprisingly large. This in an intelligent
and law loving community like this
The State Journal, even if it We're IN
clined to do SO, is not permitted by the
postoffice department which cireulates
over half its edition each day, to print
certain kinds Of advertising. Here IS
what Postua ster General Cortelyou
says on the question:
Order of the Postmaster General.
The attention of postmasters and rail-
way postal clerks is directed to section
499 of the Postal Laws and Regulations
of 1902 (Sec. ], Act of September IL,
1890. by the provisions of which news
papers or other publications of any
kind, circulars and pamphlets contain
ing advertisements of lotteries, gift con-
Certs or similar enterprises for the dis
tribution of prizes by lot or chance or
lists of the prizes awarded in pursuance
Of such schemes, and all other matter
relating to them, are declared to be IN
mailable.
The terms lottery. so-cal1ed gift con-
cert or similar enterprise offering
prizes dependent upon lot or chance,
as used in that section, include guess
ing" or estimating contests for prizes,
as well as drawings and raffles of every
kind, whether general or local. whether
for private gain or in aid of charitable,
educational or religious objects, and
whether the consideration Tor chances
be money or otherwise
Enterprises in finch prizes are dis
tributed among purchasers of merchan-
disc in stated amounts, or among. SUD
scribers for publications, or Tor shafes
of corporate stock, through the medium
of drawings or guessing contests, are
lotteries within the meaning OF that
section.
Publications, circulars, cards or
pamphlets containing advertisements of
such enterprises, or notices or other
information of any kind relating to
them should be withdrawn from the
mails and treated in accordance with
sections 573 COZ and 624 of the Postal
Laws and Regulations
Where there is doubt whether the
scheme advertised or referred to IS a
| lottery, or similar enterprise, as de-
fined by section 499, the matter in ques-
ton should be submitted to the Assist
ant Attorney General for the Postofice
department for advice as to Its admis-
sibility
l the Assistant Attorney General, en-
bracing opinions or rulings in respect
of matter so submitted, are TO be re-
/ garded as records Of the pOstoffice and
/ retained among its official files for pur-
/ poses of reference.
The substance only OF such conmuni-
/ cations should be conveyed to interested
/ persons, and in no case should exact
/ copies be supplied TO them; the ruling
/ or opinion being intended for the guild
/ ance OF the postmaster and not for the
/ use of those interested in the enterprise
/ passed upon.
The Postonice Department is sndeav-
/ orfng to enforce the anti-lottery stat
/ utes strictly and with thoroughness.
/ Postmasters, railway postal clerks,
/ and all other officers and employees
/ charged with the handling Of mail mat
ter are therefore expected TO examine
/ such matter. especially publications,
/ with the greatest care consistent with
prompt transmission and delivery, and
/ to Withdraw or exclude all such as is
ascertained to relate to lotteries or like
enterprises.
Many postmasters have been found
/ negligent in this regard. as well as In
the enforcement Of fraud orders against
lotteries located in foreign countries,
/ announcement of the Issuance Of which
is made from time to time In the
monthly Postal Guide.
GEO. 3. CORTELYOU.
Postmaster General.