Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-02-02

SPOKE FOR MAINE.
Extended Report Of Ex-Governor Cleayes
Able Argument Against the Loud Bill.

Washington, Jan. 3O-(Special COR
dependence. THAT was a very impor-
tant hearing before the Senate COM
mittee on postoffices and post roads
today on the Loud bill, as readers of
the Journal will note from the dis
patches. 1t may be of interest, how
ever, to readers of the Journal to have
q fuller report of the argument than
will be afforded in the Saturday dis
patches from the Capitol.
The governor spoke at considerable
length, and received the close attention
of the committee. He first expressed
his thanks for the courtesy extended,
for the opportunity of addressing them
on a matter so important to the inter-
eStS of the State. He said it had been
frequently asserted and re-asserted
that this measure, as affecting the
revenues of the government, was one
CT the most important questions before
the Congress of the United States; but
he begged to assure the committee that
it was a matter of grave and serious
Importance to many of the citizens of
Maine; and that if this act was to be-
come a law it would most seriously
affect many of the business interests of
the State that he had the honor to
speak for before the honorable com
mittee.
The governor said he did not come
here to weary them with the vast end
less and confusing statistics that had
heretofore been cited for and against
the passage of this measure and bear
ing upon the cost of the transportation
of our mails. Nor was he here to criti-
else the action of the lower House of
Congress in giving to this act its favor
able consideration: and that he would
be travelling far out of his way We're he
to reflect upon or criticise in the slight
est degree the action Of any depart
mcnt of this government in recon-
mending a policy that it believed would
place such department on a paying
basis, Thereby avoiding deficiency.
though such policy, in the judgment of
many, might work a great injury to
business interests. and curtail the ad-
vantages now enjoyed by great body
OF the people.
The governor contended that the
government had always pursued a
most liberal policy as to the public use
of its mail; and this is almost the first
determined, organized movement for
nearly half century to curtail these
beneiiccnt privileges. This liberal
policy was intended by Congress to be,
and it has been in the interests of the
people. There may have been, there
may exist now certain abuses: but it
is within the power of the department
to correct many of them; and if not
within the power of the department, it
is within the power and authority of
Congress, upon full and thorough in
vestigation, to correct all abuses, and
to correct them without revolutioniz-
irg the whole policy of the government
relating to second class mail matter,
without destroying the whole fabric
because one or two rotten timbers have
been found in the structure.
The postotfice department is nearer
the people than any other branch of
the public service. In the sparsely set
tied parts of every state, they witness
it's operation; the people know that it
is a part of the great government to
which they owe and give their allie
glance; and that the mails carry, in the
fern of magazines, periodicals and
newspapers the great civilizing agencies
of the nation.
The people of this country recognize
the benefits conferred, carrying to
them. practically postage free, good
books and reprints of books issued
periodically; carrying to them prac-
tically free, choice works of literature.
and popular magazines: carrying to
the great mass of the people oppor
tunities to study the great economic
questions that affect the interests OF
the country: carrying to almost every
hometand hearthstone the means of
acquiring information and knowledge
This liberal policy of the government in
our postal laws: these civilZing forces
are next to our common schools; they
aid in making a better citizenship.
they make a republic better, stronger
and more enduring
The governor said that he should not
take the time of the committee in read
ing the postal laws defining the char
acteristicS of second class mail matter
They are familiar to you all. 1t is
practically the law of 1886, with various
notifications and amendments subse-
quently enacted. all tending to more
liberal policy in the circulation of
papers. books and magazines.
Attacks upon the existing law come
from various sources: and 10 create Il