Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-29
The Maine Press Association and the Loud
Bill,

nual meeting of the Maine Press Asso-
unusually large amount OF time va
devoted to the consideration Of bEai-
ness matters. Among other subjec
that came up for discussion was tn
Loud bill now pending in Congress
The result of this was the passage ii
the following resolution:
"RESOLVED. THAT THE MAINE
PRESS ASSOCIATION JOINS WITH
SIMILAR ASSOCIATIONS IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IN Dix;
APPROVING THE So-CALLED
LOUD BILL NOW PENDING IN
CONGRESS. BELIEVING THAT IN
IT'S PRESENT DRAFT. THIS MEAS
IRE IS SUBVERSIVE OF THE TX
TERESTS OF NEWSPAPER PUB
LISTERS AND IMPOSES UPON
THEM UNJUST AND INEQTITABII.
BURDENS"
There was some difference as To the
form NIlltU inns ItStiulitiI SI's t!tl leiiN'1,
some of the members believing tha
the amendments to the Loud bin, in
its present draft, which are slesired'hy
newspaper publishers should be slsci-
fcaIly enumerated in the resolution,
and an amendment offered for this
purpose had the support of the five
gentlemen who voted against the reso-
tuition as adopted. 1t is evident there
fore that so far as these particul@r
amendments to the Loud bill are con
cerned the members Of the Maine
Press Association are practically
united These amendments are as
follows:
/. A reasonable modification of se"-
ton 5, which requires all publishers
before depositing mail matter in the
postofficc, ito separate the same into
United States sacks or bundles ny
states. cities. towns, and counties, as
The postmaster general may direct.
>. The modification of section 50
that the clause extending the second
class rates only to those who Volun
tarily subscribe and pay for the same,
shall not be capable of being in
terpreted as enforcing advance pay
ment. and depriving newspapers of the
power to extend credit to subscribers.
3. An amendment which viii give
publishers the right to send through
the mails. at second class rates, a rea
sonabIe percentage of sample copies
based upon their actual bona fide cir
culation.
1t seems to us that there is nothing
in any of these proposed amendments
that is in any way unjust or IN
reasonable. The Loud bill contains
many commendahlc features. and there
does not appear to he any reason why.
with these minor concessions, it should
not have the united and hearty sup
port of the newspapers OF the country.
Without these entirely reasonable and
proper concessions we DO not sec how
any newspaper publisher in the coun-
Try can possibly endorse it. 1t was
very evident from the expressions oi
opinion at the meeting Of the Maine
Press Association that if these points
were conceded the measure could On
list the united ana cordial support al
Maine publishers.
1t may he Wcll to say that neither
Mr.. Loud nor any member of his com
mittee is Il publisher and, with the
single exception of MI Griggs, a
lawyer by profession. who was for q
short time connected With the editorial
management Of a newspaper, not on'
of them can lay claim to any persona
knowledge of the publishing business
No less than T. of the Is members OF
this committee are lawyers. and th2>
appear to have been served as attor-
neys for the postotice department
Certainly the measure they have r.
ported. while it embodies many exec.
either a lack of acquaintance with IN
conditions under which newspapers
and more especially the country week
lies-are conducted or an unacrount
able disregard of them. Let us Toe"
at the amendments which it was e.i
dent would meet all the objections 1
the present Loud bill, that We're urg"
at the annual meeting Of the Main
Press Association. and see il any on
of them is either unjust or unrraSua
able. First. n modification of tina
portion Of section : which forces eve"
newspaper to maintain a postotlice
its own establishment, by obliging it
separate its mail, before depositing
in the postofiice into United stat.
mail sacks or bundles. by states. elite
towns and counties. as the postmast,
general may direct" 1t seems to |
that this provision is Altogether tt
sweeping. Publishers Will natural