The Portland daily press., 1898-01-27
MAINE PRESS ASSOCIATION.
Its Annual Meeting Being Held in
Portland.

Numerous Topics of Mutual Interest," LIS
cussed-Criticfsm on the Loud Bill
Doings of the Business Session.
The Maine Press Association is holding
its annual meeting in this city. A new
departure of the meeting was the holding
of a preliminary session yesterday after
noon for the presentation of papers and
informal discussion on topics of interest
to the members of the fraternity.
The storm retarded the arrival of some
of the delegates from the farthest points,
and the attendance of out of town mem
bers at the afternoon session was rather
limited, but later trains brought in more
so that there was quite fair-slzed gath
ering at the evening session. Following
is list of those present:
President Clarence B. Burleigh of the
Kennebec Journal, Augusta; Vice Presi-
dents Chester W. Robbins of the O1dtown
Enterprise, John M. S. Hunter OF the
Farm,ngton Chronicle and Arthur E..
Fobes of the Oxford Democrat South
Paris; Secretary Joseph Wood. Maine
Coast Cottager, Portland Judge Eliaphlet
Rowell, Hallowell; H. G. Prince Water
Vile Mail; a. z. Morrill,, Gardiner;
Frank G. Rich, Bangor; Howard Owen,
Maine Farmer, Augusta; Treasurer +.
o. Viekery, Illustrated Monthly, Angus
ia; Joseph o. Smith, Somerset Reporter,
Skowhegan; Charles A. Pillsbury, Jour
nal, Belfast; David 81. Knowlton. School
World, Pennington; Frank 81. Dexter,
Springvale Advocate; Lucius 81. Murch,
Belfast; Gen.. J. P. Cilley, Rockland;
Samuel L. Miller. Waldoboro News;
Oscar R. Wish, A. W. Laughlin, M. N.
Rich, George s. Rowell, George W. Nor
ton, william Fl. Dow, Samuel T. Pickard
G. M. Donham, T. D. Sale, Rev. DR.. j.
G. Merrill, Frank Fl. Colley, Portland.
President c. Burleigh of Augusta,
opened the afternoon meeting at $50.
He said that at the last meeting COM
mittee had been authorized to arrange
for the reading of papers on various
business topics, at this meeting. He
called John NJ. S. Hunter of the Farm
ington Chronicle, who read an interest
ing paper ON s'The Best Method of Col
lecting Delinquent Subscriptions. He
disapproved of the various sohemes
resorted to by some papers in Offering
prizes to build up their subscription
lists. He questioned whether such growth
is healthy. He then outlined his plan of
collecting subscriptions Many subscrib-
ers objecr to paying in advance, and he
did not blame them. His most successful
method of collscting back subscriptions
is to send out at the end of every year a
circular letter to delinquent. subscribers,
Offering to settle within certain period
at reduction of ten per cent. such dis
count representing what it would cost
him for collection if he sent out an
agent His patrons seem to appreciate
this play and it works well, he said.
More papers on kindred topics were to
have been read, but owing to the small
attendance at this session it was voted to
postpone their reading till this fore
noon.
The remainder Of the afternoon was
given up to discussions, more or less in
formal. President Burleigh, took occasion
to refer to the Loud bill, now pending in
Congress It contained some good points
he said, but some of its features he re-
garded as antagonistic to the publishers
of legitimate newspapers. few weeks
ago he met Congressman Loud in Wash
ington and had a lengthy interview with
him in reference to the bill. Mr.. Loud
nd ci
cere, but be has never been connected
" 18th the newspaper business. The aim
of the bill is to help relieve the govern
ment of the deficit in the post office
department. but if the bill goes into
effect in its present form it will bring
great hardship upon publishers, and
especially the publishers of country dailies
and weeklies. According to President
| Burleigh's Interpretation of one clause OF
| the bill publishers are to be prohibited
from sending out papers at second-elass
rates, except to subscribers who have
voluntarily subscribed and paid in ad-
vance.
Editor Hunter of the Pennington
Chronicle, Mr.. Robbins of the Oldtown
Enterprise, Mr.. Fobes of the Oxford Dem
ocrat and Mr.. Morrill, of Gardiner, sIok
in opposition to the bill. They approved
of the crowding out of the second class
mails publications exclusively devoted &c
advertising, but believed sthe author Of
the bill had ovtr cached in attempting te
prohibit newspaper publishers from
sending out sample copies.
Mr.. Wish of the Argus, Mr. Laughlir
OF the Evening Express and Mr.. Libby O.
the suburban weeklies, took the opposite
view. They argu ID that the publisher:
ought to be willing to do their par
toward relieving the deficit in the pos
office department by paying regular rates
on sample copies. They also took excep
ton to President BurIeigh's interpreta
ton of the advance payment clause. Ths
matter was discussed at considerable
length, and will be taken up again today
when one of the members will be pre-
pared to read a copy of the bin in ques
tion.