Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-18

h,3 the honor TO draft the amended
,.u, In answer to your inquiries. |
,,or,a saw that in ordinary cases two
lions is in my opinion, ample no
t;,.s No complaint is made by the peo-
,I, an that score. The law works well
as q whole. and ! have no suggestion
IN make which I think would improve
matters in your State; but 1t is my
oniniOn that the greater portion of the
money spent i'm advertising these COM
uittee hearings Is wasted, because the
anton given to the chairmen and
clerks of committees to designate such
papers as their judgment dictates
nlaces them under a stress, and IN or
der to get rid of earnest solicitations
they publish advertisements in papers
of very small circulation at times. This
has been partially offset by recurring
the advertising to be done in daily pa
pers where they are available; but the
whole business is in my mind quite a
hu,nbug to speak frankly. and if
looked at from Il business standpoint
q complete one.
| have talked with a good many
newspaper men in this commonwealth
and talked with the committee having
this matter in charge in 1909, and
while we We're in hearty accord, there
vas not quite courage enough i'm the
committee to adopt the plan which |
proposed, mich plan. briefly. was this:
That some state official be empowered
to advertise for bids and to make a
contract with one of the Boston papers
to publish the advertisements of all
committee hearings. l believe that Il
contract could be made. because of the
| largely enhanced circulation which
would result to the paper publishing
| these notices. at a very favorable rate
and certainly at much less cost than
| is the case under the present plan. II
one paper were known as the official
gazette everyone in the whole common
| wealth would know where to look for
! committee advertisements. and as AL
hearings would remain advertised until
held and closed. the advertising would
| amount to something.
| While. as l said before, the law
works comparatively well, the plan
wliicil I proposed would be distinct
advantage. l believe.
| | enclose copies of three Of our
blanks which will give you the law as
il stands and the form upon which we
| send out advertisements.
| Yours very truly.
| (SigneD HENRY +. TURNER.
Auditor.
| have a telegram from him. dated
| March Is. i'm reply to u telephone mes
sage The telegram addressed to my
self says: advertising hearings last
year slightly exceeds $4,000.
(SignetO HENRY +. TURNER
AS "A matter of fact. it was about
$3.50. their sessions lasting nearly, il
not quite, twice as long as ours.
Another one reads as follows
Marrisville VI. Feb. II. 1905.
| Walter L. Gray. ESD. Augusta, Maine
| Dear Sir:
| / am in receipt of your letter con-
corning the matter of advertising COM
mittee hearings. 1t has never been the
law or custom in this state to have
notice of committee hearings published
in any paper in the state. The chair
man of the committee gives such no.
tices to parties interested as he thinks
best.
This is signed by the secretary OF
state of the state OF Vermont
| I have another from the Secretary OF
State of New Hampshire. which reads:
Concord. n. H, Feb. &c, 1905.
Walter l.. Gray. Esq,
Augusta, Maine.
Dear Sir:
| 1t is not customary to advertise
committee hearings in this state. The
newspapers which report the Le2isla-
ture give the notices of important
hearings as items of news which cos
the State nothing. The custom here
is to have notices of hearings read II
session by the clerk, and also buile-
tins on large blackboards in the lob
bies of the two houses.
l might add that this method seems
to meet the requirements OF the stu
aion with us.
Very truly yours
(Signed f. n. PEARSON.
Secy. of State.
\ telegram from the secretary o.
state of Connecticut received by me
reads as follows: Connecticut legis-
lative committee hearings not adver'
tsed in the newspapers
Another one from the secretary o.
state of the state of New York reads;
Notices of Legislative hearings are
publicly announced in each House
published in papers as news items
without expense to the state. EX-
pense publishing notices of hearings
before mayors. on bills affecting cities
paid by cities affected
| This is an Illustration. of what il
costs other States. some of which are
much larger than our own.
| The committee in reporting this bill
after carefully considering it. were
We're actuated by desire to serve the
best interests of the State. How have
they been received by some of the
daily papers?
Criticism comes from but four cities
so far as | have seen: and from papers
which have drawn large amounts from
this advertising, and who of course
hate to let go.
| have a clipping from the Bangor