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

was not aware before that the
Slate was expected to pay for the
corps of newspaper reporters here at
the State House. Possibly it has been
zone, and has escaped our notice; but
II so, think 1t is time to call a halt on
that. unless ii is deemed wise to con-
tinue it. In that case let us act man
FULLY and openly-let us subsidize the
newspapers of this State, and let the
people know what they are paying
| them for this work.
do not believe that all the news
papers of the State ask for any such
| thing: for | have seen it in but few
papers. ! suppose it Is as necessary
Tor a newspaper to keep correspondents
as IL is for me in my business to keep
| lumber in my yard to sell. They must
furnish news which they sell to their
| people, the subscribers to their paper,
| ana they do this at their own expense.
getting in return a subscription price
| Tor their papers.
| also find that there seems to be
no rule. law or regulation as regards
the price for this advertising, which
| ranges from three to six cents per line
per day In the different papers. so fa.
as ! am able to find. ] am informed
on what l consider good authority
| mat these same newspapers do this
same kind of advertising for private
persons by the inch at an average of
not exceeding 20 cents an inch. or l.
hnes-which is about one and two
thirds cents per line. That is putting
1t low. 1t costs the State almost three
times what it would cost you and fol
the same quality of advertising. | can
see no reason for that.
The Portland Press wants to know
who has asked for this bill? No one
has asked for it to my knowl-
edge. | believe it is the duty
of every member of this Legislat-
ure. if he discovers leaks. to use his
best efforts to stop them, regardless
of consequences.
Who asked for the investigation OF
the fee system two years ago? The
public did not If | remember correctly
it originated with a number of members
of that Legislature. What has been tho
result of that investigation? 1t was
| learned that the attorney general ir
1908 received q salary of $1,000 ant
fees amounting to $7640. a total Of
SS640. In addition to this amount il
was costing the State many thousand:
of dollars for counsel fees outside o.
the attorney generals Office. in con.
nection with services required by the
various state documents. 1t was
| learned that the secretary of State re.
ceived in 1903 u salary of $500 ant
| A..
total of $5445.
| have never heard an unfavorabl,
| criticism made against either of thes
Offices on account of the eXorbitan
compensation they received because i
was all in accordance with law.
need not go into details in regari
to the outcome of this investigation
as you have it before you in the form
of bills reported by the committee o.
salaries. of which committee | am {
member. The chairman of this com
mittee informed me that he had gon,
over the figures carefully, and he finds
that the State will save about s32 900 ;
year from that investigation Ihi:
action was inaugurated without Il sin
sic petition from the people of III,
State.
| I have not heard any unfair criticism
against Mr.. Rurleigh. the public print
er. but who will assert that the agita,
ton of the question of State printin:
by this Legislature will not result in
great saving to the State?
In this matter under discussion
there was no petition from the people
| will say now. Mr.. President and mem.
bers. had l known at the first of thi:
session what l know today in regard
to this matter of advertising legisla
i've committee hearings. my orde
would nave called for investigation
and not for consideration of the subjec
matter.
Your committee feels sure that tn,
bill which they have reported is in line
at least of a reformation of d great ant
costly abuse.
Last Friday | was approached il
this House by well-known reporter
and told that | was making myself
unpopular with the papers by my ac-
ton in this matter. Other member:
may have had similar experiences.
am following my plain duty as it APP.
|
popularity of the movement does moi
concern me in the slightest degree.
The wholly unnecessary and mani
testify unjust comments upon the COM
mittee and myself made by certain
| newspapers. because their grip ON the
State treasury is in danger of being
| lOOSened. is not the voice of the tax
payers of the State of Maine. l rec
ogniZe the right of every newspaper
and every citizen of this State to crit
iciZe every measure before this Legis-
lature, and | believe that every honest
legislator wishes to have a fair and
honest criticism of measures before
him. SO that he can know what the
people want: but, Mr.. President. | re-
sent such insults as have been hurled
ut me- and at other members of this
committee. by a. few only of the papers
of this State. | consider it gross in
suit to myself and the members of this
committee from that few. More thar
that | consider ii a gross insult tC
every member of this Legislature-ir
fact. to every citizen of the State who
| voted to send these members here tC