Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-01
Bill Providing for State
Commissioner Of Publicity
Hearing on !: Act !: Prohibiting
Autos from Bar Harbor.
Chase and Donigan Bridge Com.
Ing Before Committee THURSDAY.

"A bill, which has been framed by
George II. Richardson of Old Town,
providing for the creation of the office
Of State commissioner of publicity, will
he introduced in the Legislature the
coming week. The proposition of facili-
ating the development Of Names re-
sources is one that has been seriously
considered for some time by those in
terested in the welfare of the State
and the State Board of Trade at it's
annual meeting at Hallowell, March
%, 1908, had this matter up for dis
cussion. A committee was instructed
to outline suitable legislation, which
should be recommended to the next
Legislature for it's consideration, but
upon learning that the department of
labor was making an investigation of
matters pertaining to the same sub
ject action was deferred until such
time as the department had completed
its work. At the next meeting of the
board held in Augusta, Sept %, 1908,
the labor commissioner filed with the
president written report of his inves-
tigation and after the matter was fully
discussed it was voted to commend the
work of the commissioner and that the
legislative committee of the board CO.
operate with the department of indus
trial and labor statistics.
The annual report of Hon. Thomas
J. Lyons of Vinalhaven commissioner
of Industrial and labor statistics, con-
tains a statement Of the beneficial re-
suits obtained by other states through
bureaus of publicity and after discus
sing what has already been done i'm the
development of abandoned farms, advo-
Gates the attention by the Legislature
to the particular line of investigation
and development, which has been start
ed in other states. His report contains
Il tentative draft of a bill, the provi
sionS of which he states are ample to
develop the preliminary stage of the
work. The tentative draft is as fol-
lows:
Section 1. The Governor with the
ADVICE and consent of the Council is
hereby authorized and directed to ap-
point commissioner, who may be the
head of some other State department.
whose duty it shall be to collect au-
thentic statistical information in re-
gard to the resources and attractions
of Maine; also the advantages the State
tourists, farmers and those seeking en-
poyment as farm laborers; and the
said commissioner shall arrange such
information and cause the same to be
Illustrated and printed and placed
where in his best judgment it will do
the most good in developing the re-
sources and advertising the advantages
of the State.
icci J,ol
also take such action as shall seem to
him best calculated to bring the agri-
cultural and manufacturing advantages
of the State to the knowledge of other
states or countries and induce them to
purchase, lease CT labor upon unoccu-
pied farms for the purpose of cult
waiting such lands or farms, and to oc-
cupy and improve the manufacturing
facilities of the State; and for the
prosecution of such work $1,000 is here
by appropriated annually to be used
III whole or in portion by said commits
Sioner, in his discretion, for such pur-
pose, and to be paid out of the State
treasury upon the order of the auditor
of accounts to whom the commissioner
shall present all bills of expense in
CURED in pursuance of this act; and a
detailed report of such work and the
results thereof so far as ascertained
shall be included in said commissioners
annual report.
As will be seen the act recommended
by Commissioner Lyons does not call
for separate department and only
asks for a small appropriation The
bill framed by Mr.. Richardson is more
comprehensive and proposes the crea-
ton of a separate department. Its full
text is as follows:
An Act to create the office of State