Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-28

Section two of this act says. 1.-The
Portland Daily Press, a newspaper
printed at Portland Maine, is hereby
declared to be the state paper of this
state"
| haven't very much to say upon this
question, but | would like To state Il
few facts The present state paper,
now the New Age and formerly, |
tlink, The Age, although | am not
quite sure. was established in this
state in 1891 established by Ira Berry.
1t then became the state paper of this
state in 1881, and it continued 10 be
SUCH for % years until 1856. At that
time the Weekly Kennebcc Journal be-
came the state paper of this State, and
continued such for So years, or until
1911.
Now, as you gentlemen all undoubt-
cdIy know. the state paper published In
the main the advertisements of taxes
on wild lands, ard 10 make IT well
known all over the state during the
last two wears the New Age has pub
ljshed not only in its columns, but pub
Iiehed in papers which are established
in the wild land counties the same
notices. viz, in the Fort Fairfield Re
view. in the Ellsworth Enterprise and
i'm the Franklin County Journal.
Now there is no reason, gentlemen,
WHY the statute should be changed at
this time. or be changed particularly
in regard to the state paper. III Is
not = very great matter. and i is not
a very important issue, and yet since
1891 the state paper has been located
E1a14tSa tAe TACT tn2l
the Capitol Is in Augusta. There is no
reason why the state paper Of Maine
for the first time since 1881 should bs
taken to Portland, or to any other city;
mr. can it be well argued that daily
paper is a better medium than a week
" paper | submit this to YOU gentle
mon as a fact that the weekly paper,
the New Age. has wider circulation
than has the Portland Daily Press; II
is more generally circulated throughout
the state than is the Portland Daily
Press CT any other daily paper It has
a large circulation in its own immedi-
a;e vicinity. With these few remarks
I will leave the question to the House
Mr.. SMITH of Presque Isle: Nil
Speaker, ! suppose that when the vote
is taken, in order that the gentlemen
of the House may register themselves
rs they feel, Il ought 10 be taken by
TIE yeas and nays; and I would sue-
Eest that when the vote is taken it be
taken by the yeas and nays.
Mr. PEACOCK of Readfeld: Mr.
Speaker, before voting upon this ques-
ton would like to have little in
formation for my own benefit, and pos
sibly fer the benefit of some other
members OF The House. | would like TO
know the circulation of the New Age
and the circulation of the Portland
Daily Press. | have had some expert
ence in newspaper work and | know
that the value Of a newspaper depends
largely upon its paid circulation. ]
will ask the gentleman from Augusta
6Aff. NeWberD through the Chair what
The circulation of the NeneAee is.
The SPEA KER: The gentleman from
Readfield. MIR. Peacock, make inquiry
through the Chair of the gentleman
from Augusta, Mr.. Newbert. in rela-
ton 20 some facts.
Mr. NEWBERT: will say, Mr..
Speaker that I know nothing about it,
presume the Portland Daily Press
has a wholesome eireula ton; it is Il
strCng newspaper. and it is published
III the western part of the State. and
its circulation in a large part IS in that
part of the State. | doubt very much
If tho people of the eastern part of the
state, in Hancock county, ArooStook
county, Washington county and Piscat-
auuiS county ever see the Portland
Press as a daily paper That is not the
question at issue at all. The New Age
is an old weekly paper and has had
for years and year a Statewide circu-
lation. | don't know how large a cir
culation it has, but it is Statewide. 1t
is circulated through the wild-land
coanties, so that no one will suffer be-
cause they do not happen to see a
wild-land advertisement. l take it that
there is nothing in these sections in
the way of news to the public through
daily paper; there is nothing for
daily paper to publish; ii is a State
paper tor these advertisements. put in
to satisfy the law as ! understand it.
Mr.. PEACOCK of Readfield l as
sumo. then, that it makes no difference
whether we read our State advertise
ments: and | also presume that adver-
tisements We're for the benefit of the
people. 1t is 4 well-known fact that
the advertising rates charged by
newspapers are based upon the eireu-
latiun of those newspapers. Now, if
this IS only to subsidize some paper
would vote without any further
knowledge or Information upon the
merits of the caseA but it seems only
fair to this House that we know
whether our advertisements for which
we pay good money go into paper
that has 4 good, substantial circula-
ton, or one that has not. Ii IT is only
for the matter or form we might just
as we'll print these advertisements on
a piece of paper, and stick them up on
the side of some house, as to put IN
some paper that has only small cir
culation | would like, for my own
knowledge to know the circulation OF
the New Age, and it seems to me, as
ma