Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-15
HOLD HOPE
Continued from PAGE One)

| meeting Of -'';zens to order and May
or Ernest L. Mclean was elected
chairman of the proceedings b.. ac-
clamation. Robert E. Beane, who
ha. be IN seeking an alienation of the
hardships imposed upon one of Au-
gusta's most important Industries by
the present postal law was named
secretary.
Congressman John z. Nelson of the
third Maine district of this city. who
had FASTENED here from Washington
to advise with the citizens on the sit
uation, was the principal speaker and
gave a very clear statement of the
status of the coming law of postal
tariffs and particularly as 1t affects
the distribution of matter from the
two Augusta publishing houses
He recalled that the law was pass
ed nine years ago as one of the war
time measures to secure increased
revenue and 1t was his statement that
he believed the measure should be
rejected by congress now that the
period of emergency has passed.
The most significant declaration by
Congressman Nelson was that in q
recent talk with Senator Moses,
chairman of the special joint sub
committee which was named to in
vestigate the postal situation, the
New Hampshire senator stated that
the zones have already been reduced
from the eight originate provided for
by the law in 1918. to four and that
1t was his belief that a further re-
duction to two, and then possibly a
discontinuance of the coming system
and return to the flat rate law pre-
Viously In effect, might enSue.
Hon. Charles S. Hichborn, who was
in the fight against the adoption of the
zonlng system nine years ago, recalled
the circumstances of that effort and
attacked the present law. Following
an eloquent appeal for an equitable
postal regulation, Mr.. Hichborn intro
duced the following statement and
vote which was adopted by the meet
ing without dissension:
THE citizens of Augusta, in mass
meeting assembled. represent to our
senators and congressman at WASH
tngton the seriousness of our economic
situation as affected by the postal zon-
ing law and the rates in force there
under; and we urged them to do all
that lies within their power to effect
such changes therein as will give some
measure of relief from the present in
tolerable condition.
I'VE protest that the law Is proyin-
cial, and therefore unwise and UNI
American in conception, burdensome in
operation. and liable in the near future
to drive out of existence, or out of this
city and State, one of its basic and
vital industries, thus destroying val
ues, turning out of employment hun
dreds of men and women whose lives
have been spent in this work, and rob-
bling our merchants of the business
which follows the distribution of the
large amount of money which these in
dustries put into circulation.
And 1t is voted that the chairman
Of this meeting be, and hereby is, re-
quested to appoint a committee of not
less than five citizens as soon as may
be. Of which committee the mayor
shall be chairman. ex-off1cio, to take
the whole matter under advisement,
and to adopt such ways and means for
obtaining relief as the committee may
deem best.
And to the work of this committee
we pledge our earnest and hearty sup
port"
Mayor Mclean as chairman Of the
meeting named the following commit
tee which will continue the agitation
against the coming law and seek
changes which will give the fringe
states an even break in the matter of
postal rates with those states more
centrally located: Hon. Charles g.
,Hichborn, Hon. William r. Pattangall,
Hon. Frank G. harrington. D. w.
Adams. John v. Lane. Robert E. Beane
and Thomas c. Ingraham.