Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-01-26

N'NO- - 10 AZ CuoCbON " WY
Legislature of the state Of Mississ-
ippi, That it shall be lawful for the
Boards of Supervisors of the various
counties, of this State, and they are
hereby authorized to have their pro-
ceedings published in some news
paper published in their respective
counties. The said publications to
be paid for out of any moneys in the
county treasury of such board
ordering publication, not otherwise
appropriated, upon the warrants of
said boards; provided, that the
amounts paid for such publications
shall not exceed the rates fixed by
law for the publication of legal
notices provided. that nothing con-
tanned in this act shall be so con-
strued as to require the Boards of
Supervisors to have their proceed
ings published, but the said boards
may in their discretion, have their
proceedings published whenever they
may deem the same necessary.
Sec. 2. That this act take effect
and be in force from and after its
passage.
Approved February 18th, 1882.
For the information of those who
may not be informed we publish the
above law relating to the publication
of proceedings of Boards of
Supervisors.
The gist of this law is in the limi-
tation on the price to be paid for
such work and in the option it gives
to Boards of Supervisors to have
their proceedings published Sin
their discretion" The whole intent
and meaning of the law is to give
the people of the counties informa-
ton as to their county affairs as
evidenced by the action of their
Supervisors.
1t is evident if a Board of Super
visors publishes its proceedings
through a newspaper which does not
and cannot give to the people of a
county a reasonable opportunity of
obtaining this information, from lack
of circulation for instance, that the
whole object of the law is defeated,
and that Board which would make
such publication would exercise "an
unjustifiable discretion " And il
follows logically also from the fore
going, that the newspaper with the
largest bona fde circulation in the
county is in justice to its people
entitled 20 publish such proceedings
if such paper will do so at or within
the rates fixed by law for the publ
cation of illegal notices."
Demonstration is not needed but
take one anyway to show the
position of those who yell for the
loaoest bidder.
Hear say, is newly established
paper with a limited, very limited,
circulation. 1t is ambitious fol
fame and circulation but cares moth.
ing for money of course. 1t puts in
bid for Publishing the proceeding;
at about one-eig% the legal rate.
If it receives the contract the pay il
gets is no pay at Gll-it is trying tc
do a starvation business so far as
the advertising is concerned.
Well why? Does the lowest bid
der man expect to make no money
lie does. He has simply attempted
to procure the Board of Sup ervisor:
to give him the privilege of collaring
each citizen in his county who wishe;
or needs TO see the proceedings o.
the Board of Supervisors and say tC
him, here you take my paper, ram {
dollar and half into my pocket Oh
you don't see tue proceedings which
the law authorizes your Board tC
publish for your benefit. This is thu
reduCHo ad absuTdum, but it is tn,
argument which portion of tn,
people of this county has heard fo
the last two weeks.
We have not written or re-pub
lished this law in vindication of GU
Board of Supervisors. Not at all
1t needs none at the hands of any
one. Its members are known to b.
good citizens and honorable gentle
men who could not be induced t
/ give out a contract from partisan
ship or favoritism. This matter wa
left by law properly "to their dis
cretion," and the people know it il
good. The Board gave out tn,
printing to the paper with by far th,
largest circulation and at less thai
LIE A. loc,oI ~o4os rho ty,a Ioe