The Brinkley argus., 1914-08-21

.-rhe state rs~ehues VIII grow snd the leaks win stop.
 "The newspapers will be getting some of this mcAey. but the grafters and plunderers win lose.
 "The newspapers will be giving the state service, while the grafters and plunderers give it nothing but .a bad name and a bad taste in the mouths of the taxpayers.
 "Take your choice!
 "Act No. and PUBLICITY THAT YOU MAY KNOW; or.
 "The Freedom of Grafters and DARKNESS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW"
 Then appears a thorough expedition of Act No. 3, section by section. Tho cost is given wherever possible to compute or estimate 1t. Where i'm possible to estimate. the publication expense is showl. to be very Night and inconsequential. in confederation of the results to follow.
 Under Section 1. relating to the pub iication of 1. 6 R measures. the CT pense is reduced by the fact that the period of publication is reduced from thirty to twenty days (meaning six to four weeks in weekly newspapers). It is shown that under Act No. 3 the pub lication of the q R measures this year would cost $18S.7b per county. as against e26B.00 per county under the existing law. Tho ( R measures two years ago would have cost under Act No. 3 t552.50 per county instead q s80500 per county. Tho importance of the thorough education of the voter on all measures requiring his ''tntelli- gent" ballot Is advanced as the req son for publishing such Acts and Amendments in the newspapers which are read. rather than in pemphiets, which are seldom read. Beldes. each publication in the newspapers1s shown to be cheaper than in pamphlets.
 Section provides for the publica- tion of synopsis of all General Acts of the Legislature, the synopais to De prepared by the Attorney General As only the meat of the law w:lls be con tained in the synopsis, the publication expense is shown to be comparatively light while the benefits are great. A synopsis of all General Acts 0f the 1918 session has bean prepared by competent lawyers. such as would be expected of the Attorney General. and the expense of publishing this synup sis figures s2O200 per county undes Act No. 8. The brief argues that \ is easily worth S15,OOO to the state foI it's citizens to know the law which they are expected to respect and obey That ignorance of the law excusds nc one, and ignorance results tn cutie = many law violations as criminal tn tent.
 Section 3, requiring the publication of all general orders of the Railroad Commission, Is claimed to be one ol the strong features of Act No. S. Thera are two sides to every proposition be fore the Railroad Commission, the rail roads on the one side and the people on the other, and 1t is not good idea says the brief. for only one side to controversy to have full and accurate information as to the proceedings o' the court. Publication of orders i1 1913 would have cost, under Act No. 3 $3S.00 per county.
 Tax dodgers are hit by Section [, re quiring the publication of the proceed ings of equalization boards. showinl the increases and decreases in assess ments. etc It is argued that this sec ton will result in g marvellous fn crease in the assessed valuation . property in this state. and bring about reduction in taxes. accordingly. tt those who made honest aseessments It Is believed that the effect of thil section will vastly more than offss' the expenses incurred by all of Ac' No. 3. and 1t is shown that the OK pense under this particular section will annually reduce though small at frs
 just as tax dodgers quit dodging ant the work of the equalization boardi reduces.
 Section 5 calls for published repor1 of all disbursements In counties ant road districts. showing to whom eaci claim is allowed and fow what pur pose. It is argued that this section will save the taxpayers many thou sands of dollars from graft and extra 1 vagance.
 Other sections of, the bill call for | report of the commissioners of ac counts. improvement districts. munici palities. etc. all of which means a vas' saving annually to the taxpayers
 The slogan of this campaign Is "Ths Public has Right to Know" Act No : provides for turning on the light.