The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1914-06-25

this state have less opportunity, on ae-
count of inadequate publicity laws, to
know what is going on in the manage
ment of their affairs than the people
of other states. where taxes are said
to be very much lower than in Arkan-
sas. On The question of expense, the
brief says:
The chief argument against Act No.
8 is the expense. OF course. 1t Will
cost money to make the publications
required under this act, and the bill
provides for it. The state is, also, in
poor financial condition. But the state
owes very largely the bankrupt condi-
ton of its treasury to the fact that
THE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW. Graft
ers ana plunderers have been allowed
to prey-the people didn't know. The
people will Willingly pay their taxes if
they know the money is properly and
iudicially spent Publicity will inform
them.
viii Not Increase Taxes.
ACT NO. , WILL NOT INCREASE
TAXES,
1T becomes operative Immediately
on Its adoption by the people.
"Crookedness in official circles will
at once stop
"Lawlessness as result OF igno-
rance will begin TO wanc.
The courts will be less busy.
TAX dodgers will quit lodging.
The state revenues will grow and
the leaks will stop.
The newspapers Will be getting
some of this money, but the grafters
and plunderers VIII lose
THE newspapers will be giving the
stats service. while the grafters and
plunderers give il nothing but a bad
name and bad taste in the mouths
Of the taxpayers.
Take your choice
Act No. . and PUBLICITY THAT
YOU NAY KNOW; or,
The Freedom of Graftors and
DARKNESS THAT YOU NAY NOT
KNOW"
Then appears a thorough exposition
of Act No ,. section by section. The
cost is given wherever possible to
compute or estimate it. Where i'm
possible to estimate. the publication
expense is shown To be very light and
inconsequential, in consideration of
the results to follow
Under Section /. relating TO the pub
LEGATION of l. & Il. measures, the eX-
pense is reduced by the fact that the
period OF publication Is reduced from
thirty 10 twenty DAYS (meaning six 10
four weeks in week., newspapersl II
IS shown that under Act No. Z the pub
LEGATION of the 4 Il measures this
year would cost siSS.75 per county. "a
against $4,000 per county under the
existing law The & II measures two
years ago would have cost under Act
No. : $55250 per county instead Of
$4,000 per county The importance
of the thorough education OF the voter
on all measures requiring his 'intelli-
gent" ballot is advanced as the rea-
son for publishing such Acts and
Amendments in the newspapers which
are read rather than in pamphlets.
which are seldom read. BESIDES. each
publication in the newspapers is shown
to be cheaper than in pamphlets
Section . provides For the puhlica-
ton of synopsis OF all General Acts
OF the Legislature. the synopsis to he
prepared by the Attorney General As
only The meat OF the law VII be con
tanned in the synopsis. the publication
expense is shown to be comparatively
light while the benefits are great. \
synopsis OF all General Acts of the
1913 session has been prepared hy
competent lawyers. such as would be
expected OF the Attorney General. and
the expense OF publishing thia synop-
sis figures s2O2 90 per eo'''y under
Act No. g. The brief argues that IL
is easily worth $4,000 to the state for
its citizens To know the law which
they are expected To respect and obey.
That ignorance of the law excuses no
one. and ignorance results in quite rs
many law violations rs criminal in
tent
Section 3, requiring the publication
of all general orders of The Railroad
Commission, is claimed 10 be one OF
the strong features of Act No 2. There
are two sides 10 every proposition be.
fore the Railroad Commission. the rail
roads on the one side aud the people
on the other and il is not a good idea,
SAYS the brief for only one side TO a
controversy TO have full and accurate
information as to the proceedings Of
the court Publication Of orders in
1918 would have cost. under Act No. :.
S3S.00 per county.
Tax dodgers are hit by Section 4. re-
quiring the publication OF the proceed
incs Of equalization boards, showing
the increases and decreases in assess.
ments, etc 1t is argued that this sec
tion will result in marvellous in.
crease in the assessed valuation OF