The Forrest City times., 1914-07-31
ONE COUNTY |S
 TRYING PUBLICITY
COUNTY JUDGE COOK OF CHlCOT PLEASED WITH THE
 RESULTS.
HE APPROVES ACT NO. 3
Only Fault to Be Found With Pro- posed Law Is 1t Does Not Go
 Far Enough.

Western Newspaper Cnlon News Service
 Little Rock-That some O the pro- visions of Act No. 3, known as the Publicity measure. are already being observed in Arkansas, although the proposed measure will not be voted on until September II. is a fact dis closed by County Judge Harry F. Cook of Chicot county, who was in Little Rock last week
 Ch1cOt county is a coT7ty which has already adopted the publicity method of cCslducting her public affairs, and Judge Cook is the man who put the plan into effect. It has been working two years and is pronounced decid- ed success.
 Act No. 3. the publicity measure. among other provisions, will insure upon it's passage the publication in the newspapers of all the claims al- lowed by county courts. including road claims, as well as all general claims and allowances made by the court
 The only objection to Act No. 3, pointed out by Judge Cook. is the fact that, in his opinion, it does not go far enough. but should provide for publicity in the affairs of leyee boards and public schools. The items of pub. licty for which Act No 3 does pro- vide for are a full financial report Of every municipal corporation 70 be pub lished twice a year. Annual reports of commissioners of special improve ment districts, one publication: report of county commissioners Of account. one publication. a list of all claims allowed by county courts. one publi cation: the synopsis or brief summary of all the general laws 1f the legisla- ture as distinguished from special acts affecting local territcry, three 1 publications; all general orders of the railway commission, oLe publica- tion, and a summary of the proceed 1 ings of county boards of equalization ] showing any reduction Of assessments or other changes in the rate of assess ments, made either by tEe county l judge or board of equalization after ] the assessor has fixed the assessment 1 No other legal publications are pro- vided for by Act No. 3 in addition to those now existing, but the act pro- vides for a reduction Of 90 per cent in the rate paid for publishing ref erendum acts and provides that no more than one-half of the existing le- gal rate shall be paid newspapers for publishing any of the matter it re. quires to be published.
 Judge Cook said that after two years trial the people of Chicot coun- 1 ty could not be persuaded to discon- tinue the publication of thoIr affairs and that no one would venture 10 ad- vocate openly the disconliluance of such a publication
 Asked concerning the operation of the plan of publicity in public affairs in his county and how it was put into effect and how 1t worked out. Judge Cook said:
 Yes, Chicot county has been using the publicity method of conducting her public affairs for the last two years and with marked success. Two years ago, upon my recommendation the annual levying court appropriated sl00 for the purpose Of having pub lished, quarterly, all allowances made by the county court, covering all gen. eral claims, all road claims and all other allowances made by the court and issued by the clerk.
 "We find it an excellent check and the people are constantly advised of the disbursements of their funds. to whom paid and for what purpose. This system has c tendency to make more careful those presenting claims for allowance; keeps the county judge advised of the ! opriety of certain ex- penditures; permits the people to know of and advise against improper expenditures; enables the correction NOW of any useless or needless ex- penditures rather than years later.
 This method places a public serv. ant in better and fairer position should he again seek public favor be- cause the voters have his record be- fore them long before he is a candi. date and are constantly advised of his efforts to serve them intelligcntlv and honestly or ignorantly and recklessly. found in the last election in which l was a candidate for my fifth term as county judge, that it pays to take the people into full confluence and partnership in the administration of their public affairs"
 To Create New County.