The Brinkley argus., 1914-08-14

.'rhe state revenues VIII grow and the leaks will stop.
 "The newspapers will be getting some of this money, but the grafters and plunderers win lose.
 "The newspapers will be giving the state service, while the grafters and pluncerers give it nothing but a bad name and bad taste in the mouths of the taxpayers.
 "Take your choice!
 "Act No. 3 and PUBLICITY THAT YOU MAY KNOW; or.
 "The Freedom of Grafters and DARKNESS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW"
 Then appears thorough exposition of Act No. 3, 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 inconseouential, in consideration of the results to follow.
 Under Section 1, relating to the pub lication of I. & R. measures, the ex- 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 1 & R measures this year would cost $1S8.75 per county, as against $265.00 per county under the existing law. The & R measures two years ago would have cost under Act No. !. $552.50 per county instead of sso5.00 per county. The importance of the thorough education of the voter on. all measures requiring his "intelli- gent" ballot is advanced as the req 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 2 provides for the publica- ton of synopsis of all General Acts of the Legislature, the synopsis to be prepared by the Attorney General. AS only the meat of tho law will 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 of the 1913 session has been prepared by competent lawyers, such as would be expected of the Attorney General. and the expense of publishing this synop- sis figures s202.00 per county under Act No. 3. The brief argues that 1t is easily worth $15,00O to the state for it's citizens to know the law which they are expected to respect and obey That ignorance of the law excuses nc one. and ignorance results in quite as many law violations as criminal in tent.
 Section 3, requiring the publication of all general orders of the Railroad | Commission, is claimed to be one oi the strong features of Act No. 3. There | are two sides to every proposition be l fore the Railroad Commission, the rail | roads on the one side and the peorle on the other. and it Is not a good idea says the brief, for only one side to . controversy to have full and accurate information as to the proceedings oi the court Publication of orders 1T | 1913 would have cost, under Act No. 3 $3S00 per county
 | Tax dodgers are hit by Section 4, re l quiring the publication of the proceed ings of equalization boards, showing l the increases and decreases in assess
 ments, etc. It is argued that this sec 1 tion will result in a marvellous in crease in the assessed valuation o' property in this state, and bring about
 8 reduction in taxes, accordingly, tt those who made honest assessments l 1t is believed that the effect of thii section will vastly more than offset the expenses incurred by all of Ac
 No. 3, and it is shown that the ex
 pense under this particular section vii
 annually reduce though small at frs as tax dodgers quit lodging and the work of the equalization boards reduces
 1 Section calls for a published report
 of all disbursements in counties and broad districts, showing to whom eacl claim Is allowed and for what pur pose. It is argued that this section will save the taxpayers many thou
 sands of dollars from graft and extra
 vagance.
 Other sections of the bill call for 6
 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 "Tha
 Public has Right to Know" Act No
 provides for turning on the light
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