The Brinkley argus., 1914-07-10
BIG REDUCTION IN
 TAXES PROMISED
eRlEFAIssuED ON ACT NO. 3 SAYS PEOPLE WILL. PROFIT BY
 ITS ADOPTION.
NEWSPAPER MEN BOOST IT
Frankly Admit Their Interest and Tel Why Voters Should Make H
 State Law.

The Publicity Committee of ths Af> kansas Press Association has just is' sued a 32-page brief in behalf or Act l No. 8. known as the Publicity Bill, which will be voted upon under the lni, tiative and Referendum at the Septem' Der election This measure was inl- tiated by the Press Association with the signatures of 17.S92 voters to the initiative petition, only 13,600 sigma lures being necessary under the l. & R. Amendment No. 10.
 The brief just issued is in the form of an address to the voters Of Arkan- sas, and is an exhaustive review ol the provisions of Act No. 3. its needs and benefits as seen by the Arkansas Press Association.
 The brief begins with an admission on the part of the newspaper men o1 the state of their interest in the bill, but points out that "the benefits that will accrue to the state are vast m comparison with the benefits to the press" A thorough and frank discus sion of each section of the bill Is given to the public, together with an esti- mate of the cost, but the newspaper men believe that the bill will reduce rather than increase taxes. by elimi- mating graft and extrayagance and putting property on the tax rolls which hitherto has gone unassessed.
 The brief in part, follows:
 Newspapers Financially Interested.
 "The newspaper men of Arkansas admit their interest in Act No. 5. They will profit by 1t financially. if adopted by the people. The Arkansas Press Association has no disposition to shield it's interest Arkansas news papers have always stood for the best interest of the state, and will continue to do SO. They have condemned treachery i'll matters of legislation, as we'll as in other official circles, and they have consistently sought to in form the people accurately on every question of public interest. The origin of. and the motive for, any public proposition, It's evils or benefits, and ally pIINdJc lutCA CSto WHtNd HA6ht DS involved, are all matters which the people should know. and the Press o1 the state is not yet ready to turn from it's practice of informing the public fully and accurately Therefore, we come to the people with an open and frank declaration that we. who initia ted Act No 3. are financially inter ested in it.
 What Is tho extent of that interest
 "Act No. provides that all publi cations made uncer 1t shall be made in the newspapers, and that the newspa pers shall be paid for this service In other words, the newspaper men ot | Arkansas are seeking to sell the state some of their advertising space. The 1 purpose of this brief is to tell you how and why The question for you to decide Is whether or not you want ! the space.
 People Also interested. But while the newspaper men will ] profit from the operations of Act No | s, the people of Arkansas will also | profit. The benefits that will accrue to the State are vast in comparison with the benefits to the, Press The newspapers will give the state value received They are not asking fol graft. They have proposed in Act No 3 fair exchange of advertising space for some of the peoples money, a trade which they believe will be the mos | profitable investment the State of Ar kansas ever made If the Press dic not believe Act No was good in vestment for Arkansas. the Press would be the last institution in thu state to propose and urge 1t upon thu l people"
 Here the brief indulges in casua
 review Of the history and deyelopmen
 of Arkansas and of the part tho news
 papers have played in that progress
 It also discusses the duty of the stat'
 to its Press and the duty of the Pres'
 to its state Further along 1t says:
 The Press Mutt Be Free.
 "The Fayetteville Daily said recent,
 fin discussion of Act No 3. 'Wha
 Arkansas most needs is free and in
 dependent Press and an economica
 administration of the affairs of state
 The ] st way to insure an economica
 administration of affairs is to rou
 the grafters through publicity An,
 one of the good ways 10 make tn
 Press free and Independent is for th
 public to support it loyalty. so that i
 will be at TO time dependent upon. O tempted to turn to, designing politi
 clans and other evil influences for it existence
 But, to be free and independent fhA Press nandc nn nafroannn e1