The Dermott news., 1914-07-30
PUBLICITY MEASURE
IS DEMONSTRATED
COUNTY JUDGE COOK OF CHlCOT
PLEASED WITH THE
RESULTS.
APPROVAL OF ACT NO. 3
Only Fault to Be Found With Pro
posed Law Is II Does Not Go
Far Enough.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Little Rock-That some o. the pro.
visions of Act No. >, known as the
Publicity measure. are already being
observed in Arkansas. although the
proposed measure will not be voted
on until September IA. IS a fact dis
closed by County Judge Harry T..
Cook Of Chicot county. who was In
Little Rock last week.
Chicot county is a county which has
already adopted the publicity method
of conducting her public affairs, and
Judge Cook is the man who put the
plan into effect. It has been working
ed success.
Act No. 3. the publicity measure.
among other provisions. vii insure
upon its passage the publication in
the newspapers of all The claims al.
lowed by county courts. including
road claims, as we'll is all general
claims and allowances made by the
court.
The only objection to Net No. 3.
pointed out by Judge Cook. is the fact
that. In his opinion. II does not 40
far enough, but should provide for
publicity in the affairs Of levee boards
and public schools. The items OF pub
iicty for which Act No. } does pro-
vide for are a full financial report OF
every municipal corporation 20 be pub
lished twice a year. Annual reports
~ 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. n publ
cation the synopsis or hrlet summary
OF all the general laws Il the legisla-
ture as distinguished from special
acts affecting local territory. three
publications. all general orders OF
the railway commission. Ole puhlica-
ton. and a summary Of tho proceed
ings OF county boards OF equalization
showing any reduction OF assessments
or other changes in the rate OF assess
ments. made either by the county
Judge or board OF equalization after
III aNEFNEpA AlAlf AtN'h AZ = -
No other legal publications are pro
yided for by Act No. > n addition 10
those now existing. but the act pro
vides fer "A reduction OF 80 per cent
In the rate paid for publishing ref
erendum acts. and provides that no
more than oue-half OF Tie EXISTING le-
gal rate shall be paid newspapers for
publishing any OF the matter II re.
quires to be published.
Judge Cook said that after two
years trial the people of Ghicot coun-
" ohrld not be persuaded to discon-
ttnu- the publication OF their affairs
and that no n would venture 10 ad-
vocate openly the discontiLuance OF
such a publication.
Asked concerning the operation OF
the plan OF publicity in public affairs
In his county and how IL was put into
effect and how II worked out. Judge
Cook said.
Yes. Chicot county has been using
the publicity method OF conducting
her public affairs for the last two
wears and with marked success. Two
Gears ago. upon my recommendation,
the annual levying cour appropriated
800 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.
I'VE f1nd il 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 4 tendency to mako
more careful those presenting claims
for allowance; keeps the county Judge
advised of the propriety 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 a better and fairer position
should he again seek public favor be-
cause the voters have his .ecord be-
fore them long before he is a candi-
date and are constantly advised OF his
efforts TO serve them intelligcntly and
honestly or ignorantly and recklessly.
| fohnd in the last election. In which
I was a candidate for my fifth term
as cbunty Judge, that II PAYS 10 take
the I~people into full confluence and
parthership in the administration OF
their public AFFAIRS"