The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1914-08-14
President of Press Association
Shows Benefits of Act No. 3
An AnsDer to Criticisms the Subject of Cost

OApSASS per county, OF Ho,foU IOT the
state. Thus, we have a total expense
for the state under Act No. 3, taking
the year 1913 as basis, of only $i1,-
$50; and who will say that the bene-
fits to the people will not warrant
this expenditure ? 1t costs money to
maintain state universities, agricultu-
raj schools, charitable institutions and
even a state government, but who
wants to eliminate these benefits?
Now, there are some county and
city publications provided for in addi-
ton to those enumerated for the
state. Our Publicity Committee has
been collecting data from the vari-
GUS counties in order to accurately
determine and inform the people on
the matter OF cast. Taking Garland
county for example (and of course
Garland will have more publications
under Act No. 3 than the average
county,, the publication of increases
and decreases in assessments would
have cost in the last year $72 The
publication Of all claims against the
county and road districts (4,995 in
alD would have cost $3.50. The pub
lication of all claims against the coun-
try and road districts (4,995 in alb
would have cost $3.50. The publica-
ton OF the report Of the commission
ers of accounts would have cost $3.50.
Does anyone believe that Garland
county would not have profited by the
publication Of changes in assessments
which would have a tendency to en-
courage honest assessments, put un-
assessed property on the tax rolls and
otherwise help to equalize the burden
Of taxation?
Does anyone believe that nothing
would be saved in single county by
publishing all the claims, to whom
paid and for what purpose? Doesn't
Colonel Broadnax know that thou
sands of dollars slip away from the
taxpayers every year in graft and ex-
travagance and under the old similar
services fee system, simply because
the people do not know?
who can estimate the results that
will follow the publication of the re-
ports Of the commissioners Of &C.
counts, which will inform the people
as to the shortages and Irregularities
and tend to promote the vigorous pros
ecution of collections, etc?
in the fore yoing we find an ex-
pense in Garland county of $329.5O
per year. Is it any wonder that Gar
land county wants Act No. 3 when
such benefits can be had at so little
expense?
Aside from the state and county
publications, the cities are also
brought into the limelight. All an
nual reports of special improvement
districts must be published and this
would have cost in Little Rock last
year the sum Of $49.50. The detailed
financial statement provided for by
Section 10 would have cost Little
Rock $167.50.
1T seems to me that the public gen.
orally will appreciate such law,
which will cost so little In compari-
son with the results that are bound
to follow. If the state is on a scrip
basis. why? Haven't the people been
taxed sufficiently to meet the reason
able expenses of government? 1t Is
my opinion that II Act No. had been
a law 10 years past, Arkansas would
be on a cash basis today and SO would
various counties and municipalities
that are now bankrupt, graft-ridden
and otherwise embarrassed. Act No.
3 turns on the light and when the peo-
pie know, they act and do the right
thing.
Colonel Broadnax was wrong in
saying that Act No. provided for the
publication of these various measures
and reports at so cents per inch It
provides that only onehalf the legal
rate shall be paid, and that is 80 cents
per sou? e for the first insertion and
quent insertion. In many counties,
where scrip is worth only so to 75
cents on the dollar, the newspapers
will hardly get rich at this rate, but
the people will get the publicity just
the same.
never In the history Of the state has
the press come out 'flatfooted' for an
act that would prove public detri-
ment. Never has it advocated bill
inimical to the financial advantage OF
the state. On the other hand, the
press has always advocated and prac-
ticed publicity, giving freely of Its.
space to the public good, and now we
urge mandatory official publicity as
a sure cure for many public evils.
ION the other hand, the press has
helped valiantly in causes for which
the Farmers Union stands. We have
helped in furthering farm demonstra-
ton work, crop diversification and I'm
proved farming methods. We have
helped in the development Of the agri-
cultural schools, good roads and other
improvements that make farm life