The Brinkley argus., 1914-08-07

.rhe state rsvenues wi11 grow and the leaks will stop.
 "Tbe newspapers will be getting some of this money, but the grafters and plunderera will lose.
 sThe newspapers will be giving the state service, while tho grafters and plunderers give it nothing but a bad name and bad taste in the mouths of the taxpayers.
 "Take your choicel
 "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. s, 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 inconsequential, in consideration of the results to follow.
 Under Section 1. relating to the pub- Iication of I. 6 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 ia shown that under Act No. the pub lication of tho & R measures this year would cost $lSs.75 per county, as against $265.o0 per county under the existing law. The l & R measures two years ago would have cost under Act No. 3 e552.5o per county instead of $805.O0 per county. The importance of the thorough education of the voter on all measures requiring his fntelli- 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 tho newspapers is shown to he cheaper than in pamphlets.
 Section ! provides for the publicar ton of a synopsis of all General Acts of the Legislature, the synopsis to be prepared by the Attorney General As onlJ the meat of tho law VIII be con tained ip the synopsis. the publication expense fs shown to be comparatiyeiy light while the benefits are great. A synopsis of all General Acts of the 1913 session has been prepared hy 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 t is easily worth $15.0oo to the state for it's citizens to know the law which they are expecte to respect and obey, That ignorance of the law axcusea 10 one, and ignorance results in quite as many law violations az criminal IT, tent.
 Section 3. requiring the publication of all general orders of the Ratlroad Commission. Is claimed to be one of the strong features of Act No. 3. Thers are two sides to every proposition he- fore the Railroad Commission, tho rail roads on the one side and the peorle On the other, and 1t Is not good idea, says tho brief. for only one sido to q controversy to have full and accurate information as to tho proceedings of the court. Publication of orders in 1913 would have cost. under Act No. q s$3S.00 per county
 Tax dodgers are hit by Section 4, re quiring the publication of the proceed ings of equalization boards, showing the increases and decreases in assess: ments, etc. It Is argued that this sec, ton will result in marvellous in crease in the assessed valuation oi property in this state, and bring about reduction In taxes. accordingly, to those who made honest assessments 1t Is believed that the effect of this section will vastly moro than offset the expenses incurred by all of Act No. 3. and 1t s shown that the OK. pense under this particular section will annually reduce-though small ak first
 just as tax dodgers quit dodging and the work of the equalization boards reduces.
 Section calls for a published report of all disbursements in counties and road districts. showing to whom each 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.
 Othar sect.ons of tho bill call Asr . report of the commissioners of ac. counts. improvement districts, munici. palities, etc. all of which means vast saving annually to the taxpayers.
 The slogan of this campaign Is The Public has Right to Know" Act No provides for turning on the light"