The Brinkley argus., 1914-07-10

.'The state revenues win grow and the leaks will stop.
 "The newspapers will be getting some of this moE ey, but the grafters and plunderers will lose.
 "The newspapers will be giving the state service, while the grafters and plunderers give it nothing but bad name and bad taste in the mouths of the taxpayers.
 "Take your choice!
 "Act No. and PUBLICITY THAT YOU MAY KNOW; or,
 "The Freedom of Grafters and DARKNESS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW"
 Then appears a thorough exposition of Act No. 3, section by section. The cost is given wherever possible to compute or estimate 1t. Where im- nossible 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. & 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. 3 the pub I,cation of the & E measures this year would cost $1SS.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. 3 $552.50 per county instead of ss05 % 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 Il is easily worth $15,O0O to the state for it's citizens to know the law which they are expected to respect and obey That ignorance of the law excusesNno one, and ignorance results in quite as many law violations as criminal m 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 fore the Railroad Commission, the rail roads on the one side and the people on the other, and it is not 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 IT 1913 would have cost. under Act No. 3 $38.00 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 tion will result in marvellous In crease in the assessed valuation O. property in this state, and bring abou reduction in taxes, accordingly, tt l those who made honest assessments 1 It Is believed that the effect of thii section will vastly more than offse' l the expenses incurred by all of Ac No. 3, and it s shown that the ex pense under this particular section will annually reduce though small at frs
 just as tax dodgers quit dodging ant the work of the equalization boards reduces.
 Section calls for published rep0r of all disbursements in counties an6 road 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 { l report of the commissioners of ac counts, improvement districts, munici palities, etc. all of which means vas saving annually to the taxpayers
 Tho slogan of this campaign is "Th, Public has Right to Know" Act No 3 provides for turning on the light.