The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1914-06-25
BIG REDUCTION IN
TAXES PROMISED
BRIEF ISSUED ON ACT NO. 3 SAYS
PEOPLE WILL PROFIT BY
ITS ADOPTION.
NEWSPAPER MEN BOOST 1T
FRANKLY Admit Their Interest and Tell
Why Voters Should Make It
State Law.

KANSAS Press ASSbtidA1Nii ms 5'A~-
sued a 32-page brie' In behalf OF Act
No. 5, known as the Publicity BILL
which will be voted upon under the mi
tiative and Referendum at the Septem-
Der election This measure was I'M
tiated by the Press Association with
the signatures of 1882 voters to The
initiative petition, only $500 sigma
lures being necessary under the |. 4
r. Amendment No. o.
The brief just issued is in the form
OF an address to the voters OF Arkah-
sas. and is an exhaustive review OF
the provisions of Act No. ). Its needs
and benefits as seen by the Arkansas
Press Association.
The brief begins with an admission
on the part of the newspaper men oil
the state of their interest in the bill,
hut points out that the benefits that
will accrue TO the state are vast III
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 est
mate OF the cost. but the newspaper
men believe that the bill will reduce
rather than increase taxes. by clint
mating graft and extravaganza and
putting property on the tax rolls which
hitherto has gone unassessed.
The brief, In part, follows
Newspapers Financially Interested
THE newspaper men or Arkansas
admit their interest in Act No. ).
They will profit by It financially, If
adopted by the people. The Arkansas
Press Association has no disposition
to shield its interest. Arkansas news
papers have always stood for the best
interest Of the state. and will continue
to do So They have condemned
treachery in matters of legislation as
well 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. its evils or benefits, and
any private interests which might be
involved, are all matters which the
people should know. and the Press Of
the state is not yet ready to turn from
its 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 II.
What is inc extent or that Interest,"
Act No provides that all publ
cations made unCer il shall be made in
the newspapers, and that the newspa-
pers shall be paid for this service. In
other words, the newspaper men of
Arkansas are seeking to sell the state
some of their advertising space The
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 viii
profit from the operations of Act No.
3. 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 for
graft. They have proposed in Act No.
fair exchange of advertising space
for some of the peoples money, trade
which they believe will be the most
profitable investment the State of Ar
kansas ever made. II the Press did
not believe Act No was a good in
vestment for Arkansas the Press
would be the last institution in the
state to propose and urge II upon the
people"
Here the brief INDUCES in a casual
review of the history and development
OF Arkansas and of the part tho news
papers have played in that progress.
II also discusses the duty OF the state
to It's Press and the duty of the Press
to its state. Further along il says:
The Press Must BE Free
The Fayetteville Daily said recently
In discussion of Act No 8 What
Arkansas most needs is a free and in
dependent Press and an economical
administration of the affairs of state
The best way TO insure an economical
administration of affairs is to rout
tho grafters through publicity. And
one OF the good ways to make the
Press free and Independent is for the
public to support 1t Loyalty, so that it
will be at no time dependent upon, or
tempted to turn to, designing politi-
clans and other evil influences for its
existence.
But, to be free and independent.
the Press needs no patronage for
Nich II cannot render value received.
I, asks the state to incur no expense
that should not be incurred II coun-
sells the closest economy, and advises
no puhii~ity ~ public expense that tho
state should not have, and that It's
constituents are not entitled TO. II IS
zi.no that SIC