The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1914-08-14

declaring tndt IL Woulu pe loo eAP0h
sive.
Virgil A. Beeson, president of the
Arkansas Press Association, when
asked for a statement in answer to
Col Broadnax, said:
Il am sorry to know that Colonel
Broadnax takes such a position with
reference to the publicity measure
which has been initiated by nearly
$4,000 voters of the state. | do not
doubt his sincerity, but he has either
been misinformed or has failed to
read and study the bill. l know that
the Arkansas Press Association has
only the best interests of the state at
heart and submitted this measure only
after a mature deliberation of the
needs of the state and the possibili-
ties of publicity in public affairs.
Says Opposition Is Ridiculous.
THE opposition of Colonel Broad
max is especially ridiculous as to the
cost of publishing the various meas
ures and items provided for by Act
No. and this seems to be the CHIEF
and only bone of contention among
the scattering few who are opposed
to the publicity act. take it that
Colonel Broadnax had not read the
bill when he said that 1t required the
publication of all laws passed by the
legislature in each county ten times
at cost of s1,760 per page. If such
were true. would gladly join with
Colonel Broadnax in opposition to the
measure but this is what the act says:
"'Section 2. After ninety days
from the final adjournment OF each
session Of the General Assembly the
secretary of state shall cause to be
published in one paper in each county
OF the state synopsis of all general
laws enacted by such General Assem-
bly,, except those upon which the ref
erendum has been invoked. Such syn
opsis shall be prepared by the attor-
ney-general. Such publication shall
be for ten days, the first not later
than one hundred days from the final
adjournment of the General Assemb-
ly.'
1T will be seen that only synop-
sis OF the general laws is to be pub
lished-just enough that the people
NAV be put on notice. This synopsis
is to be prepared by the attorney gen
eral. who is elected by the people,
and publication for ten days mot ten
times) is required. This means that
4 weekly publication shall print the
synopsis In its weekly issues during
a period OF ten days. The present
law provides for the publication OF
initiative and referendum measures
80 DAYS, but no one has yet claimed
that this meant 80 times. Only six
insertions have been made hereto
fore under existing laws in weekly
newspapers, where publication 80 da-'s
has been required.
"Our Publicity Committee has had
capable lawyers prepare a synopsis
of the general laws Of the last legis-
lature-such as would be expected of
the attorney general-and the cost OF
printing such synopsis figures ex
actly 5000 per county, trifle more
than $4,000 for the state at large.
Is there anyone prepared to say that
1t is not worth $4,000 to the state for
its citizens to know the law? Is It
not a fact that many law violations
result from ignorance OF the law and
that the courts hold that ignorance Of
the law Is no excuse for violations?
Will there not be less lawlessness and
less expense OF courts when citizens
are Informed about the laws which
they must obey. and won't they show
more respect for the law which they,
as citizens, can change at their will II
unsatisfactory in either theory or
practice?
But, while this expense OF publish
ing a summary Of laws Is under con-
sideration. desire to cali attention
to the fact that section l Of Act No. 8
reduces the expense OF publishing in
itiative and referendum measures by
curtailing its period OF publication
from 80 to 90 days. This year it is
costing the state little over $780,
600. to publish the I. and r. meas
ures. Under Act No. 3, the cost would
be only s13.165. Thus we have a
saving Of $1,000, which should in JUS
tice to Act No. 3 be deducted from
the expense of publishing the synop-
sis of legislative acts. and thereby
the cost Of Act No. under sections
l and 2 is reduced to $4,000 every two
years, or $4,000 per annum.
Section provides for the publ
cation OF general orders Of the Rail-
road Commission, and surely Colonel
Broadnax does not object to putting
the people on notice of proposed
changes in freight and express rates.
1t 10 recalled by shippers and consum-
ers all over the state than on July
1 this year the Railroad Commission
put into effect general order which
raised express rates in hundreds Of
instances from 40 to 1875 per cent. 1t
would have cost only 50 in each coun-