Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-02-18

advertising of the bonds.
 My amendment to the bill, which proposes amending the general act of 1905, from which Jefferson county was excepted, and for which I cer- tainly should not be held responsible, reads:
 Provided, that should any school district desire to borrow money and issue bonds or other evidence of in- debtedness. the school directors of said district shall advertise for bids for the sale of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness, and publish notice of tho intent to borrow money. Said ad- vertisement and notice to be pub lishcd in county or city papers that have general circulation, and shall sell all bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to the highest and best bidder. Provided, that no bonds shall be sold for less than par. All bids to be published in newspapers of gen. eral circulation.'
 Waited on Caldwell.
 Carrying the amendment for ad vertising for bids, as demanded by many Pine Bluff people, the bill was passed by the house Friday. 1 placed no obstruction in it's progress, and should not be blamed any more than any other member of the delegation
 l did not call up the measure be- cause I expected each day that MT Caldwell would offer another bill providing for the advertising of bonds, as he had told me he would dc.
 However, if the bill had carried the provision for advertising for bids for bonds it might have been acted upon in the house earlier than it was. If any blame attaches to this omission it naturally rests with MT. Coleman, who drew the bill and who knew that the act it seeks to amend does not provide for advertising for bids. and knows also that the taxpayers of Pine Bluff, as was shown in recent suit against the board, desire that the sale of bonds be advertised before any con- tracts for the sale of bonds be entered into or bonds issued.
 "It also has been stated that at the conference in Little Rock Wednesday night I agreed that if the publicity amendment met with objection in the senate it could be withdrawn. Know ing ho wthe taxpayers of Pine Bluff feel about it, I did not and will not consent to the elimination of the pro vision requiring that bonds be adver- tised before they are sold. l did say that in the event of objection to the clause providing that bonds shall not be sold for less than par, 1 would agree to that clause being withdrawn. But I will insist on the requirement. that all bonds be advertised, and that all bids received be published when announcement of the award to the lowest and best bidder is made.
 Several other members of the leg islature were surprised to ascertain that the general act does not require that bonds be advertised, and at least one special act was changed after the introduction of my amendment so as to reuuire that the sale of bonds be advertised.
 Wants to Serve People.
 So far as 1 am concerned l nave no ambition or desire but to serve the best interests of the people of Jeifer- son county, and it is with this ain that insisted upon the amendment t6 the Caldwell amendment to the gen eral law.
 Some of my critics seek to make it appear that my amendment applies only to Pine Bluff. It docs not. | applies to the entire state. The Gala well bill affected Pine Bluff only, be- cause it proposed the elimination O the clause excepting Jefferson count! from Act PAS of 1905, allowing schoo