The log cabin Democrat., 1920-11-27
CLARK IN CHARGE
 ON PUBLICITY ACT CITY, COUNTY FINANCES Tells Clarendon Grand Jury Examine
 Observance of Act-May
 Have Local Bearing.

Grand jury investigation of how county and municipal officers are ob- serving provisions of Act Mo- 3, com monly known as the publicity act, was ordered by Circuit Judge George w. Clark in his charge to the Monroe county grand jury at Clarendon on Tuesday, according to the Monroe County Sun. Judge Clarks attitude toward enforcement of the law may later have bearing locally. In brief, the act requires publication by re- sponsible officials of statements on the expenditures by the state, counties, municipalities, improvement districts of whatever nature and actions of the county boards of equalization. i Judge Clark instructed the Monroe grand jury to investigate and if will ful violations of the law are found, to return indictments. Violations due to oversight were to be treated as such and the officers given until the next sitting of the jury to make good their lapses.
 Publication of the statements re- quired, for the most part, has been ordered by the officials concerned, al- though grand jury investigation might disclose some failures. State ments required from the city have been published from time to time, and county expenditures have been cov- cred in statements by County Clerk John Reeves.
 The charge to the Monroe grand jury by Judge Clark is as follows: "Gentlemen of the Grand Jury: "In addition to the previous instruc- tions given, at the request of certain taxpayers of this county, I desire to call your attention to the provisions of Act No. 3-commonly known as the publicity law. This act became a law by and under the initiative provided for under Amendment Mo- 10 to the constitution of the state. Your es- pecial attention is directed to the pro- visions of this law. The purpose and intent of the same was to afford inter ested parties an opportunity to know or ascertain how the tax money they have paid has been expended.
 "If this money has been expended lawfully and judiciously, then the of- fcers who are required to publish this information under the provisions of this act, have nothing to fear. If the funds of the taxpayers have been wrongfully wasted, or the funds mis- appropriated, then the public is en- titled to know it.
 "No honest public official fears pub licity of his official acts. The fact that there is some expense incurred in mak- ing these publications is a matter with which you and this court in our official capacity have nothing to do. When large majority of the tax pay CTS by their affirmative votes placed this act upon the statute books of the state, they understood that publicity must be paid for. They pay this cost, and if they are willing to bear the burden, they are entitled to the infor- nation.
 "If after an investigation you find there has been a wilful violation of this law. return indictments against all offenders. If it is an oversight up- on their part, then in your final report call their attention to such oversight or neglect with recommendation that if they have neglected to comply with the law that the grand jury for the spring term of this court return in dictments against all offenders"
 Sections 4, and of the act re- quire publication of increases or de- creases made by county boards of equalization in tax assessments, prop : erty placed on the tax lists, changes in assessments made by the county court, and lists of all claims of what ever nature allowed by the county court at regular or special sitting. Section 8 requires that annual re- ports by commissioners of special inn , provement districts shall be published. , Section 10 directs city councils to , publish twice each year full reports . of the financial affairs of the munici- palities, including all funds received l and all disbursements. Failure to comply with provisions of the act is made an offense punishable by fine , of $1,0oo.