Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-08-12
COLLUM DEFEATED
COMMISSION BILL.
Put 1t to Sleep in the
State Senate.
Tells Friends Why He
Tabled Bill i'm the Up
per House of the Leg
islature.

Hon. NJ e. Collum, state senator
from this district, passed through Am
ericus yesterday on his way home to
Etlayille from Atlanta. Senator CO..
lum was only able to give about two
weeks time to his legislative duties,
but sat steady on the job for the un-
expired term OF the late Senator.
Senator Collum took a prominent
part in regard to one piece of local leg
i5Iation. 1t was through his instra>
mentality that tbe bill providing for a
Light and Water Commission for the
City of Americas was laid on the table
in tie Senate, after it had passed the
House and was regarded as assured a
passage through the upper House.
In the House Representative Griffin
opposed the commission bill and Rep
resentative Sheppard, who introduced
it, favored its passage. When the bill
came up on its passage Mr. Griffin was
absent and it went through without his
being on the floor to express his oppo-
5ition to it's provision.
why COlIum Fought 1t.
When it reached the Senate it net
with a different fate Senator Col
lum took the position tbat it was un-
necessary legislation and designed fo;
partisan purposes. As he expressed it
o an Americus man yesterday, he re-
garded the bill creating the commits
sion as uncalled for and as containing
provisions that were, in his mind in
mical to representative government.
Senator Collum stated that ne under
stood that there was a sharp division
Of sentiment in Americus on the sub
ject, that the Representatives from
Sumter were divided on. the matter of
is passage, and that there had never
been any proper discussion of the sew
sral features of the bill. Senator Coz
lum held that if a commission was 10
De selected to serve for six years the
selection should rest in the hands Of
he people of Americus and not in the
lands of majority of four members
If the council, especially in view of the
great powers given 10 the commission
Then, he held, the commission shoulI Il
not be given the arbitrary power to
contract bills without consultation with
Council, the latter body being. required
by the act to pay all debts TIE COM
mission might create for the erection
IF lighting plant or other purposes.
Senator Collum yesterday expressed
himself as satisfied THAT when the peo-
pie of Americus studied the commits
sion bill the features that lead him to
oppose its passage would commend his
course to them.
Thought 1t Was His Duty to Oppose 1t.
4 regarded myself as much the rep
resentatiye of Sumter county as the
other two counties of the district" said
Senator Collum, "and that it was just
rs mucE my duty to study local bills
from Sumter as a local bill from
Schley to acquaint myself with con
ditions, and act as my judgment die
tated. Representative Griffin was op-
posed to the BILL and | had reason t.
believe that a great number of Amer
icus people were opposed to it. and
that the public was unfamiliar with
the provisions of it and had no oppo1-
tunity to discuss it or give voice to
their feelings with regard to it. In
having the bill tabled | acted solely
from desire to protect and promote
what / regarded as the interests Of
Americus. The people now have al
opportunity to consider such legisla-
ton further and decide whether they
really wish a commission based OH
such lines. l have done my duty and
feel satisfied with my course"