The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-09-12
WATER BONDS WILL
Be APPROVED; BUT
VOTE VERY SMALL
ISSUE WILL CARRY IN MOST UN-
INTERESTING ELECTION
EVER HELD.
MAJORITY WILL NOT VOTE
Absence Of Alphabetical List Of Reg.
lstered Voters Makes II Hard to
Find Names on the Books-city
May Buy Water Plant.

In an election that will probably be
notable for the smallest vote ever
cast in Columbia, since 1t was an UNI
Incorporated city, the water works
bond issue will probably be carried
two to one. There Is no interest in
the election except that which has
been stimulated by the Board of
Trade and the city administration.
The opposition to the issue OF the
bonds is unorganized and without
leadership. On the other hand prob.
ably every advocate of the bonds at
this time will vote today. But the
great majority Of the voters OF Column
bia will not vote at all.
To say that the election passed
off quietly" would be expressing 1t
mildly. There is absolutely no ex-
element about the polls and workers
are as conspicuous by their absence
as they have been heretofore by their
presence. No one outside few of
the leading members Of the Board
Of Trade seems to care rap how the
result chances to be. But that the
bonds will carry is perfectly safe
prediction.
When the polls closed for moon
recess" at IL o'clock, there had been
total of 119 votes cast at both of
the polling places, 1903 at the court
house and Is at the new box at the
depot. The vote at the depot failed
to justify the expense Of having q
polling place there. In fact no good
reason has yet been assigned for this
change in the charter.
There have been many elections
here where more votes were cast at
the court house than were polled at
both places in three hours today. As
it was the registrars had a good deal
of trouble in finding the registration
number Of citizens who had lost or
forgotten their registration certiA-
Gates This list, not being arranged
alphabetically, proved to be Of no as
sistance whatever. It would have
been just as easy to have found the
names on the original list. As it was
fortunately the officers had plenty Of
time and there was no rush. But in
real election here, with no better
management, many voters would nec-
essarily be disfranchised. When the
registrars are furnished with alpha
betical lists they have no trouble in
finding the names but 1t was another
proposition today.
The result of the election means
that the board Of mayor and alder
men will be authorized to expend
100000 for the purchase and i'm
provement Of the water plant But
it does not necessarily follow that
the plant will soon be owned by the
city. Its value must be appraised
and sale price agreed upon. Then
the bonds will have to be sold. That
may be dificult problem in view
of the tangle over the legality Of the
quorumless election law passed by
the back tar liquor machine to per-
petuate those infamies. It may ba
necessary to wait until after the SUI
preme court decides the election case,
before sale can be made and may
be not then for bond buyers might
hold that the board declared illegal.
by its participating in the election.
may make the legal result doubtful.
fHM -~~s-~s~--~-s----->-~-