The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-09-12
NEW COUNTY BOARD
WILL HOLD SPECIAL
ELECTION ON BONDS
cHAiRMEN Of TWO ORGANIZE.
TioNs DISAGREE AS TO Gus.
:. toby OF BALLOTS.
WILL MAKE RESULT DOUBTFUL
Cannot Sell the Bonds in All Probable
NY Even Should a Majority Vote
for Their ssuance-Statement OF
the Differences Made.

Even should majority of the quail
fed voters of Columbia in the election
on next Thursday vote for the water
works bonds, the bonds could not be
sold. at least not until the supreme
court sustains the new election law of
1913, and not then If the act, as it
is generally believed, should not be
, upheld.
II This situation is due to the fact
that one of the election boards in the
county has assumed entire charge of
the election and will be the only
board that will certify to the result.
The disagreement came first over the
notice of election and then over the
printing and custody of the ballots.
The agreement under which the
two boards are supposed to be oper-
ating jointly makes no provision for
the printing of the notices of cleo
ton required by law or the printing
and custody of the ballots. u
When the election for the bonds
was called, recognizing the fact chat
no provision was made IN the agree
ment respecting the matters above
mentioned, Chairman Ramon, of the
old board, proposed to Chairman
Thomas, Of the new baord," that in
view of the fact that there would be
two city elections this fall pending
the decision of the supreme court,
that one of them take charge Of the
ballots in one election, and that the,
other take charge Of the ballots in
the other eelction. He also proposed
that they join in one notice of elec-
ton. This proposition was not &C
cepted by Chairman Thomas, who
proposed instead that the ballots in
both elections be let to the lowest
bidder by the city authorities and that
each board give Z separate notice of
election.
Chairman Kannon declined this
for the reason That he would not be
willing to delegate to any one the
custody and safekeeping of the bal
lots if he were held responsible for
the same; that in the city election OF
next month there might be a contest
and he would not be willing to place
the ballots in the hands Of any one
who might chance to be the lowest
bidder. He then renewed his prop
osition that Chairman Thomas have
printed and be responsible for the
safe keeping of the ballots in one
election and in turn absolve him from
all responsibility or the same; that in
the other election he would take
charge of the ballots, be responsible
for the same and absolve Chairman
Thomas from any responsibility for
same. He proposed that Chairman
Thomas take either of the two cleo
lions that he preferred.
Chairman Thomas declined again
Mr.. lannon's proposition and publish
ed in the Maury Democrat a notice
of the election signed by the so-called
new board" although the notice is
signed individually and does not show
upon its face that the signers claim to
be the commissioners Of election. In
order to protect the legality of the
election as far as possible Chairman
Ramon then prepared and published
in The Herald notice Of the election
on behalf of the "old board" But the
matter with respect to the ballots
rested in statue quo until last Tues
day, when Chairman Thomas, of the
new board, notified The Herald that
bids for the printing Of the ballots
would be received at the office Of
Chairman Thos. H. PEBBLES. It is
presumed that. this same notice was,
given to others and it is understood
that the contract for printing the bal
los has already been awarded. The
DdllOIS Will cOHtdlu Juc udulcs ohiy VI
the new board.
Recorder Erwin, anxious that there
be no question as to the legality OF
the ballots or the election, on Thurs
day sought to secure an acceptance
of the original Ramon proposition,
which he declared was fair, but was
unable to accomplish that result, and
in consequence the ballots will be
printed and kept in custody by the
new board and the result Of the cleo
ton certified by that board. Chair
man Ramon does not feel that 1t
would serve any good purpose to take
the same course and have other bal
lots printed so that the only ballots
used in the election will be those fur
nished by the new" board. +