code: public static int getColumn(Element elem) {
  		Attr attr = elem.getAttributeNodeNS(URI, COL_ATTR);
  		return attr != null ? Integer.parseInt(attr.getValue()) : -1;
  	}
docs: Returns the column number of an element (DOM flavor)
  
  @param elem
  the element that holds the location information
  @return the element's column number or <code>-1</code> if
  <code>elem</code> has no location information.