and to such extent as the Association may order, the cost of such proceedings to be paid by the Executive Committee out of the funds of the Association."* Respectfully submitted, ARCHIBALD BLACKSHEAR, Chairman. June, 1917. As a member of the committee I concur in above report of the Chairman. HENRY R. GOETCHIUS. *For discussion of, and action upon, the recommendation of the Committee, see pages 40-44, 65, 66. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION. To the Members of the Georgia Bar Association: This Committee on Legislation is confined to State Legislation. Hence its report will be brief. The laws of general interest which have been passed since our last meeting are: The Constitutional Amendments dealing with the jurisdiction and powers of our two Appellate Courts, adding three judges to our Court of Appeals, and authorizing the Legislature to place the compensation of solicitor generals on a salary, rather than on a fee, basis. Outside of these Constitutional Amendments, Acts have been passed to allow females to practice law; looking to the compulsory education of children; the authorization of the furnishing of books and supplies to school children; for the inspection of private institutions, commonly known as the Veazy Bill; for the appointment of notaries public for the State at large; the prohibition legislation, known as the BoneDry Law; the regulation and taxation of motor vehicles; and a law looking to the leasing, or other disposition, of the Western & Atlantic Railroad-these last three being passed at the session known as the Extraordinary Session. The relief granted to our Appellate Courts, while imperatively demanded, is still insufficient. Both courts have entirely too much work to do, and this seems to be particularly true of the Court of Appeals. We must have other courts, or we must cut off the supply of appealable cases. When, because of the pressure of business, even in cases not argued orally, only one member of a court composed of three judges is expected to read the record and briefs of counsel, the other two members getting their idea of the record and the argument exclusively from the statement of the judge to whom the case has been referred, this means substantially a decision by one judge, largely deprives the court of its appellate functions, and gives substantially six tribunals, each composed of one judge, instead of two composed of three judges each. Such a result, however unavoidable, is certainly unfortunate; and a system which causes this result because of a pressure of business is certainly to be deplored, and urgently needs improvement. With the pressure of business and the resultant manner of procedure indicated, it is impossible for a judge to do himself, or his cases, justice. There ought to be some way of securing the right of oral argument and prompt decision after such argument. The fundamental and primary purpose of representation by counsel is through oral argument, or the spoken word. For many years a lawyer was not allowed to send to our Supreme Court only a brief; he had to appear and argue the case orally, although he might supplement the oral argument by a brief. The discouragement of oral argument, while it may be necessary, does not tend to the advancement of exact legal justice. We will not attempt to discuss the various laws mentioned. We cannot forbear, however, the expression of our regret that the Veazy Bill was passed. Outside of the spirit which inspired the legislation and any question of its constitutionality, its terms make its enforcement entirely impracticable. It ought to be repealed. We will not discuss the "Bone-Dry" legislation, except to say that a law which makes criminals out of a large per cent. of the people of the State among a class that are law-abiding in their purpose and their desire, certainly needs an amendment. There are some things more important than prohibition, however important this may be regarded, and one of them is a respect for and an obedience to law. Any legislation ought at least to have in it the promise of a general observance by those members of the body politic who are lawabiding, and it ought to avoid the evil of evils incident to widespread lawlessness. The bulk of us, perhaps all of us, approved of the passing of the saloon, and are not disposed, if we had the power, to repeal many of the features of the present legislation. But it ought to be amended in the interest of a real temperance and real prohibition, as well as in the interest of a real and wholesome law observance. SAMUEL B. ADAMS, Chairman. For Committee. TREASURER'S REPORT. Z. D. Harrison, Treasurer. In account with the Georgia Bar Association. To balance June 1, 1916_. $1,564.08 To collections since June 1, 1916----- 1,940.00 $1,382.29 200.00 71.55 84.65 69.50 50.00 By voucher No. 7. Byrd Printing Co. By voucher No. 8. D. Witman By exchange on 282 drafts for dues__. By salary of Secretary--. 14.00 10.00 19.95 300.00 By salary of Treasurer__ 150.00 $2,651.94 Cash balance May 31, 1917--- 852.14 $3,504.08 $3,504.08 Examined and approved May 31, 1917. SHEPARD BRYAN, Chairman Executive Committee. |