REPORT OF THE TREASURER.

Mr. President and Fellow Members of the Georgia Bar Association:

A gradual depletion of our treasury is going on. It began with the process of inflation of the country's currency, which did not increase our income, but did increase our expenses, and has been continued by the process of deflation which decreases our income by preventing some from maintaining their membership and by increasing expenses. Inflation was unavoidable because of the World War. Deflation followed at the behest of those who control. While the war lasted, the supreme motive was victory. Its cost had to be disregarded. Fortunately our smokehouses and cribs were full, and these supplies lasted until the end of the war and well nigh until the end of the period of inflation. Until then only a few had become distressed by the increased cost of living. Not until the shouts of victory had subsided and the delirium of extravagance caused by inflation had abated did the process of. deflation begin. The cost of planting in the spring time was largely in excess of the value of the abundant crops garnered in the harvest time. The cry of alarm resounded all over the country, but no voice was heard to give any assurance of relief. No Moses has appeared to lead the people out of the quagmires of greed, extravagance and selfishness, and show them the path of peace, good will and righteousness. The process of deflation continues. And the coffers of the few are being filled to repletion, while the pockets of the masses are being drained to exhaustion. To the latter class, this Association in its corporate capacity belongs. We should strive to increase its income by maintaining and increasing its membership and should beware of expenses.

A statement of our receipts and disbursements during the past year is herewith submitted. It has been examined and approved by the Executive Committee. It may be summarized as follows:

Cash balance May 27th, 1920, the date

of the Treasurer's last report, was--$1,404.89

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.

Z. D. Harrison, Treasurer.

In account with the Georgia Bar Association.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

ON LEGISLATION.

To the Members of the Georgia Bar Association:

The Committee on Legislation submits the following report:

The only matter referred to your committee was the suggested legislation to make clear, definite and certain the law respecting notice required to be given for the call for bond elections, confusion as to which had been brought about by the Act of 1916, and the subsequent amendment to the Constitution forbidding special registrations. Α Bill was introduced and passed by the House of Representatives in 1919. It reached the Senate in 1920, where on account of pressure of other business and the failure of certain members of the Rules Committee to fully comprehend its terms it failed to be placed on the calendar and was never reached.

This Association has a number of times declared in favor of the repeal of the law electing judges by the people. While this committee was not so instructed, it nevertheless gave its influence toward the passage of a bill designed for that purpose. A bill was introduced in both branches of the General Assembly at the 1920 session. It was promptly killed in the House thus showing that the legislature has not yet awakened to this much needed reform in Georgia. Respectfully submitted,

B. J. FOWLER, Chairman.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE, LAW REFORM AND PROCEDURE.

To the Georgia Bar Association:

Your Committee on Jurisprudence, Law Reform and Procedure begs leave to submit the following report:

I.

It has been held by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, even as against a landlord, that ungathered crops, although matured, are a part of the realty. Williams v. Mitchem, 106 S. E. 284. This would seem to necessitate mortgages on crops to be witnessed as mortgages on realty and would prevent their foreclosure on ungathered crops as mortgages on personality, which has been generally the practice in the past. Your Committee recommends the enactment of a law that, in so far as landlords, judgment creditors and mortgages are concerned, growing crops, matured or unmatured, should be regarded as personalty.

II.

The general lien of the landlord dates from the time of its levy. Code, $3340. There seems to be no limitation on the foreclosure of such lien, except that applied to contracts, expressed or implied. The effect of this is to permit a landlord, negligently or collusively, to allow his rent to accumulate, possibly while other debts due him are being paid, for several years, and then levy his general lien on all the assets of his tenant, to the injury of the latter's general unsecured creditors who have innocently extended credit. Your Committee recommends that the general lien of a landlord should be invalid as to creditors unless the same be levied within twelve months from the date that such rent becomes due.*

*

Mr. Jos. P. Brown does not concur in paragraph 2.