As to the minor legislation proper. In many of the Counties jurors may be required to serve only one week-Sec. 2927-and there is at present no provision for a special stenographer, except for special Courts— Sec. 2748. Again, under the law as it now stands, jurors must be drawn seven days-Sec. 2920-and be served four days— Sec. 2923-before they may be required to attend; and only in case of a deficiency in the number of jurors may the Court supply the deficiency from the tales box-Sec. 2924. Again, Section 2743 leaves it doubtful as to the next duty of the regular presiding Judge, after disposing of all the business of an overcrowded Court, if he has done so within the limit allowed for the next Court to which he had been assigned. The Legislature should be asked: (1) To shorten the time required for drawing and serving jurors to attend after the second week; or, (2) To broaden the language regulating against deficiencies so as to supply jurors whenever needed beyond the regular two weeks' term; and (3) To broaden the language of the Section referred to, so as to give the presiding Judge power to appoint a special stenographer whenever necessary. (4) To amend Section 2743 so as to make it clear whether the regularly assigned Judge is to relieve his substitute as soon as convenient. Secondly. As to Referees in Bankruptcy. Your Committee has not been furnished with a copy of Judge Brawley's communication; but it was published at the 1903 meeting. It seems that the United States District Judge wants an expression of opinion from the Association upon this question: whether more efficient service would be had by continuing one Referee in each County-the practice in some of the States, including his own District of South Carolina; or by having only a few Referees for the entire State-the practice in others of the State, notably in Georgia and New York. If this were a new question, dissevered from the present practice here, your Committee would unhesitatingly recommend a larger territory. But the Bar has gotten acccustomed to the convenience of having a Referee within easy reach, like the Probate Judge, or the Master. And that fact should not be lost sight of. Still, even now, if the Referee could be required to hold the creditors' meetings, and his own sittings in the County of the bankrupt's residence, your Committee is of the opinion that the Bar would get better service by having the territory of each Referee increased from one County to one Judicial Circuit, or to one Congressional District; which would decrease the number correspondingly, giving seven or eight Referees, instead of about forty as at present. Respectfully submitted. January 20th, 1904. Report of Committee on Publications COLUMBIA, S. C., January 21, 1904. The Committee on Publications report that, with the co-operation of the Secretary and the Treasurer, they have, during the past year, caused to be published in pamphlet form the proceedings of the last annual meeting. These proceedings were, during the month of August last, forwarded to all the members of the Association. Copies were also sent to the Library of Congress and to the various State Bar Associations in the United States upon our exchange list. The Committee beg leave to call to the attention of the members of the Association the fact that the proceedings always contain matter that is worthy of preservation, and, in this connection, the Committee express the hope that those members who are unable to attend the annual meeting will keep up their membership and annual dues, and, in this way, enable the Committee to continue the printing and distribution of the annual proceedings. All of which is respectfully submitted. JNO. P. THOMas, Jr., Committee on Grievances Chairman. To the President and Members of the South Carolina Bar Association. Gentlemen: Your Committee on Grievances begs leave to report: Your Committee is only charged with the duty of hearing and acting upon complaints of the character mentioned and set out in your 18th By-Law. No complaints on the subjects there enumerated have been presented to your Committee during the past year. This is the only fact to be reported by your Committee. Your Committee, however, desires to again emphasize the necessity of maintaining the high standard of professional propriety which has always characterized the Bar of this State. Respectfully submitted. GEO. S. MOWER, Chairman. Committee on Negotiable Instrument Bill COLUMBIA, S. C., January 21, 1904. The Committee to whom was referred the Negotiable Instrument Bill would respectfully report, that they have introduced the Bill in the House of Representatives, and that the same was reported without recommendation, and is now on the Calendar of the House. T. B. FRASER, Chairman. |