The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-21
THE SUPERIOR COURT CLERKS.
The Work Of the Rome Convention
The Clerks Bill.

The Clerks Bill.
J. K. P. Carr, clerk of the superior court,
returned yesterday morning from Rome
via Atlanta, having been in attendance at
the third annual convention of the superior
court clerks of the state, of which associa-
! ton he was elected president in spite Of his
decllnation. He was placed in nomination
by J. Ia Beach Of Brunswick, who seemed
to get everything he asked for, as in addi-
ton TO naming the president he got the
fourth annual convention at Brunswick for
July ID next On the assurance that il the
delegates didn't find Brunswick the biggest
little town in the state he would pay all
expenses and throw in bathing suits free.
Alr. Carr said that alter a pleasant session
OF two days, the retiring president, A. z.
Ross Of Rome, who declined a reelection,
gave a barbecue to the convention, IN
beautiful grove near his residence, the bar
becue being attended by Judge Brannen,
the bar, the clergy, the members OF the
medical profession, and the delegates to the
convention and quite number OF ladies.
In all about 100 persons accepted the hospi-
talities of Mr.. Ross.
l. was an old-fashioned barbecue, in
which roast kid, beef apd roast pig and
fowls were in plenty, with side courses OF
all that the market afforded, and some of
he finest and largest melons raised in
Georgia, of a quality never seen in this
market The county is a dry county" and
no wines or iqurs were on the board, but
there were some brandy peaches, and the
witty Beach of Brunswick, when he spied
them, set the table In a roar by asking to
have the prohibition peaches passed his
way. The dinner was an enjoyable one,
and the hospitable host will long be remem-
bered by his well-pleased guests.
The real work of the convention. Mr..
Carr said, was the drafting OF bill to be
submitted to the legislature, and q commit
tee Of eleven, one Of which was President
Carr, was selected to go before the judiciary
COMMITTEES and urge its passage. The COM
mittee did so Thursday night, and Mr.. Carr
thinks the bill will be reported favorably.
The first section Of the bill provides for
charging Is cents per hundred words for
duplicate indexing of all recorded iustru
ments, the legislature having passed law
two years ago, requiring the index to be
kept, but making no provision for compen-
Sation, and the clerks seek TO obtain the
same compensation per hundred words for
indexing as is charged for recording instru-
ments of writing.
The second section provides that clerks of
the courts shall not file or docket where
plaintiff OF complainant is a nonresident,
without $40 deposit for costs, and such
additional deposit If the case be withdrawn
or dismissed, any OVerpluS TO be returned
by the clerk after final judgment. Mr..
Carr explains that, through failure in bust
ness by, or death of non-residents, these fees
are lost, as often the lawyers, who are now
liable, fail to collect them, and it is very
rarely that clerks feel like taking an order
against attorneys who are also court Off
GERS.
The third section provides that clerks
shall not be required to file or docket any
bill for divorce until lbelant deposits $40
to cover costs Of clerks and sheriffs, and a
further deposit, if necessary, at any stage
of the suit; but if it be- withdrawn or dis
missed, or after final judgment refunder
is to be made to libelant if there is any ex-
cess. This, Mr.. Carr says, will check the
growing evil of divorce, as the colored
people crowd the docket with divorce cases
aud never pay any costs, and in cities like
Atlanta and Augusta the average is from
about one-half of the costs. to save them
from total loss.
The fourth section provides that clerks of
the superior aud city courts shall not trans
init to the supreme court, bills of excep-
tions or transcripts of records until fees for
copying, certifying and transmitting the
same have been paid, except in cases
where inability oath is filed
with exceptions. Mr.. Carr explains
that there is now no provision in the law to
protect clerks from loss in this branch of
clerical work, and clerks often lose money
paid OUT for copying, and he cites one case
where he lost $3.50 for copying, certifying
and transmitting case to the supreme
court where he paid $50 out of his pocket
for copying,