The age-herald., 1901-08-06
THE COTTON AVERAGE IS REDUCED TO TYP
 BY SEVERE DROUTH

eastern section of the cotton belt it is at tributable to the prevalence of excess sive rain during a large part of the month. While the condition in Missis- slppi is five points above the states ten years average, every other state reports a condition below sch average, Virginia being one, Louisiana two, Alabama three, Texas seven Georgia eight, South Caro- lima and Florida nine, North Carolina seventeen, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mis- souri sixteen points below their respect tive ten year averages.
 The average condition in the different The average of condition in the diff ferent states is reported as follows:
 Virginia, S6; North Carolina, 73; South Carolina, 75 Georgia, 7S; Florida, 79; AL abama, S2; Mississippi, S8; Louisiana, S2; Texas, "A; Arkansas, 69; Tennessee, 70; Missouri, Il; Oklahoma, IS; Indian Terri tory, T5.
 offices for the full term hereby prescribed shall not be affected by any change here after made by law in any circuit, division or county, in the mode or time of election. There were two minority reports to this
 
 Fitts and Duke provided that the judges of the Supreme Court should hold office for term of eight years, other judges four years. The other report. signed by Messrs Watts, Leigh, Graham and others provided that all judges except probate judges be elected for eight years.
 MT. NeSmith spoke in favor of his amendment. MT. Wilson of Clarke sup ported the majority report, saying that it left the terms of the judges as now fixed by law. The fact that the minority could not agree as to the terms of judges showed that the majority's position was the stronger. The term of judicial tenure in Alabama for seventy years had been six years.
 MT. Watts of Montgomery said the con vention ought to make the election for Judges every four years, as other officials. MT. Duke of Chambers spoke in favor of his minority report. He said the majori- ty report would provide for elections every two years. while his report would only require an election every four years. The people are tired of nominating conventions and once every four years is enough.
 Judge Walker of Madison said that un- der the majority report the terms of Judges are left as they are now. The minority reports only feature was their claim to obviate some elections The
  caused by the majority report would be very few. Very little extra trouble or ex- pense would ensue from retaining the present terms of the judges. There would be elections every two years anyway so long as we are part of the United States The previous question was then ordered the NeSmith amendment defeated by a vote of 26 to "A. the Watts amendment defeated by vote of 30 to AS, and the section as reported by the committee was adopted
 Sction 17.
 Section + was then read as follows:
 Section IT. The chief justice and asso- ciate justices of the Supreme Court shall be chosen at an election held at the time and places fixed by law for the election of members of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States until the General Assembly shall by law change the time of holding such election. The term of office of the chief justice who shall be elected In the year 1904 shall be as provided in the last preceding section. The successors of two of the associate justices elected in 1904 shall be elected in the year 1906. and the successors of the other two associate justices elected In 1904 shall be elected in the year 1908 The asso- ciate justices of said court elected in the year 1904 shall draw or cast lots among themselves to determine which of them shall hold office for the terms ending re- spectively In the years 1906 and 1908 and until their respective successors are elect ed or appointed and qualified. The result of such determination shall be certified to the Governor by such associate justices, or a majority of them, prior to the 1st day of January, 1905, and such certificate shall be entered upon the minutes of the court. In the event of the failure of said asso- ciate justices to make and certify such determination the Governor shall desig nate the terms for which they shall re- spectively hold office as above provided, and shall issue his proclamation accord ingly In the event of an increase or re- duction by law of the number of associate Justices of the Supreme Court the General Assembly shall. as nearly as may be, pro- vide for the election, each second year, of one-third of the members of said court.
 General Sanford moved to amend by striking out that clause which provided that the judges of the Supreme Court should be elected at the time of members of Congress. He said he hoped the con- vention would not lay 1t on the table. They had laid so many things on the ta- ble that 1t was becoming a joke and a by-word. He thought the Supreme Court judges should be elected at separate election. This amendment was tabled.
 Mir Pettus offere an amendment, which
 
 Sections 18 and 19.
 Section IS was adopted as follows:
 Sec IS. All judicial officers within their respective Jurisdiction, shall by virtue of their offices, be conservators of the peace.
 Section 1s was adopted as follows:
 Sec. 19 Vacancies in the office of any of the judges who shall hold office by election, or chancelors of this state shall be filled by appointment by the Govern or; such appointee shal! hold his office ur.til his successor is elected and quail fled; the successor chosen at such elec- tion shall hold office for the unexpir ed term, and until his successor Is elected and qualified.
 Section 20.
 Section 20 was adopted as follows:
 Sec. 20. Whenever any new circuit or chancery division Is created, the judge or chancellor therefor shall be elected at the next election for representatives to the General Assembly for term to ex- pire at the next general election for judges and chancellors; provided, that if said new circuit or chancery division Is created more than six months before the next election of representatives to the General Assembly, the Governor shall appoint some one as judge or chancellor as, the case may be, to hold the office until such election.
 Section 21.
 Section 21 was adopted as follows: Section N--If in any case, civil or crim- inal, pending in any Circuit Court, Chan cery Court or in any court having the jur- isdiction of Circuit and Chancery Court,