The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-12
LAWYERS VOTE
FOR EXTRA TERM
FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT.
WILL BE KNOWN as THE OCTOBER
TERM.

Action Was Unanimously Taken at
Meeting of Chatham County Bar.
Committee Appointed TO Draft BIN
and Present IL to Legislature-NeVv
Term VIII Greatly Relieve Busi-
ness of December Term-Discussed
Question of Charges TO Grand
Jury.
An effort will be made by the Chat
ham county bar 10 get a bill through
the next Legislature authorizing the
establishment of an October term Of
the Superior Court. This was unani-
mously decided upon al a meeting Of
the bar yesterday morning.
The meeting was called TO order by
Judge Cam, and the question of either
establishing fourth term or advanc-
ing the December term, was presented
20 the bar The reasons given for de-
string change were the same as pub
ushed in the Morning News, the eX-
creme length Of the June term max
ting the December docket unusually
heavy.
The discussion concerning which plan
TO pursue continued for some time, the
majority favoring the establishment of
a new term OF the court. When a
vote was called for by Judge Cam it
was unanimously decided 10 establish
a fourth term. The new term will
be known as the October term, and will
begin on the first Monday in October,
The December term will remain as it
now is. as will also the March and
June terms.
On motion a committee was APP
pointed TO look fully into the matter
and to draw up bill 10 be presented
10 the Legislature at its next session
authorizing the establishment of the
October term. Messrs. Frank NJ. Oil
yer, Livingston Kenan and R. ]. Travis
were named on the committee.
Question of Charges.
When the question of a fourth term
had been disposed of, Judge Cam pre-
scented new question to the bar, that
of the charges of the court to the
grand jury. Under the code, certain
sections must be presented to the grand
jurors in each charge.
The sections consist of the powers
of the grand jury, its methods of work,
the game laws the examination of the
books of state and county clerks and
magistrates, and several other laws
of a like nature. These sections, to-
gether occupy twenty-five typewrit-
ten pages and considerable time is
required in charging them orally.
Lengthy Routine Charges.
With the establishment of the fourth
term of the court, this makes eighty
eight typewriter pages, for the most
a.. -
presented to a grand jury four times
during the year. In addition there
are often matters of a local nature
to which the court feels that the at
tention of the jury should be called.
1T is the desire of Judge Cam that
some action be taken to avoid the
necessity of these lengthy, routine
charges
Mr.. A. A. Lawrence stated that in
Atlanta the court gave its special
charge orally, but that required sec
tions of the code We're presented to
the jury and not delivered from the
bench. There is some question, how
ever, whether this mode of procedure
is legal.
On motion of Mr.. A L. Alexander a
committee was appointed to look into
the matter thoroughly and learn what
could be done to shorten the time re-
CURED for charging the juries, thus re-
lieving the court of much more rout-
inc work Judge Cam appointed on
that committee Messrs. A. l.. Alexan-
der, A. A. Lawrence, Frank NJ Oliver,
Judge S. B. Adams and Col. William
Garrard.
Question of Organisation.
The question of a better and more
thorough organization of the Chatham
County Bar did not come up for action,
owing to the fact that the court and a
number who were present at the meet
ing, were compelled to leave on other
business.
The meeting yesterday was not as
well attended as was desired, not a
great many besides those engaged in
business before the court appearing.
This was pointed out by several attor-
neys as one strong reason why the bar
should be better organized. On all
questions of Importance the action of
the entire bar should be secured.