Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-10-30
BAR ASSOCIATION OF MlssIssIP.
Pl ASKS VOTERS TO HELP
CHANGE CONSTITUTION.
CHANGE IN SUPREME COURT
Want Six Judges Instead of Three.
Ask Direct EIeetlon-BusIness ls
Now Greater Than Three Men
En- Can Handle.
To the People Of Mississippi:

We, the undersigned Committee Of
the Mississippi Bar Association. ap
pointed to give publicity to the siz
Amendments with reference to the Su
preme Court, issue this appeal to you
We know that whatever service ia
asked Of you for the good Of your
State you will readily accord. That
no labor, toll or sacrifice is too great
for your to give willingly to Mississip.
pi. We therefore ask your careful
consideration of the first Six Amend
ments that will appear on a ticket ia
be voted at the general election to be
held throughout the State on Novem.
Der Sd, . synopsis Of which Is given
below.
The First Amendment IL entitled "A
concurrent resolution proposing an
Amendment to the Constitution requir.
ing the Judges Of the Supreme Court
to be elected by the people," and this
Amendment is self-explanatory.
The Second Amendment 10 entitled
"A concurrent resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution fixing
the term Of the office Of the Judges OF
the Supreme Court" This Amendment
fixes the terms Of the Supreme Judges
at eight years instead Of nine, as our
elections are held every four years.
and a part Of the Judges will be elect.
ed every four years.
The Third Amendment IL entitled "A
concurrent resolution proposing an
Amendment to the Constitution for
eliminating therefrom Section 49,
Section Isl provides that vacancies
in the Supreme Court Bench shall be
filled by an appointment Of the Gov.
ernor. The purpose Of this Amend
ment is to perfect the scheme Of elect.
Ing Judges.
The Fourth Amendment is entitled
"A concurrent resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution elm.
mating therefrom the provision that
when either party shall desire the Su.
preme Court for the trial of any cause,
1t shall be composed of three Judges.
No judgment or decree shall be af.
firmed by a disagreement of two
Judges constituting a quorum" The
purpose Of this amendment is to change
the number of Supreme Court Judges
that shall constitute a quorum In the
event the bench shall hereafter consist
OF six members instead of three, as
now provided. Two is a quorum In q
bench Of three Judges, but will not be
in a bench Of six.
The Fifth Amendment Is entitled "A
concurrent resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution increas.
ing the number Of Supreme Judges to
six" The purpose Of this amendment
is to double the working capacity OF
the Supreme Court Bench. 1t now con.
sists Of only three members and these
are not able to keep up with the work.
The Sixth and last Supreme Court
Amendment entitled "A concurrent
resolution proposing an amendment
to the Constitution providing that
the Supreme Court may sit foy
the trial Of causes in two di
Visions" The purpose of this Is ia
double the working efficiency of the
Supreme Court by providing that thres
Judges may work on one lot Of cases,
while the other three are working on
anotEcs lot.
u osoiS e~Onfusion the entire siz
amendEs= AhoS.d be voted for. The
Judges and TssssnfAoss 60 now elect
ed by the people. Sfns No. sAs gu
preme Judges? The otEss sNyasscae
have to do with the increase ~ En-
number of Judges. terms of office, etc,
The annual business coming before
this court Is now greater than TIRES
men a attend to properly. Il ~ q
physical impossibility for the court Ia
keep UP with its docket. 1t Is now
more than three years behind. Some
thing must be done. II Is especially
unfair to the poorer litigant who can.
not afford to wait. He Is often forced
into unfair and unjust compromises be
cause Of the laws delay. The Consti
tuition provides that justice shall moi
be sold, denied or delayed. We appeal
to each and every citizen to inteui
gently study the Supreme Court
Amendments. With the other amend
ments they are published In the news
papers Of every county of Mississippi
and we ask you to study the condition
that makes these amendments neces
sary, and we solicit your vote and your
influence in this campaign in aid Of
good government. We will appreciate
your help. Respectfully,
MARCELLUS GREEN,
Chairman.
CLAYTON D. POTTER.
W@N SorrAAo