A majority of the justices of the Supreme Court and circuit judges shall constitute a quorum. The decision of the court so constituted, or a majority of the justices and judges sitting, shall be final and conclusive. In such case the Chief Justice or in his absence the presiding associate justice shall preside. Whenever the justices of the Supreme Court and the judges of the circuit court meet together for the purposes aforesaid, if the number thereof qualified to sit constitute an even number one of the circuit judges must retire, and the circuit judges present shall determine by lot which of their number shall retire. Whenever the circuit judges are called to sit with the justices of the Supreme Court for the determination of any cause or causes the actual travelling and other expenses of each judge so attending shall be paid by the Governor out of his civil contingent fund upon an itemized statement made out and certified to by each judge.