The Portland daily press., 1883-01-31
Hearing on Petition to Change the
Divorce Laws.
PROVISIONS OF THE NEW SAVINGS
BANK BILL.
Incorporation of the Portland Loan
and Trust Company.
Especial Despatch to the Press.l

/ question of amending the divorce laws. Rev.
| George s. Dickerman, of Lewiston, sad that a
bill had already been drawn up and was in the
hands of Judge Hail. of the committee, which
embodied the legislation asked for, and which
had met the approval Of the judges of the Su-
preme Court of Maine. 1t is in substance a
transcript OF the Massachusetts statutes relat.
| ing to divorce. The bill removes the discre-
tionary power of judges and grants divorce
only for specified causes-adultery, impotency
| extreme cruelty, utter desertion continued for
| three consecutive years next prior to filing OF
libel, gross and confirmed habits OF intoxica-
tion, cruel and abusive treatment, or, on libel
| of wife, refusal to support. The parties suing
| for divorce must be actual residents Of the
| State All divorces shall be decreed as condi.
| tional, to be made absolute after six months
unless cause is shown against. The libelee
cannot marry again for two years, and then
| only by consent of the Court.
Mr.. Dickerman spoke at some length, and
replied to questions of the committee. He
dwelt upon the danger to the State and society
| from lax divorce laws and the evils to individ-
ais resulting from dissolution of the marriage
contract. He cited examples of other States 10
show that the number of divorces has decreased
in proportion as the law is made more string
ent. In Massachusetts there is one divorce to
every twenty-one marriages. while in Maine
there is one divorce to every eight marriages.
As our laws exist at the present time they offer
q premium to the adulterer. They say go off
and commit your sin and the law will then en-
able you to marry your paramour." In closing
ha kar 1od t,f fha
ommend such legislation as shall restrain hu-
man passion in its wild outbursts and human
caprice when excited, and protect home and
State.
Hon. Warren FL. VintJn, of Gray said that
some action should be taken toward discourage
ing hasty divorces. He submitted bill which
he had drafted, which was not SO sweeping in
its provisions as the one asked by Rev. Mr..
Diekerman and others, but was intended to
remedy some of the defects in the present syg-
tenn. He was followed by Hen. j. W. Brad
bury. Of Augusta, Rev. Geo. D. Lindsay, of
Portland, and Rev. 81. W. Tilden, of Augusta,
who advocated divorce reform.
Ri. Rev. Bishop Neely,o of Portland, appeared
in behalf of the Protestant Episcopal church
IN this diocese, and read the petition adopted
at the last annual convention Of that church.
I'VE ask in substance" said Bishop Nicely
"that divorce from the bonds of matrimony
may only be granted for the one specific offence
which our Lord mentioned, We do not recog-
nize the moral validity of divorce decreed for
any other cause. There should be more eau
tion and judgment at the beginning on the
part of the contracting parties. While should
raiOirA al QxieElpp law
should be far more glad If we could place our
selves once more upon distinctly Christian
basis.
The committee then had session with closed
doors, excluding all but reporters. After a
lengthy deiberation it was decided to recon-
mend the bill substantially as presented by
Rev. Mr.. Dckerman. The vote stood to 8.
There will be a minority report. All the COM
mittee are in favor OF some change in the ex-
isting laws, but there is some diversity of opin-
ion as to how extensive such change should
be.
LEwisToN's HoRsa RAILROAD.
Quite delegation of gentlemen from Lewis
ton and Auburn arrived in Augusta on the
o'clock train tonight and met the Committee
on Judiciary at the Hotel North, on the petit
eiOa W uldhO Fdiiu tii0 uuluSS VI tHo Ctbl6S VI
Lewiston and Auburn in granting permission
to George f. Mellen and others to construct
and operate horse railroad in said cities. The
petition is opposed by a large number of tax
payers of Lewiston, on the ground that the
corporation is not legally organized, they hav-
ing organized under the general railroad law,
which, it is claimed, does not include horse
railroads in its provisions. The city of Lewis
ton further opposes the petition because by the
terms of its grant it is to keep the road bed in
repair, which, 1t is claimed, the railroad COM
pany ought to do. The city seeks, by opposing,
legislation to be released from the obligations
which it assumed when it gave the original
grants. The Lewiston & Auburn Horse Rail-
road Company, which is the successor of Mel
len & Co., asks that the legislature will make
valid the act of the two cities, there being
sSasiiis ais aanht5af their Legality Col f NJ. Drew
of Lewiston, Judge George G. Wing, Mayor
Woodman, E. F. Gile, J. w. Mitchell and
CO.. Thomas Littlefeld, of Auburn. appeared
for the petitioners, and Judge Cornish and A.
r. Savage, Esq. of Lewiston, and Seth NJ.
Carter, Esq, of Auburn, in remonstrance.
ITO the Associated Press
ed to report bill incorporating the Portland
Trust Company
THE SAVINGS BANK BILL.
The savings bank bill was considered and the
provision stricken out allowing banks to invest
in Nebaska and Kansas State and municipal
bonds. The bill allows investments in first
mortgage of railroads chartered under the laws
of New jersey; provides for two examinations
annually by the examiner, and allows banks to
take mortgages in New Hampshire; provides
that the decree of the courts where there has
been scaling down shall be final, and that
the State tax shall be three-quarters of cent
instead of one-half, as asked for in the bill. 1t
was voted to report the bill in new draft.
THE STATE LIQUOR AGENCY.
The Temperance Committee recommend that
the State liquor agency be investigated by the
Governor and Council.
VARIOUS MATTERS
The Committee on Legal Affairs will repor t
legislation inexpedient on order looking to a
constitutional amendment changing the basis
of apportionment SO that it shall be upon the
numbers of legal voters instead of population
1t was voted to report bill to inc orpor ate
the Portland Electric Light Company.
Ought to pass will be reported on bill to
amend chapter 90. section 1, laws Of 1S73 relat.
ing to towns hol ding money for cemetery pur.
poses. Same report will be made on bill tc
amend chapter 81, laws of 1881, relating to tax
alton OF horse railroads. Same on bill to in
corporate the Portland Soldiers and Sailors
Mon ument Association. Same on bill te
amend chapter 244, section 8, laws of 1880.
| The Committee on Agriculture voted to re-
| port bill es tabishing fertilizer control sta
J tion.
| Mr.. Rowell, manager of the Industrial
! School. appeared before the Committee on the
Reform School, and presented the wants Of
that institution. They will visit the school or
Friday and recommend the usual appropriation