The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-01-14

f Practically carried out the payment
: offs poll tax as a qualification for
, voting, has largely contributed to
: debauch our politics and bring oul
, elective system into reproach. Il Is
: a matter known of all men that the
political parties contribute immense
sums from the party treasures 10
] qualify electors bv wholesale for par
tisan purposes. This system degra-
des the suffrage right, is dangerous
/ to free institutions, and gives to
political pa-ties an influence over
/ the INDECENT or Indifferent, that may
/ be used to subyert the popular will,
and prevent the ballet box from re-
cerding the unbiased choice of the
people. 1t tends to make elections
undulv expensive, and gives rise to
\ powerful and dangerous party organ
izations, hostile to healthy political
sentiment, and the main purpose of
which seems to be, By assessment
upon officeholders and IN other
ways, to raise large sums of money
to control elections in the interest of
parties and factions. In the abstract
a money qualification for voters is
an odious and undemocratic pTinci-
pie, at variance with the theory of
republican government, and having
tendency to give undue influence
to wealth, and divide the communi-
ty on the basis of riches aud power
/ ty-
As TO DIVORCES.
Some of our divorce provisions do
actually seem to invite discontented
husbands and wives 20 seek the dis
solution of their marriage ties. What
other construction can be put upon
the law that allows divorces for de-
sertion extending for the per
iod Of two years, but permits pro-
ceedings to be instituted within six
months after such desertion began?
In other words. application is per-
mitted to be made when the offense
is one-fourth eonsummated, in an
ticipation of its finally reaching the
extent required by law. Steadily,
since 1915. our laws have been
opening the doors Of escape from the
marriage state wider, relaxing the
restraints and destroying the solem-
nifty of that sacred relation. Each
of the successive acts of 1917, 1854,
1866, 1858 and 1S59have either been
extensions of the causes of
divorce oil of the jurisdictic cf.
the courts as to persons or subject
matter. At the same time, the rules
of practice OF the courts, following
the bent of legislation, have made
smooth and easy the processes which
bring death to the holy institution
which Is at the base of all private
virtue, social safely and national
hope.
/ invoke for this subject the
thoughtful attention of the Legisla-
ture, and submit for their consider
alton in this behalf the following
suggestions
First-The requirement of a resi-
dence in this State of at least two
consecutive years Immediately pre-
ceding the commencement of any
action for divorce.
Second-that malicious desertion
as a ground for divorce shall have
continued for and during the space
of at least three years Immediately |
before the commencement of any
action tor that cause.
Third-If cruel and barbarous
treatment shall be continued as a
cause for divorce, it shall be in ac-
tions by the wife only, and shall be
confined to actual violence to the
person.
Fourth-Limiting the jurisdiction (
of our courts in action for divorce to /
causes occurring while persons were I
bona fde residents of this State,
Fifth-The prohibition Of mar
riage by the guilty party in a decree T
of divorce during the life time of the <
other, and declaring all sueh mar
riages void in Pennsylvania, wheth 4
er contracted here or elsewhere.
Sixth-The making it a misde-
meanor, punishable by fine and i'm
prisonment, for any magistrate or
clergyman to marry any minor or
other persons in violation of law.
THE LIQUOR EVIL.
The attention of the General as
sembly is called to the need Of some
legislation regulating the sale of In
liquors. The State has
the same warrant for legislation upon
this subject that il has upon the
subject of marriage and diyorce.
l have no hesitation in announ-
cling that, in the judgement Of the
Executive, there il no more wide
spread and debasing evil, alike in
furious to the morals, health. public
usefulness, law abiding spirit. hap
piness and prosk Gritty of the people.
than the present virtually un
restricted sale Of intoxicating
drinks. There i no disinteres-
ted and careful observer, no student
Of practical government, who, if he
speaks bis mind, viii not admit that
rnkenness Is the most prolific
cause Of poverty, crime, misery and
sin that affiicts the people.
The returns of the County Com
show the presence of
6, 35S licensed drinking places in the
city of Philadelphia alone. This is
at the rate of one saloon for every
l25 of the population-men en-, women
and children.
l recommend the increase of the
cost of license to such Il sum as will
decrease the number oftaverns, and,
if possible, weed out the enormous
number of tipping places which in
fest the community. There ought
also to be careful regulations respec-
ting the granting ofsuch licenses, par
ticularly in the large cities, with a