Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-21
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
The Object Of the investigation Of the
Labor Bureau-What COmmissiOnel
Wright Says.

under the direction of the Commissioner of Labor
He has had for several months his agents at work
throughout the country collecting the statistics
OF marriage and divorce. The examination OF the
records dockets OF 2 700 courts is Part OF thi,
work. The inquiry covers the period OF the past
twenty years.
'The investigation that is being made" said
Commissioner Wright In conversation with STAB
reporter ais not confined merely to ascertaining
the number OF divorces and marriages during this
period. 1t is broader than that Such figures
would prove TO be or little value unless the condi
ton OF divorce laws was known. In some states
divorce is confined to the Biblical cause, namely,
other states there is greater latitude allowed You
can easily understand why 1t Is necessary that
such facts should be brought out In connection
with the statistics OF marriage and divorce. the
same principle Is illustrated In the statiatics OF
crime. In Massachusetts, drunkenness Is classed
as as Such rhe nGe Of
former state, given without any statement OF
the peculiar laws, would be apt TO give erroneous
chusetts as compared with the showing made by
similar statistics In Virginia Statistics, as you
may perceive, lead to very deceptive conclusions
or justify such conclusions unless you are very
careful. The STATISTICS of marriages In some OF
the states would in this way prove 10 be unreIi-
able. AS an illustration 1t might be found that
at certain period, Ill some state like Illinois, the
number OF divorces granted show large increase
as compared with a preceding or even q subse-
Ne "
found that at that time the laws were changed SO
as 10 increase the number OF the causes for which
divorces could be obtained. The change In the
laws should have due weight In reaching any
conclusion founded upon sucn figures"
''rAKR ANOTHER EXAMPLE,
continued the Commissioner. "as illustrating one
Of the odd features OF statistics The figures OBJ
taned. say from the eastern part Of Pennsylvani,
might show that for certain term OF years there
was great falling on In the number OF marriages.
Some light might 10 afforded by the knowledge
that during that time the ices for lrrtage licenses
had been Increased, and in consequence the young
line into New jersey to be married. There was no
record, OF course, In Pennsylvania OF such mar
nages and the bare ngures might warrant con-
illusions not at all favorable to the morals OF that
part OF the country. In this investigation we will
endeavor to give figures which win have some
meaning. 1t L. no part Of our business 70 draw
simply supply the material"
CAUSES OF DIVORCE.
an connection" he went on, "with this work we
will at the same time give the causes OF divorce.
the amount Of alimony granted, or whatever the
conditions may be OF the DEGREES granting the
divorce. This is the first attempt ever made TO
collect statistics or this character covering the
entire country. ! did it once for the state Of
the public. While am not prepared at present to
say what the statistics, now nearly collected will
show, yet have no doubt they will AFFORD
RELIABLE DATA
at least for those who wish to say anything about
public morals in this country based upon marriage
and divorce statistics. The talk so commonly
heard OF the decrease In the number of marriages,
the gradual destruction OF the family, and The
decadence OF pubic morals, can be affirmed or de-
Period Of twenty yeara expect that the report
will be ready for transmission to Congress at the
present session"
this Investigation was entirely due TO the efforts
made by the National Divorce Reform League
This association had been petitioning Congress for
some years to authorize this work TO be done, and
had asked that II be undertaken by the Bureau OF
Statistics II was hardly within the scope OF the
Work Of that bureau ne sa,d SSt stu there was NJ
lifted to do such work. Finally, when the Bureau
OF Labor was established, the league asked Con-
Last March an appropriation was made, the In
veSttgaton was begun IN August, and Is still In
In progress
THE DIVORCE REFORM LEAGUE.
The annual report Of Rev. SamI W. Dixie, CORES
ponding secretary Of the league states as to this
last Congress In March, just before the nnal ad-
Journment, after more than three years effort for
the collection Of statistics OF marriage and divorce
missioner Of Labor, 70 whom it Was intrustsd by
Congress- until August, and II viii take several
months more before the results can be made
been visited. and thus the sowest part OF the held
work in the main Investigation has been done. II
important and Interesting ever issued from . sta
isticsl bureau IN this country. OF ITS Importance
to all Interested In the study Of the family and the
doubt. But TOO much must not be expected from
the meager sum OF money expended on u. For Il
0s 81 Of
Or dockets Of 400 courts tho divorce statistics
TOR twenty years In al parts OF this great country.
marriage and divorce, and the collection Of such
marriage statistics - may bo readily secured,
special Investigations that ought 70 BE- made In
order TO understand properly this great subject.
IL has been said that the success Of this measure
alone would justify the existence and cost Of the
league from its beginning. II % worthy Of note in
this connection that the archbishop Of Canter.
bury has asked 70 he put IN possessaon Of the 70.
moment Others In foreign countries have also
made inquiries about IT,
'sThat young simkins - very charming fellow.
He was talking 70 me Ill the morning ana he was