Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-07

riage ceremony. while the Injunction Of the
old rhyme that Friday is the worst day
of ALL reduces the issuance Of licenses upon
that, fateful day to a minimum. The year
round licenses now average from eight to
ten a day.
While the license to marry Is, under the
law, directed to the officiating minister, IT
Is seldom that the husband-elect personally
applies for It,. That Is kindly done by his
best man or some other friend. About the
only exceptions to this rule are where the
contracting parties come here from adjoin-
ing states for the sole purpose Of being
married here. and where the parties are in
dependent Of society usages. Sometimes
but infrequently. the expectant bride, her
mother or other relatives or friends, takes
out the license. In such cases, however
the husband-to-be Is, for one reason or 9TH
er the less willing Of the contracting par
ties Often the newspaper reporters are be-
seeched not to publish q license. either not
at all or until some time after the date Of
the marriage. But 1t is needless to say,
perhaps that such requests only thereby at
tach greater Importance to the publication
or the license as matter Of news, and are
rarely, II ever. respected. Frequently, the
parties demand of the clerk that he keep the
license from the press, but they are always
told that the records are public matters, and
that the clerk is powerless In the matter.
As to Marrying Minors.
By section of chapter IL of the laws Of
Maryland. passed In February, 117I, It was
provided that IF any minister shall Join in
marriage any male under the age Of twenty
one years, or any female under the age of
sixteen, and not before married, without
the consent of the parent or guardian Of
every such person, personally given. or sig
ni1ed. under the hand and seal of the said
parent or guardian. and attested by two
witnesses, he shall forfeit and pay $500
current money" This law Is understood to
have been In force when Maryland coded
the present territory OF the District of Co.
lumbia to the United States, and. as it is
said to have never been repealed here since
then, 1t is said to be the law here today
Hence. 1t would appear that the marriage
OF any male person under twenty-one or
the marriage of any girl under sixteen
would subject the minister marrying them.
or either of them. to fine of $500.
What Clerk Young snys.
Under the law as 1t stands today 1t ap-
pears that the clerk of the court, in issuing
marriage licenses, has no legal discretion,
but must issue them to all who ask for
them. 1t is the minister requested to per-
form the marriage, 1t therefore seems who
must satisfy himself that there is no law
full impeachment to the marriage. OF course
the clerk would not knowingly or willingly
issue license for the marriage of a mere
child or children. nor would he issue one
where the parents or guardians of either or
of both the applicants protested against n
But 1t Is significant fact-that, in speaking
10 star reporter upon this matter the
other day. Clerk Young remarked that he
was not authorized by law to refuse a
license to any one. Mr.. Young also re-
marked that the present law was deficient
to say the least The failure of ministers to
certify to marriages frequently created con-
fusion, inflicted harships upon innocent
people. and was otherwise Injurious to the
very persons II sought to benefit and pro-
tect. There was, he said. urgent need for a
more comprehensive and perfect law. and
he was glad to say that, judging from an
inquiry lately addressed to him by a mem
Der OF Congress. the present law stood a
fair chance OF being so amended as to make
II all that could be desired