The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-05
MAKING THEIR EXCUSES
Naay Clersymen Called at the Board
Of Health Rooms.
MADE THEIR EXPLANATIONS
General Sentiment That the Board Should
Furnish Proper Bianks CierGy.
men DO Not Want to Be Com
pelled TO Garry Them About.

Miss Deepen. assistant secretary OF
the board OF health. was kept busy yes
terday absolving clergymen who came
to make excuses for not having lived
up to the law requiring them to make
returns of marriages.
About half of the twenty-five who
were notified OF their neglect visited
the boards office during the day and
| explained why they had omitted to re-
port. They were excused from appear
ing before the board Friday as directed
to by the summons sent out on Tuesday
! Those who did not make their explana-
tions yesterday or who do not do SO
before the board meets will be COM
PEELED to appear before the board or
undergo prosecution.
No pronounced opposition to the reg
ulation developed but the general senti-
ment was that the board should furnish
the proper blanks without compelling
the clergymen to come after them. One
Of the clergymen said 1t was beneath
the dignity of his office to cart pack
ages to and from the board Of health
rooms. The law on the subject Is very
strict and explicit. The act Of assem-
bly, reads as follows
What the Act o! Assembly Says.
Section 6. The said board OF health shall
have power to create and maintain com-
plete and accurate system for the registra-
ton OF all marriages, births and deaths,
which may occur within the city. and to
compel obedience to the same upon the
part of all physicians and other medical
practitioners, clergyy1en, magistrates, un-
dertakers. sections. and all other persons
from whom Information for such purposes
may properly be required. The board
shall make. and cause to be published. all
necessary rules and regulations for carry
Ing into effect the powers and functions
with which they are hereby invested,
which rules and regulations shall have
the force Of ordinances of the city, and
all penalties for the violation thereof, as
we'll as expenses necessarily incurred in
carrying the same into effect, shall be re-
c0v8rable for the use of the city in the
same manner as penalties for the violation
OF oity ordinances. subject to the like lin
itation as to the amount thereof
Section so Of the Rules and Regula-
tions Of the Board Of Health unoer
which the prosecutions are contem-
plated is appended:
Regulation Of the Board.
'It shall be the duty Of every clergy
man or magistrate by or before whom any
marriage may De soemnized or contract
ed, to make a return Of the same the first
week of each month, which shall give, as
near as can be ascertained, tho fuil name
OF the husband. his occupation, place Of
birth. residence and age. date Of marriage,
name Of wife previous to said marriage
her age. and the color Of the parties: ani
every clergyman and magistrate shall he
furnished with blank forms of such re-
ports by applying at the secretary's Of
fice."
Opposition to the law manifested it.
self in Philadelphia recently, but the
board OF health succeeded In compeil-
ing its observance. Whether or not op-
position will develop here remains to be
seen on Friday. 1t IL very likely that
some Of the clergymen will object very
strenuously to having hearing on that
day, as that Is the day which they as q
rule devote to their sermons.