The morning times., 1896-04-14

tiiS scSSion ana passed seven DillS VI iu-
terest to theiDiserict OF Columbia.
This unusual legislative feat was accom-
plished despite. the fact that three times
the point or no Quorum was made in order
to defeat meilsure.
once the surrounding underbrush was
beaten and at the expiration of eleven
minutes the Speaker was able to announce
that 119 geptemen were present. An
other time ttif, poiHt was witlIdra wn and the
third resuitedlnforcing an adjournment.
The bill to revise the marriage laws was
the pending measure when the House ad-
5ournei, general, dissatisfaction being cA-
pressed with, The Senate bill as amended
by the Eouse committee. Some sought to
defeat 1t outright, others te commit 1t to
the Judiciary Committee and still Others to
recommit 1t to the District C0mfaittee
with instructions to reframe IT. 1t Is
almost certain that the bill VIII be re-
committed at the next regular District day.
With the end Of the session practically
in sight, aud probably not more than two
district days remaining. it is also likely
that no legislation of the character de
sired will be enacted at this session.
BILLS THAT WERE PASSED.
The bill prepared by the Comm ssioners
relating TO taxes and tax sales, was called
up Tor consideration. but deferred until
some future time in order that members
might fan.Iliarize themselves with its pro-
! visions, Which are regarded as too import
! ant for hasty action
The seven House bills passed were as
| follows:
Permitting the Pintsch CompresSing Com
pany TO lay pipes.
| TO relieve Antou Gloetzner from the op-
| erations OF Tire alien land ownership act.
For the drainage of vacant lots in the
| District
| Int Of rIa;Y i0bt
| and baggage
Disposal OF property coming into posses
sion OF the police
| Allowing the Falls Church and Potomac
Railway TO enter the District.
To relieve the holders OF certain tax
| sale certificates.
The bill referring to the entry OF the
| Fails Church and Potomac Railroad was
| amended so as TO make It's route as fol-
| lows:
| From the foot of street extended to
| the river eastward along the line OF +
| street to the line of Seventeenth street;
! thence southwark on Seventeenth street TO
| Is street; thence eastward on b street 10
| the west building line or Ninth street"
Two years are allowed for the COM
pletion OF the road, and a forfeiture bond
| OF 81 200 is required.
MARRIAGE LAW BILL.
The Senate bill 10 regulate marriages in
| the District was then taken up The bill
pro vides that
If any male pc rson inten ding to marry
in the District OF Columbia be under twenty
one years OF age. and II a female under
| eighteen years OF age, and has not been
| previously married. the consent OF the
father or guardian, or. If there he none.
OF the mother or such person, shall be given
either personally to the clerk OF tie supreme
couEt of the District OF Columbia or his
| deputy, or in writing subscribed by
witness, who shall make oath before the
| clerk OF said court that said writing was
signed r ackno wledged in the presence OF
said witness, by such gather. guardian, Or
mother, as the case mhS be-
That marriages in the District OF Columbia
may be celebrated by the Judge Of any
court of record or any justice OF the peace
When any minister or other person, ap-
pointed ordained according TO the rites
and ceremonies OF his church, shall. before
the supreme court OF the District of Co
lumbia produce proof that he is duly ap-
pointed or ordained rs such, and that he
is In regular communion with the religious
| society OF which he is member, and give
bond in the penalty OF $500 to comply with
the conditions OF this act, such court may
make an order authorizing him to celebrate
the rites of marriage in the District OF
| Columbia. Marriag ges between persons be-
longing to any religious society which
has no ordained minister may be solemnfzed
by the person appointed and in the manner
prescribed by and practieed in any such
society.
That no one but a minister Or other
person authorized by this act shall here
after celebrate the rites OF marriage in
this District, anything in any law now in
| force in said District to the contrary, not
withstandiDg.
NOT RETROACTIVE.
That no marriage heretofore or here
| after soIemnZed shall be deemed or ad
Judged to be invalid, nor stall the validity
thereof be in any way affected, on ac
count OF any want of authority in any
| person solenniZiDg the same, If consum
| mated with fun belief on the part OF
| the persons SO married. or either OF them
that they were lawfully joined III mar
riage-
That no license for any marriage shall
hereafter be issued to which any cttzer
Of a foreign country shall be party until
a minister or consul representing suct
foreign country in the United States shall
certify that the conditions OF the validity
| OF the marriage of the law Of such country
shall have been complied with.
That any person authorized to celebrate
| the rites OF marriage shall be paid by tht
| husband u fee OF at least one dollar IL
each case
That if any minister or other person WHIT
1 has executed bond under section two o
: this act aud is authorized to celebrat,
| marriages i'll this District shall fail Il
| comply with the provisions OF section eigh
! | of this act the condition of such bond shal
be deemed to be thereby broken; and i
| IL justice of the peace shall fail 10 comp
h with the provisions of section eight of thi
T act he shall upon conviction be fined in tn
discretion of the court, not exceeding $500
That it shall be the duty of the clerk t
! examine and ascertain the fuilnames, ages
| color, whether married previously or single
: whether related or not, and, il so, in sxha
degrees, of the parties desiring to marry
| which facts shall appear on the face Of tn
application.
OLD OBSOLETE LAWS
This bill passed the Senate February 2
T last Mr. Curtis, OF Iowa, called especi;
e attention to the absence of proper legis
lation on the subject OF marriages. ii
said to the best of his information he di
not believe there had been marriag
solemnized within the district during th
! last fifty years in strict conformity wit
!, the Old, obsolete laws in force.
The existing laws only recognize ma
;. riage as a religious rite, whereas the pre-
posed laws would make it also q civ
J | rite.
8 Mr.. Curtis called especial attention t
n the provisions of the bill requiring reeor
I of each marriage to be kept in the clerk
office At the present time less than ha
n the marriages appear as a matter ofrecor(
!, The licenses are issued, the ceremonies pc
formed and no return made to the clerk {
the court. bac =;
e "A number, OF committee amendment
= heretofore printed in The Times, wei
reported. and Mr.. Walsh spoke in oppos
l. tion to them and the bill In general.