Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-06
MARRIAGE. CERTIFICATES
Ministers Not Complying With the Law in
Making Returns.
Talk of Taking Steps I'm the Matter
An Instance In
Point.

One of the objects lr the placing of the
present law relating to marriages in the
District upon the statute books was to
more effectively secure prompt returns
of all marriages performed here. Before
the passage of the present law in May,
1886, and which went into effect June IL
1896. those performing marriages in the
District failed in almost a majority of
the cases to make return of them to the
clerk Of the District Supreme Court. The
old law required such returns to be made
but as it provided no penalty for a failure
to observe the law those SO failing could
not be punished. The present law, how
ever, requires those performing the mar
riage ceremony in the District of Columbia
to make a return thereto to the clerk OF
the District Supreme Court within ten days
thereafter. For failure to make the
return within the prescribed period the
existing law provides fine of not less
than so nor more than $3.50 as 10 each and
every marriage.
During the year ending June IA, 1897,
1850 marriage licenses were issued, all
nder the provisions of the new marriage
law. An inspection of the license book by
Star reporter today developed the fact
that, not wit outstanding the severe penalty
provided by the present law, ISL of the
$500 marriages which took place during the
first year of the operation Of the new law
70 returns have yet been made by those
performing the ceremonies. In a success
full prosecution of the offending officiating
parties, supposing that the minimum PEN
atty, fine of $50, should be imposed, the
| revenues of the District would DE increased
by the handsome sum of $3.50.
Speaking of the matter to a Star re-
porter today, Mr.. John r. Young, clerk of
the District Supreme Court, referred to
the almost daily violation Of the law, re-
| marking that the proper prosecuting officer
| should institute proceedings against the
guilty parties. To-day" said Mr. Young.
Il received returns to eleven marrias e.;
performed by one of the best-known minis
| tiers in the city, pastor of church known
more widely, perhaps, throughout the coun-
| try than any other here OF the eleven re-
| turns 1 received from the minister, whose
church stands almost within the shadow
of the city hall. five Of them showed that
| the marriages to the performance of which
| they respectively referred occurred much
| the marriages certified to by the minister
! took place April 10, another June L and
| the others June 1s, u and ..
"Of course, here was a violation of the
! law in no less than five different instan-
oes Will do anything in the matter? No,
l think net, for 1 cannot institute any pro-
ceedings. 1 feel however. that something
should be done in the matter and l trust
| that in view of the many violations of the
! present marriage law the proper prose-
cutting officer will take the proper action"
The records of the clerks office show that
| of the 1877 marriages to which no returns
between coiored people. But the marriages
of many white persons Rave rot yet been
certified to, and some of them are people of
prominence.