The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-17
A GRETNA GREEN ABOLISHED.

New Jersey is no longer the Gretna
Green 20 which couples can fly from
Pennsylvania 10 get welded without the
usual preliminary requisites. On the hrst
OF this month the new marriage license
law of the mosquito state viii be In OPP
Grafton The measure makes no change
in the marriage laws OF the state so far
as resident couples are concerned. but II
makes radical changes with respect 10
non-residents going into the state to have
the marriage ceremony performed. 1t is
more than twelve years since Pennsyiva-
MIA passed a law intended TO check the
ill-eonsidered marriages which were so
frequent. New Jersey retaining the old
custom. a large number Of people went
across the boundary for the purpose of
getting married and this built up quite
lucrative industry, and the ministers
along the border who profited by the Diff
ference in the laws made determined
effort 10 prevent change
The experiment Is TO be tried on non
residents. but the probability is that It
win soon be- extended 10 residents of the
state for such a law Is only tustinable
on the ground Of being in the interest Of
public policy and public morality. II il
81 a good law when applied TO non-resi-
dents It should be a good law for resi-
dents OF the state in whose welfare the
commonwealth has 80 much greater In
terest. The spectacle Of "a couple run
ming cut OF one state into another i'm or
der 10 evaGe the laws Of their own state
is rot very edifyinE. and although New
Jersey has been induced TO pass the new
measure as matter ~ state comfy, IL
should recognize the fact that Il Is Just
as bad 20 &c rushing she ceremony in
remote corner OF the same state The
New Jersey law imposes upon county
clerks the duty Of issuing a marriage IL
cense 20 non-resi3euts after a number II
searching Questions have been answered
ny the prospective bride and groom. and
by one who IS can q the Identifying VIII
ness" The object OF these 3n;errogator-
les IS 70 ascertain whether there is any
lmpedirent % the proposed marriage.
Among other disclosures the identifying
Witness ts expecte3 70 inform the clerk
ho0 long t1e parents ar guardians ~ The
applicants for the license have known
teat the couple intend 20 get married.
The best evidence ia such "a case woul8 be
prodacsiou og consent or u knowledge on
the part &c parents CT guardians.
lie Is $50 asked t. state
whether Rae Aas ever heard q any
otlertec ce'ae mate ~ aay person 70
the contemplated marriage ], IS said
thAt tae queries p-ocoausod O. the aea-
tsyiar witness are of a sufficiently IL
Cale--o-.ai character % satisfy the most
eRse..as requirements. And Z they are
aaytaErs Ike tho~e required b. ire Penn
sylv4ra 'aw there cannot bs rsa-h aopht
err that srere u thar state the law -
gllres a declaration framed With n vfev
;a eet.rg TIE marriage u minors. and
l- se5.ts,7 q v.s.t 10 TIE orpaAn's raart
clerk 8 necessary. where some publicity
IS .2s8re3 before s. marriage license can
be procured
Ieere 4-e uasny eases where wftA,.-
aoy .ug--se- noaye persons desiring .
Fat 1aaErea ulsai E.sa 10 avc.s sa5ucl,y.
bat g Is 70 ire g~eafe- good 10 IRE cosn-
fn-sr.tv t-e, -l0zway ae3 se--es marriages
81 E-e.-.,ra IN c1n-=a <.-r a r-s~-sa-a
anaee siv.HEea coaf.rtaas. The parties as
sr1ae a eocaai resRo2sl oas:Sy- ana Il ls cue
% society ts4t Il be protested y taers
are very grave reasons WAY q marriage
ssA+ ee seEst ire saE-r-n-s IS yAat
etne~s taa1 rAe parry thar-s.lv-~ ara -,--
ee-ne5 i7 tee Frocses3snv Ard since
iaas~ N@o marry apply pls,.-ly 70 re
laws t9r Trofeesioa - SO fu,allneat q
tse cont-act 3, S city 3ass ia; ~ esre-
D'ny aAi - --rreaaaea ny sueh Ere
eA@s40as As s122 minnie re poss. ngs-