Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-09
WOULD REGULATE MARRIAGES.
lnture, and His Queer
Measure.

Cleveland, O., Feb. a.-Charies w. Park
er, representative from CuyahoSa county.
in the Ohio general assembly, has sud-
denly become famous. Mr.. Parker Is an
unassuming legislator. who went through
the November election on the Hanna side
by a narrow margin of fifty-six plurality.
If the women of Cleveland could be allowed
to vote the next time Parker comes up for
election it is safe to predict that he would
run far ahead Of his ticket.
duced into the Ohio legislature. but none
half so queer as Parker's. His bill is en-
titled. "An act to regulate the issuance of
marriage licenses" 1t will probably be in
troduced tomorrow. 1t will be the most
remarkable bill ever introduced into the
Ohio legislature. 1t provides that within a
month after its passage it shall be the
duty of the probate judge in each county
physicians, who shall consider and pass
upon all applications for licenses to marry.
By the terms Of the law this board shall
not be allowed to grant license to per-
sons contemplating marriage unless upon
examination they are found to be free from
true insanity, dipsomania, hereditary in
sanity, or insanity resulting from vice or
diseases. hereditary tuberculosis, or con-
sumption. The examiners shall not belong
to the same school of medicine. They shall
be appointed for one, two and three years,
respectively. and to hold office during good
behavior. The probate judge shall be en-
powered to fill vacancies.
Mr. Parker has left a loophole through
which any aggrieved applicant for matri-
monial bonds may possibly escape. He has
provided for an appeal to n state board,
which, like the supreme court of the United
States. will have final jurisdiction. Every
applicant for a marriage license must pay
4 fee of 81. 90: The examiners shall be paid
a salary of $1,000 per annum, and the sur
plus derived from the fees of the applicants
shall so into the general fund.
No sooner had the text of the bill become
known than every one in town began talk
ing about it. Women generally regard II
with favor. declaring that unfortunate.
hasty, and ill-advised marriages are the
prime factors in the creation of degrade
tion. sin, and misery In the great cities II
is not believed the Parker bill will pass. but
it Is believed that it will be the opening
wedge to something less severe IN the
same direction.
During the past term Judge ong, sitting
IN equity court. has granted on an average
of nine divorces a day and has refused al
least six each day. 1t is this that has caus-
ed Parker's bill, which is Calculated to
stop ill-advised marriages
The marriage laws of Ohio are yery lax
Mr.. Parker declares that inasm,,ch as the
state has an interest In the physical condi-
ton OF its people and goes so far as IN
undertake their support in certain cases. il
certainly has n right to do what is possible
by law to prevent the physical condition of
the people from taking a down grade. PARK.
er asks why the men and women of Ohio
are not entitled to the same care as cat.
tie. hogs. chickens and other animate NJ
Parker expects to make strong argument
Tor MS bill and says he thinks il will be \
law in Ohio before the general assemblv
adjourns-