The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-21
UNIFORM DIvoRcE LAWS.

VIII Dtf othtFs - w ="
The question Of divorce is likely to re-
ceive increased attention during the next
year or two. The recent agitation of the
matter Of the marriage Of divorced persons
by certain of The church denominations.
notably the Episcopal and the Baptist in
the North. together with tine announce
ment that the Episcopal Convention to be
held i'm California next year viii i'm all
proba bHity adopt q canon forb.ddiug min
listers Of thai church 10 perform the mar
rage ceremony for divorced persons. has
served to draw anew the attention of both
religious and secular circles TO the mat
Ter. Public opinion during the past three
or four years has forced the amendment of
the divorce laws in some Of those states
and territories where divorces were for
merly 10 be had almost for the asking, up-
on the payment Of fee and attorneys
costs. But there remains an exaspe rating
diversity of law respecting marriage and
divorce in the various states. leading oft
en- TO serious embarrassments ana grave
injustices.
il is admittedly desirable that there
shall be uniformity OF commercial law be-
tween the states and the efforts of law
makers are towards securing such uni
formity that interstate commerce may be
carried on with minimum of friction
arising from differing laws covering the
same subject. If il is desirable TO have
business. thus protected is il not more de-
sirable to have the homes the families the
morals of the people protected by un form
divorce laws?
a conference of the Comm ssiouers on
Uniform State Laws. held at Buffalo re-
Gently formulated the text of an act which
it is proposed 10 ask the Legislature of ev-
cry state to adopt II provides, in brief.
that divorces shall be granted for the TO-
lowing causes arising after marriage, and
no other. Adultery, extreme cruelty. ha-
bitual drunkenness conviction of felony
with sentence to the penitenliary, and
continuous desertion for at least - years.
No divorce is to be granted for any cause
arising prior to the residence of the pei-
toner In the state in which the suit is
brought that was not ground for di-
vorce in the state where the cause arose.
An actual residence In the state Of one
year is required before a suit for divorce
can be brought, and an actual residence of
two years before il can be granted. No
divorce shall be granted by default. nor
shall any divorce suit be tried Otherwise
than in open court. After divorce either
party may marry again. but in cases where
notice has been given by publication only,
and the defendant has not appeared, no de-
cree of divorce shall become final or oper-
alive until six months after the trial and
decision.
Whether these provisions would meet
the requirements of the situation will
probably be developed by the discussion Of
them which viii no doubt follow. ] may
be said at once, however, that it will be
found extremely difficult 10 secure the
adoption of the proposed law by all of the
states, or even by a majority of them.
Each state will be apt TO think that GER
tain features of its own laws, if they
should chance not to he incorporated in the
one proposed. ought to be retained. South
Carolina, for instance, grants no divorce
for any cause whatsoever, and recognizes
none. The law is evaded hundreds of
times in a year, and works hardships up
on a great many persons. Nevertheless,
South Carolina rests in the proud con-
seriousness that hers is a highly moral and
good law, and could hardly be convinced to
the contrary,