The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-28
HARD BLOW AT EL0PERS
STRINGENT MARRIAGE LAW PASSED
BY WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE.
VIII Put ar End to Milwaukee's Rep
utatiOn as the Gretna Green for
Certain C~hicagOans.

Scofeld should interpCSe his veto, the Mil
waukee quick-marriage industry will soon
come to an end, and impressionable daugh-
tiers of Chicago parents will not so easily
be led to the justice shop or the always
ready clergyman's residence TO have the
matrimonial knot tied. The True marriage
license bill was finally passed by the lower
house of the Legislature last night, the As
sembly accepting the Senate amendments,
and thus sending the measure to the Gov
ernor.
AS the bill was passed it provides that
every couple who desire to marry must pro-
cure q license from the county clerk at least
five days before the ceremony can be per-
formed. In cases where one of the parties
may be on a deathbed or when, for any
other reason, it is necessary that the cere-
mony shall be performed without the license
and without the five days delay, they may
be married by securing an order from the
Judge OF any court of record permitting an
immediate marriage. AS introduced, the bill
did not contain the five days clause. The
discussion which its introduction brought
out showed that the bill would not prevent
Opponents from Chicago IL the parties
could be married on the same day on which
the license was obtained. Accordingly, Mr..
True amended the bill while it was in COM
mittee and inserted the five-day clause.
which, il is believed. will be an enectual
bar TO quick marriages.
When the bill reached the Senate it met
its first serious opposition. In the lower
house the committee on state affairs re-
ported against it by a majority of one, but
the house, nevertheless. passed 1t. When it
reached the Senate a lobby appeared from
Milwaukee, composed of justices of the
peace and the friends of c~lergymen there
who had received a substantial income from
the marriage of Chicago couples. The bill
was subjected to every known argument
and some clever work was done on the floor
against II. This resulted in the Senate once
refusing to pass the bill, but yesterday that
action was reconsidered and the bill was
passed. The amendments adopted, though,
TO the lower house. When ii was considered
there tonight only three members voted
against the amendments. Following is the
text of the bill as finally passed:
Section /. Not less than five days pre-
vious to persons being Joined in marriage a
license shall be obtained from the county
clerk of the county In which the female re-
the county clerk OF the county where the
marriage is TO take place.
Sec. 2 When application Is made In per
son the applicant shall sign and verify a
statement before such clerk that the par
ties applying for license are OF legal age,
and that no other legal impeachment TO mar
riage exists. Or such applicant may go be-
fore any officer authorized by law TO adj
minister oaths and make and verify a like
statement in the presence of two subscrib-
ing witnesses. Upon the receipt of such
statement and application for license and
the required fee the Clerk shall. II such
statement is in proper form. forward to such
applicant the required license.
Sec. 3. IL any person intending 10 marry
shall be under the age OF ~twenty-one years
If a male or under the age of eighteen years
IL a female, and shall not have had a former
wife or husband, the consent In person or In
writing OF the parent or guardian having
custody of such minor shall be given to tbs
county clerk before a license for marriage
| shall be granted, and II such consent is IN
writing II shall be signed and verified by
the parent or guardian IN the presence OF
two subscribing witnesses.
"sec. a The county clerk shall file and
| preserve in his office all sworn statement:
| made for the purpose OF procuring licenses
and shall also, at once. upon the granting oi
| a license. post In an accessible place In hi!
| Office for public notice the names OF tn
| parties thereto. The limit or time for whicf
a license shall remain in force shall be on
month from date of issue, after which tins
IL shall become Nold.
sec. ;. The county clerk shall receive as .
fee for each license granted the sum OF 81
which shall become a part OF the funds OIL
the county. IL any clerk shall In any Other
manner than provided for in this act issue
| or sign any marriage 4iSttlst It SudA3 lolitl
and pay a sum not exceeding $1,000 10 anc
for the use of the parties aggrieved.
Sec. 6. If any person authorized by law
IN solemnize a marriage performs such cere'
mory when the parties thereto have not OBJ
tanned the proper certificate. or when I'VE
DAYS or more have not elapsed since thl
| date OF such certificate. or when parties TAI
TO present such certificate when making ap-
p~ication for marriage. he shall forfeit anc
pay for every such offense a sum not ex'
ceeding $500, or may be imprisoned not eX'
| ceeding one year; but such parties perform
ing marriage ceremonies are hereby relieved
from examination of applicants for marriage
as TO legal im~pediments. Each license shal
be returned by the party performing Tbs
| marriage ~ with the marriage Ger
~tiicate. 10 the register of deeds of the
county.
sec. Z. Upon application OF either or tbs
parties 10 a proposed marriage any count,
: Judge. court OF record or presiding judge