New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-25
MARRIAGE LICENSE BILL.
PROVISIONS OF Mr.. KNIPP'S MEASURE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES VIEWS.

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES VIEWS.
Albany. Feb. "a (speciaD-A bill which Is intend
ed TO check hasty marriages within this State, and
which was introduced by Assemblyman knipp. OF
Chemung County. has been reported by the Assem-
bly, Committee Judiciary. Because OF some
amendments the bin has been ordered reprinted for
recommitment. To attain the end in view, the
measure provides that marriage in this State
shall be legal without properly acknowledged
marriage license. The provisions Of the bill were
drafted by a committee appointed by the conven-
ton Of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese Of New
York, which had been called together for TINS pur-
pose az ElTnira by Bishop Huntington.
The Of procuring a marriage license Is
dealt with in detail by the bill The licenses are
70 be issued by the County Clerk Of the county
where either Of the persons reside or in the county
where the marriage is performed The applicants
are TO identified the satisfaction or this ON
cial who is inquire oath OF arhrrnatlon tela-
tive TO the legality OF the contemplated marriage
II either Of the persons is under twenty-one years
old the consent Of the parents is TO be presented
in writing.
Another provision of the bill is 10 make man
datory the soiemnizing of the marriage Dy d
clergyman or other person authorized by Ia" 10
perform the ceremony Accordingly, upon the
license is to be printed the notice; Inc
Issuing Of this license does not constitute
marriage and the license will be void II Ilaf-
riage is not solemnized hereunder within thirty
bin provides that II any marriage license shan De
issued or signed in any other manner than speclheu
in the act by the proper authority. this olhcer si
nav a sum not exceeding 81 900 TO the party
aggrteved II is also to be considered INSIDE
rneanor for the person soIemnizing a marriage not
10 return duplicate license 10 the clerk W'thfn
thirty days after the ceremony.
THE COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATION
In urging the passage Of the bill the committee
who drafted it
The evils Of divorce have increased to spc Tea a9
that the very foundations of all morality and virtue
aT 6sTn pPs 4 hat these evils are owing il
great measure to hasty and unlawful Inarrlases;;
each other Not few young persons leave Their
of whom are minors, Who have no right TO be mar
rted without the consent OF one or DUN t t1IsS
1e t n by those calling themselves ministers
rnatrirnony is entered into in this reckless way
divorces viii be multiPilea ms Is, b men Of
aIefor ap nye9ri6n is Better than cure
tI n puTnoe as far as possible TO stop these
hasry and often unlawful marriages apG Is r oe
measure, least, by the passage or the License
As an evidence of this ycur attention is called to
the fact that the State OF PennsylEShIa - 80
law is that in that State such foolish and T T
9aa as are Feo no sTe ihistea author
ity. But the evil is not altogether ooYlaLeo, Pc
life come from Pennsylvania into New-York State
to be married. All this would be prevented, II IN
our State similar law 70 that or PehhsyIVaIrd
was enacted. -. ,,.-.,,,rDsr who live
As b the SoE eae o9 ha s sa contanty solicited
TO perform the marriage ceremony. II IS pc, pc
Iieyre no sXaggera-ion that nearly one-hdLL
Of the marriages solemniZed IN Elmra are between
parties coming from Pennsylvania. This. Of itself
hciency of a license law, because, there were
cases the parties would be married at home. and
in the community where they are well known OF
not marry at all
ADVISING A LIBERAL MEASURE.
At the same time we would not advise any dras-
tie legislation. advise having any unrelsoIiS pc
to an evil another direction. to perhaps, L.ielt
Intercourse or uGenLleIsness, bLL s We n he
tranne INTO me relation Of husband and wife
fortified. that nc parties could be united uniaw-
fully, O without due conslderation OF tle NJ
ranged that no minors could oe jotned together in
matTimony without the consent o. '..s ~ pa racfs7
as now proposed would in a measure al least stop
that this evil, as vel as what has been called
Consecutive polyg3ny. mas become ouIIe con
1I 10 one ON or more wives in different places
Now with a stringent license law this would be
prevented, in those states, at least where such a
law obtained The Importance OF the sixth sectiole
OF the bill is very evident as in making proof or
marriage after death
UNI ORM ACTION URGED.
In regard to license law as well as In regard, TO-
should be general and uniform throughout me
whole country. II is perhaps, not 100 much 70
hope that eventually the United States Congress
may enact such a law. But in the mean uIne II
would seem to be duty TO do what we can IN
cur own State to abate and abolish, far as pos
sfble the evils complained Of.
To its honor be II spoken this State now recog-
nizes only one ground frr divorce, the cause which
our Lord Himself recognized, but this TO a great
extent has been nuihed because persons can
migrate for a season other States, where for
trivial reasons a divorce be obtained. StiI, We
must relinquish our efforts TO bring ABOUT
better condition Of things We must 40 VIA mes
in our power stem the tide Of immortality ana
vice which threatens the destruction OF the
whole social fabric, for whatever strikes at the
sanctity Of marriage, whatever degrades the rela-
ton of husband and wife. strikes ar the home
itself which is the fountain head OF all morality
and virtue from which flows the stream upon the
nTrirv OF which depends the integrity and pros
perftv both of the Church and State
GEORGE 4. MKNIGHT.
5 H SYNOTT,
GEORGE B. SLOAN,
ROBERT T. TURNER,
" J-E-3