The news & observer., 1901-01-31
ONLY PRACTICAL
FARMERS WANTED
Mr.. SCOTS Bill Passed the
Senate Unanimously.
ALlMONY BILL DEFEATED
Senator Henderson's Strong Legal
Argument.
MEsSRs. WARD AND FoUsHEE OPPOSE IT
Fine Debate in the Senate Results in the
Defeat Of the Bill by Vote Of 20
to l8. Many Local
Bill Passed.

Dill aSSeus
Yesterday Senator Henderson's bill al
lowing wife aImony in case of absolute
divorce came up in the Senate as a spe-
ciaI order and after strong debate the
bill was defeated ty vote of Is to -.
This was quite surprise for over half
n dozen speeches were made for the bill
and only two against it. The bill was
defeated largely by the lay members.
only three lawyers present voting against
it. 1t was one of the most hotly con-
tested fights of the session, aud stro..g
legal talent was ar:ayei on both siGes.
The bill by Senator Scott that only
practical farmers should serve on the
State Board of Agriculture came up and
was unanimously passed on both its sec
ond and third readings. The opposition
manifested towards the measure when it
came up before had seemingly disappear
ed and not voice was heard in oppos
tion.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Lieutenant-Governor Turner called the
Senate to order at 10 o'clock. Rev G. r.
Adams. of the Central Methodist church,
offered prayer. The reading of the jour
nal was dispensed with.
PETITIONS.
Mir. alichael Petition from certain citi-
zena of Moore county asking for modi-
feations of the election law.
Mr. Michael: Petitions from Allegheny
county regarding the election law.
Mr. McAllister: Petition from Cabarrus
x.f sNf
the peace.
Nr Sect: Petition to incorporate the
Haw River Baptist church.
THE ALIMoNY BILL.
Senate bill: To allow alimony in case
OF divorces vinculo matrimonii. Sena-
tors Wood and Leak moved to postpone
this special order until Friday. Sena-
tors Vann and others opposed postpone
mcnt and the motion was lost.
Senator Ward offered an amendment
thea there shall be no alimony allowed
cftcr the marriage Of the divorced hus-
ha.d He contended against the idea
CT woman. who secures a divorce from
her husband and he afterwards marries
another woman and reforms and becomes
q valuable citizen, being permitted to
draw alimony from that husband after
his second marriage. Here is a hus-
band who lives the life Of prohigate
when a young man and his wife secures
a divorce Years afterwards he reforms
marries a better woman and raises a
yirtuous family, yet that first wife. who
did nothing to reform him will continue
TO draw from the money that he and his
family may make or save. 1t is unjust
to The man, to his second wife and their
children.
SENATOR JUSTICE SPEAKS.
Senator Justice said he thought the bill
WAS misunderstood. All the bill provided
was for the protection of good, virtuous
woman against bad man. Nothing was
offered woman who did wrong during
or after marriage. If a man Is divorced
and later reforms, then the best reforma-
ton lie can make Is to pay that Door de-
ceivcd wife CT his youth alimony II
he really and truly reforms he ought
TO 20 back to that wife of his profligate
youth and ask her to trust him again and
If she cannot revive her faith then he
ought 10 support her as long as she lives
because he has done her great wrong
which he can never repair
SENATOR FoUsHEEs ARGUMENT.
senator FouShGc had profound TeSpSci
for the legal opinion of the Senators from
Rowan and Rutherford and would not op-
pose them without serious study. No one
had proved or shown that the present law
IS inadequate. There are two kinds oi
divorce, one from bed and board and the
other absolute divorce. The grounds for
divorce from bed and board are (l) aban-
donment. (2) turning her out of doors
CD barbarous treatment endapgering her
life, t4) conduct rendering life intolerable
ca habitual drunkenness; for any OF
these causes the wife can get such a
divorce but cannot marry again and her
divorced husband has to contribute to
her support. IL he does not pay this ALI
mony she can send him TO jail The
speaker then enumerated the six grounds
on which absolute divorce, with
tho right 10 marry again Now
this bin simply gives to the wife a
right to get this absolute divorce, have
the right TO marry again and to draw
money from her divorced husband until
she does marry another man. Many mar
riagcs are merely a matter of conven-
ience. old men and young girls, and this
gives that woman powerful lever
SENATOR LONDON FAyoRs 1T.
Senator London advocated the bill say
ing the present law placed premium
on mans vieiousncss. III husband was
simply a worthless drunkard the wife
faiifd uaf ID dfvoreo From bau aud f,aa ~