The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-12
THE HOUSE SETTLES THE DIVORCE
LAW CONTENTION
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL PASSED
Which Restricts Causes for Divorce
to Those Contained In the Code ana
Repeats All Enacted fnceT That Time.
h eba on the Bill a Spirited
One-Another Contest
South and Western Railway Charter
Sent Back to Committee.
SENATE.

at IL o'clock.
Bills were introduced as follows: By
Senator Justice, to cure defects in is-
suing grants from the secretary of
states office; by Senator Travis, to in
corporate the Halifax and Northamp-
ton Development Company; by Sena-
tor Charlie, to prohibit he manufac-
ture and sale of liquor in Sampson.
The house bill to incorporate the
South and Western Railroad Company
came I'D.
Senator Glenn said the bill gave the
mpa the right to start anywhere
and go anywhere.
Senator Morton said dozens of COM
panels had been given as broad rights.
The purpose of this corporation was
TO develop the cOaling business at Will
mington and Southport.
Senator London said the committee
desired TO have the bill re-referred and
this was done.
The house bill to prohibit the running
at large of stock in Robson county
passed it's third reading.
The senate bill to amend the charter
of Southport passed it's third reading.
The house bill to incorporate the New
River Development Company passed its
second reading.
The report of the committee on priVl-
Ieges and election in the case of Stamey
VS.. Springfield was read, = Nng String
field entitled to his seat. The report
was unanimously adopted.
The house bill to incorporate the
MI
ed its final reading.
The house bill to prevent the putting
of sawdust in western streams passed
it's final reading.
The bill incorporating Hope Mills.
Cumberland county. passed its third
reading.
The senate bill to incorporate the
fadkin Falls Electric Company passed
its third reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house met at 10 o'clock.
Bills were introduced as follows:
By Mr.. Winston, to protect game in
BERTHE county; also TO adjust freight
claims; by Mr.. Nicholson. to incorpo-
rate the Eastern Insurance Company;
by Mr.. Mann, to paw claims of the
shell fish industry; by Mr.. McKethan,
to incorporate RaefOrd: Dy Mr.. Robin
son, to allow the commissioners OF An
son to levy a special tax: by Mr.. Hood,
to prevent tax collectors carrying con-
cealed eapOn
MIR. Britain, rising to a question of
personal privilege. said he saw in a
paper that he had mad a speech in
the secret session of the judiciary COM
mittee against the Impeachment of
Judges FurC4es and Douglas and that
he was opposed to such course. He
desired to say he made no such speech
and had taken nc position. He was yet
undecided how he should vote on that
question.
The special order-the divorce bill
was taken up.
Mr.. Simms. of Wake. offered a sub
stitute for the bill. saving he opposed
granting any divorce for abandonment
and his substitute would piuve the law
as it was under the code.
Mr.. Hayes offered an amendment
providing that divorced persons should
not remarry without certificate from a
judge.
Mr.. Mclean, of Scotland. said the
lawyers had been referring to the
books they We're in the habit of using.
He proposed to read from the book he
was in the habit of using Qaughter).
He was asked by Mr.. Mcclellan if he
could interrupt him to ask him a Ques-
ton.
Mr.. Mclean said no" that when the
Savior was on earth certain lawyers
k him questions to entrap him.
(Great laughter n a~pplause). Mr..
clean then read from the bible a
great many selections bearing on the
question of divorce: Math 19-1-1O;
Mark 10-1-13; Math 5-13-S2; First Co
rinthians Toll; Rev. 22-1S-19; Second
Samuel 10. He applied modern con-
ditions and facts to the texts as he
read and replied to the speech of Mr..
Stewart. of Harnett. He strongly OPP
posed divorce.
Mr.. Hood said lax divorce laws were
poisoning the ounta of secret life.
He favored only those divorce Laws
provided by the code.
Mr.. Hayes favored a return to the
law of the code. 1t provides ample re-
lief n removes occasion of scandal
which recent divorce laws have given
rise to.
Mr.. Robinson, of Arson. said the di-
vorce laws at present were too lax,
but the substitute cured the evil and
at the same time granted necessary re-
lief. 1t not only requires three years
of absolute and permanent abandon
ment, but leaves the granting of the
divorce even then in the sound discre-
ton Of the judge who hears the evil
dence. 1t is we'll known that there are
-abandonments which 1t is better for
society should be covered by divorce.
A law that is too stringent is conduc-
i've to immortality.
Mr.. Craig said he was not response
BILE for this discussion. He had intro
duced his substitute to meet the bill
offered by Mr.. Gather. You cannot
write a perfect aw. The law from
Deuteronomy down to the present time
has been searched and quoted here; but
South Carolina and Missouri are the
only states tina adhere to the old con-
stitution. You may call marriage what
ever you please. but when one party
has broken every condition OF a cove
nant for three years it is but right that
the innocent and suffering party TO
that covenant should be granted relief.
We do not and we canno make laws
according to the Old or the New Tesla
ment. They do not lay down a rule OF
civil law but a rule of moral
The Master expressly refrained from
saying whether tribute should be paw
ed to Caesar or not. He rebuKed the