The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-01
AL IMONY BILL
FINALLY PASSED
----------------------------
Senators Reconsidered Their
Action of Wednesday.
CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL
Noble Women Urge Ample Provision
For Needy Veterans.
1900 sIGNERs oF THEIR PETITION
President Turner's Deciding Vote Brought
Senator Hendsrscn's Bill Again Before
the Senate. FinaIIyEPassed by a
Vote Of Is 10 20.

Senator London Yesterday presented
to the Senate the memorial of the North
Carolina Division OF the United Daugh-
ters OF the Confederacy concerning pen
sions for the veterans and the mainten-
ance of the Soldiers Home In so doing
Senator London paid an appropriate
tribute to the noble women. and espe-
cially to the young lady who had read
the memorial on the previous night.
This petition is given in full in the
days proceedings.
soon after the Senate convened Sen
ator Bray, who had voted against the
alimony bill Wednesday. moved a re-
consideration of the vote by which that
bill was defeated
ALIMoNY BILL PASSED.
Senator Ward said, when the motion
came up 10 reconsider the vote by which
the alimony bill was yesterday defeated.
that he hoped to have nothing further
to say on the subject and he had wished
that the matter was settled He thought
the bin had cost the State enough al
ready. He moved that ~ e@4p atfon TO recon-
slider be tabled. Senator Travis favored
reconsideration. The motion TO table was
lost, ayes 20. noes %.
The motion to reconsider on a roll call
resulted aves 23. noes %, and Lieutenant
Governor Turner voted aye amid applause
Those voting in the Affirmative we're Ay-
cock. Bray, Broughton. Brown. DuIa
Glenn, Henderson, James Justice, Leak
London, Long, Mcintyre, Morrison, Pinnix
Scott, Speight, Stikeleathef, Sugg, Travis
Vann, Warren Wood.-23
Those voting in the negative were: Al
eXander Arlington Buchanan. Burroughs
Calvert, Gambler, Crisp, Currie, Foushee
Foy, Lindsay. Marshall, McAllster, Nc
Neill. Michael, Miller, of Caldwell Miller
OF Pamlico, Robeson, Smith, Thomas
Ward Webb Woodard-23
Senator Morrison then addressed the
Senate saying some of the brightest legal
minds Of the State We're interested in the
justice OF this bill and regretted it's de-
feat He felt deep interest in the bill
and citing of fictitious cases was no argu-
ment against the measure He was ready
to join with Senators and enact a law
graESing no divorces except for scriptur-
any divorces should be granted so people
could marry again. He plead for the
rights of a woman who was deserted and
made wretched by cruel husband This
hill will do much to check divorces II
you are going to grant divorces make
them fair and honorable and let the man
bear his share.
The virtue of the common law is that it
is elastic. England has rectfied this evil,
the most enlightened States OF the Union
have done so and let North Carolina take
her place on the side of Christian pro-
-rcss.
Senator Bray said he consulted some
of the ablest lawyers of the State and
became satisfied that he voted wrong
yesterday SO he had moved to reconsider
Senator Webb said eminent lawyers had
told him the Senate did right, but this
body should be its own judge. 1t is not
right for a woman to draw pay from a
man whom she was absolutely divorced
and separated from. He thought great
principle was violated the bill meant
confscation of mans property and the
good women do not want to be support
ed by a man who is so vile that she
cannot live with him.
Senator Travis argued for the bill say
ing that if marriage was a contract then
the husband should not be relieved of all
responsibility because of his meanness
Senator Justice made the point Of order
that the Senate called the previous cues
tion Yesterday and the Senate had not
reconsidered that motion, chair sustained
the point. Senator Foushee moved to re-
consider the call for the previous question
and this prevailed.
Senator Travis then concluded his argu-
ment ably summing up the reasons for
the bin.
Senator Woodard concluded for the neg
ative saying that the discussion had taken
vide range covering the whole field OF
divorce. He claimed this bill was a dan
gerous innovation.
He referred to the Supreme court de-
cision of Scroggins VS.. Scroggins in 1882
which saws a divorce cannot be granted
whom a man is deceived in the purity of
The woman he marries at the time of mar
riage. He was opposed to going back to
such state OF affairs and said divorces
arc NOT TOO liberal in North Carolina. The
nresant statutes we're enacted because de-
aisions of the Supreme court had shown
them necessary. He went into legal
arofmant at length. He contended that
the hin pave women a chance TO commit
rrapa and All women are not innocent an
gels.