The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-16


The old law exmpted millers, doctors ant
preachers. but this had been stricken out
III YOU do not require the tax from mill
tary men then you are moving back TO the
oil plan of running out and catching GER
tain classes of the population and max
ing them labor on the highways. Any
exemption is a violation of the principle
that road duty is uniform tax.
senator James SAID this law was en-
acted at the request Of the military COM
panes in 1892 and he could not vote
for this bill without giving them a hear
ing.
The bill failed to pass its second read
ing. ayes II, noes u, as follows:
Those voting in the affirmative are:
Messrs. Alexander, Arlington, Gambler
Crisp, Dula. Henderson, Long Marshall
Mcintosh, Mcintyre. Robson. Stile-
leather Warren, Webb. Woodland.
Those voting in the negative are:
Messrs. Aycock, Buchanan Burroughs,
Currie, Foy Glenn, Gudger, James, Leak,
Lindsay McAllister, Mcneil, Michael,
Miller of Caldwell. Miller of Pamlico.
Morrison, Morton, PinniX Struggled,
Sugg. Thomas. vann Ward.
THE SPECIAL ORDER.
The divorce bill, repeating all grounds
for divorce except in this Code in 1883.
came up as a special order. The commit
tee offered two amendments. allowing di-
vorce for three years abandonment prior
to this date. also where husband commits
rape
Senator Webb favored the amendments,
saying you might take the only Bible
grounds for divorce, adultery and aban
donment would then be a jusL cause
He claimed that every man who
abandoned Il good woman, without just
cause, for three years. was almost sure
20 have committed adultery and the only
difficulty is securing proof. Hence she
is entitled to divorce for his adultery. A
scoundrel mar deceive q woman marry
her and run away in three Gays and are
you going to tie that poor innocent woman
TO that distant rascal all her life and
make her a walking sore in our social
life? This amendment ought TO be adopt
cd Ter The sake of the poor women VINO
have already been victims and have in
nocently suffered so much.
SENATOR HENDERSON FOR THE BILL.
Senator Henderson was not here to
argue the question from a purely biblical
Carolina is not Christian State, having
10 established religion, but as Christians
the legislators should uphold their faith.
There is only one cause in the Bible, and
that is fornication. but even that does
not give woman right to secure a di-
vorce.
"Will the Senator stand by the Bible ?"
asked MIR. Webb.
Il say we ought to do so as nearly as
possible as Christians" answered Mr..
Henderson.
Well, the Bible says owe no man
anything, and are you willing to abolish
the homestead" asked Mr.. Webb
That is not before the Senate" was
the reply
Senator Henderson continued: II am
opposed to divorce. or TO encouraging
divorce. and if l could / would be willing
to stand squarely on the Bible. The
ground of abandonment gave any couples
separating the power to get divorces The
laws now encourage this. l believe more
divorces were granted in North Carolina
last year than in Great Britain and Ire
land, with their millions
Senator Woodland interrupting, said that
is because Ireland is Catholic and Eng
land has an established church and both
churches opposed divorce.
Senator Henderson said the old English
rule did not grant any absolute divorce
for cause occurring after marriage, but
the laws have now grown so that the
statute are only legalized pologamy.
Impotency and disease at the time of
marriage ought to be grounds for divorce,
because then there was no legal mar
riage. The bin is not perfect, but let's
pass il rs it came from the House and
take this stand against divorces.
SENATOR WOODARD'S ARGUMENT.
Senator Woodland said that he always
listen with respect to the Senator from
Rowan and when he differed with him
he felt it necessary to explain his rea-
sons In opposing this measure and il
favoring the amendment ne thought he
was carrying out grave duty to the So
cial life Of the people We are not now
living in the Bible times, when the
Saviour spoke as never man spoke before
and neither is this the day of Abraham
Senator Woodland pictured incidents from
the lives of Abraham and Jacob Solo
mon, the wisest man, was the son of a
woman whose husband was murdered by
David to secure her. Yet David was a
man after Gods own heart. but If
Davids crimes were committed now he
would be hanged without trial.
Senator Woodland said he never spoke
irrevently of the Bible. he would that
the Christians today, instead of asking
for laws TO govern mems acts and force
morality, could recur TO the doctrine OF
the sermon on the mount. Our life today
is entirelv different from the pastoral
occupation Of those people
This bill proposes to strike out at one
fell swoop all grounds for divorce not in
the Code up TO 1888 This would be unwise.
Public policy never will demand that peo-
ple who have separated three years shall
go about and be pointed at with scorn.
Cruel laws will force them to become inn
moral. That is not standing on the BIZ
Bile for it contains more against such
condition than any other treatise Up to
1879 pregnaey of the wife at the time of
marriage was not a cause of divorce. The
Supreme court so held in the case OF
Scroggins vs.. Scroggins in 1882, hence
the Legislature later incorporated this as
cause for divorce. He heard no objec-
ton TO the amendment making rape by