The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-09
Tenement FOLK OBJECT To
ABOLITION OF MARRIAGE BUREAU
Many of New Works Foreign Resi-
dents Believe That We Need
Il Civil Ceremony as Well
as Il Religious One.


REPUBLIC SPF'iAl<
New York. March s.-Psople in the tsne-
ment districts are much concerned over
Borough President Cantor's efforts TO have
the city marriage bureau abolished. This
marriage bureau plays an important part in
the life n the East Side. and particularly
in the Italian colony. for a great many we'd
dings are celebrated there. This marriage
bureau. It should be explained. is merely a
dark and dreary room In the basement of
the City Hall. for the accommodation of
those who wish to be married by an Alder
man.
Borough President Cantor charges the bu-
reau with making marriage ves- far from
the rite 1t should be. 1t 10 claimed that in
this basement fastness. whittier Aldermen
are so frequently summoned. girls far below
the legal age are welded and that nuptial
knots are tied in record time and without
discrimination In brief. there are those
who say that the New York Marriage b.
reau. as il is run to-day. is a disgrace to
the city. Ccmpiacently. in answer to these
charges. the three clerks IN charge Of the
bureau claim that they use caution: that il
a girl seems under age they require the
consent of her parents o. i sworn statement
from them that she is is or over. and that
their records and their procedure show they
nre above suspicion. They add that the Quss-
ton has only arisen. and the charges have
only been made so that they may be re-
moved and Others may get their small jobs.
of Bareau.
Whether the marriage bureau is abolished
Of European tongues give q touch Of ro-
nance to the prosaic routine of municipal
life. The marriage bureau. too. Is a good
deal more important than most people would
think. On the average IL SQlcmnlZed some
1.S0o weddings a year; seldom less than lS
a month. While not usurping the functions
self up to be a necessity for many of New
york's foreign residents, who feel that they
need a civil marriage as well as a religious
one. Besides the flourish in his best hand
writing OF the solemnizinE Alderman. there
goes on each marriage certificate the sigma
tura of one of this bureaus clerks. who is
u Commissioned of Deeds. To the ordinary
citizen this second signature would seem to
be altogether useless and unimpostani. But.
the certificate its creates; value. The Mar
rage Bureau Is patronized chiefly by the
Italians. This Commissioner Of Deeds sig
Consul General in New York. When the
Consul General sees II he passes the certih-
cate benignly. feeling sure that all his coun-
try's regulations have been compiled with.
For 1t must be understood that these GER
%tificates OF marriage in the basement OF
New forks city Hail are frequently OF
of property come in
Ne Stipulated Charges.
In full view. as is required by law. hangs
a sign in four languaxes-Italian. French.
German and English-.'No stipulated charge
for services IN matrimony." Though this
sign is by no means ornamental IL Is the
one object that relieves the brightness or
the room. \ more cherries apartment IL
would be difficult to find. Seats extend
around twp sides Of II. a table standing in
the middle OF the floor. This table is sell
dom used for anything except the hats OF
the bridegroom and his friends. At the
rooms further end. upon a platform. is an
old desk. arranged like a judicial bench. 1t
Is here the clerks sit and here the Alderman
stands when he Is summoned TO tie an as
sortment of nuDtial knots.
But though the room looks drearv at
DAY quite transforms it A message has
been sent for one of the city fathers to
hasten to these expectant brides and
srooms. There are perhaps q half dozen
coupler waiting their turn. Ne0ly every
pair has a host Of Witnesses and friends
along. Two-thirdS Of these people are 1tat
ians. ehawls pass for h~eadeea among the
about each neck. the most wonderful few
elry. The younger OF the women are apt
TO be q little more AmertcanIxed. Violently
feathered hats are upon their heads. their
costuming. though quite a. highly colored,
smacks more Of the city of New York. Yet
quite frequently one Of the Quaintest Of all
II the bride herself. backed by her crone Of
a mother. somewhat terrible In appear
ance. very swarthy. unable to speak .
word of English.
Picture Never the saae.
This 10 but the sussssston Of the pae-
ture presented to ne eye each Q Wbea