Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-10-22
THE DIVORCE LAWS.
The President May Urge Congress
to Investigate Them.
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL IN A NEW FORM.
Bristow's Report ON the Irregularities I'm
the Post Once Department Nearly
Ready-POstmaster General Payne
May Resign-Navy Estimates.

Washington, Oct. 19.-That Presi-
dent Roosevelt will deal with divorce
and the need Of more uniform divorce
laws throughout the land in his forth
coming annual message to congress IL
the burden Of report current In
Washington. Many prominent persons
have talked with him on the subject.
Prominent clergymen have sought his
aid, 1t is said, to influence sentiment
toward the curtailment Of hurry-up d.
vorce statutes. OF course, divorce
laws are q matter Of state legislation
and the federal government has moth
ing to do with them. But the presi-
dent, 1t is argued by some interested
persons, might easily take advantage
Of the prominence recently given this
subject to touch upon IT In his annual
message, and to express at least the
hope that there might be q national
tendency toward restriction Of divorce
laws, which are now temptation for
many to seek relief from the married
state. Should the president bring this,
subject to the attention of the country
1t possibly would be coupled with some
reference to race suicide. 1t has been
suggested that the president might put
forward as q step toward betterment
of the existing situation a recon-
mendation that congress appoint a
committee to investigate the question
Of making the state laws more uni
form.
Ship Subsidy bill In New Form.
Washington, Oct. leigh officials
Of the administration are moving In
the interest Of the ship subsidy bill,
which may be revived In the next ses-
sion Of congress. There appeared in
Washington Saturday a letter from
Mr.. Chamberlain, commissioner Of
navigation, urging upon friends Of the
administration serious consideration
Of the bill in new form. He said 1t
was important to the business inter-
ests Of the country that this measure
be debated in the next session and he
hoped 1t would be given conscientious
inspection. This is the first tangible
evidence that the bill would appear
among the important measures In the
next congress.
Bristow's Report Nearly Ready.
Washington, Oct, 19.-The fourth
assistant postmaster general, Joseph
Bristow, has conferred with the
president and told him that his |
work in preparing his report on the |
Irregularities in the post office depart
ment has been practically completed.
He assured the president that the re-
port would be in his hands early this
week. The report will be presented |
to the president In printed form and
viii cover several hundred pages It |
win not be given to the public until |
1t has been scrutinized by the presi- |
dent.
Postmaster General Payne May Resign.
Washington, Oct 19.-Reports that |
Postmaster General Payne has become |
20 embarrassed over post ONCE devel- |
opments that his resignation will be |
shortly offered are in active circulA-
ton. The foundation for the story lie
the very unusual action Of the presi- |
dent in appointing Mr.. Bonaparte and |
Mr.. Conrod to investigate the Tulloch
charges after the postmaster general |
himself conducted an inquiry.
Estimates for the Navy.
Washington, Oct 10. = Secretary
Moody has approved the estimates for
the support Of the navy for the next
fiscal year, a. recommended BY the
chisfs Of bureaua, amounting to ti02,-
ees, 40. a. against t7s,s1e,7s1 appro-
pFisted for the last fiscal year.