The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-03
The DIVORCE BILL
PASSES THE HOUSE
ButitWas not Without Power
fuI Opposition.
0EMURRAGE BILL PASSED
The Vote on lhe Divorce Bill So 10 45---Gen.
Davidson, Judge Graham, Messrs. Smith
and 0ffman Speak sganst
The Bill.

tne Dill.
The Divorce bill was passed by the
Hoa4se lyesterde4y. hut not without IA
rather warm discussion.
1t was strongly opposed on the floor
by General Davidson, Judge Graham,
MIR. Smith and Mr.. Ofrman.
Those who spoke for the bill were
Mr.. Murphey, MIR, Guion, Mr.. Newland
and Mr. Self.
The bill is substitute drawn by Mr..
Self for the several divorce bills intro
dUced this session. 1t secured a favor
able report from the Judiciary commit
tee after a hard fight
1t provides that:
If the husband shall wilIfulIv ana
without cause abandon the wife and live
separate and apart from her for two
years, the wife shall be entitled to di-
vorce from the bonds of matrimony. but
the husband shall not re-marry within
five years from the date of rendering
final judgment in the action for divorce"
and vice versa in the case of the wife.
The following provision is added:
THAT in all actions for divorce upon
the grounds above mentioned, it shall be
alleged and proven upon the trial. that
the complainant has been bona fde
resident of the State of North Carolina
for five years next preceding the COM
mencement of the action; and provided
further, that after the jury may have
found the issue or issues in favor of the
plaintiff, it shall be the duty of the judge
presiding at the trial, to carefully in
quire into the facts and circumstances
OF the particular case, and if he shall be
of the opinion that the divorce for any
cause should not be granted, he may in
the exercise of his discretion decline to
grant the divorce and set aside the ver-
dict"
There is further provision that the act
shall not apply to cases where the aban-
donment occurs after the first day OF
January, 1908.
Senator Pharr's demurrage bill went
through practically without opposition.
Another important measure passed was
MIR. Fuller's bill to allow one corporation
to hold stock of another.
Several other public measures went
through, including the bill providing
for the registration of trained nurses, to
allow electric light and power companies
the same rights of condemnation of prop
erty as enjoyed by telegraph and tele-
phone companies, and to allow town to
decide in case of conflict in regard to
methcd of holding elections, whether il
will go by its charter or the general
election law.
The vote on the Divorce bill was IS
to AS
Those voting aye were Mcssrs. Aiken,
Anderson, BeasIey, Benbow, Bowman,
Britt, Britain, Bryan, Bullard, Crocker,
DeHart, Dockery, Doughton, Drewry
Duncan, Etheridge, Fuller. Grant, Guion,
Hall, Harrington of Moore, Humphrey
Kinsland, Love, Mason. Morphew, Nor
ris of Mcdowell, Morris of Polk, Morton,
Murphy, MacCall McNeill, Newland
Nissen, Parker of Wayne, Phillips. Price
Of Rockingham Price of Stanly. Quickel,
RiddiclS, Robertson, Rucker, Self, Ship
man. siler. Simpson of Union, Stevenson,
Stubbs, Uzzell, Waddcll, Walters, Watts,
West, Whitaker Of Wake, Williams,
Willis, Wood, Woodard-58.
Those voting no were Mcssrs. Alexander
Of Mecklenburg, Alexander Of Tyrrell,
Blount Britton, Carlton, Carson, Cowan,
Curtis, Daughtridge, Davidson, Dobson,
Erwin, Foy, Freeman of Henderson, Free
man of Mecklenburg, Gay. Gluyas, Goode,
Graham, Hamilton, Hamlin, harrington
of Harnett, Hinton, Hooker, Hughes, Jar
rett. King, Kreeger, Luther, Michael,
McRae, Onman. owen, Pogram, Ray,
Kicks, Simpson of Perquimans, Smith
Thomas, Vann, Warren. Whitaker OF
Guilford. White OF Halifax Woodley,
Wooten-45
THE DAY IN DETAIL.
The House was called t. .er at ten
o'clock by Governor Doughton, and Rev.
w. c. Tyree pastor of the First Baptist
church, this city, made the opening pray
er.
PETITIONS.
Curtis:N.From ladies of Buncombe ask
ing for It place for inebriates.
shipman: TO incorporate two churches
In Columbus county.
Offman: From Frankiinville township,
Randolph county. for bird law
Offman: For the appointment OF sever
al Justices of the Peace.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Bryan, Of Wilkes: To incorporate the
town of Wilmington
Quickel, of Lincoln: To improve the
roads of Lincoln county
Kinsland, of Haywood To place Me
lissa Connor. widow Of ex-Confederate
soldier, on the pension roll.
Price, of Stanly: To incorporate the
Albemarle Light and Water Company.
Luther of Montgomery: TO create
school district in the counties of Mont
gomery and Moore counties
Newland, of Caldwell: To incorporate
CONTINUED on Third Page.