New-York tribune., 1903-03-06
UNDESIRABLE MARRIAGES.
Suggestions Is to Their PrOhibition-The
Connecticut Law.

Te the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In a late sermon Congregational minister
Of Jersey City declared that "inveterate Paupers
insane and idOtic people, and such as are al
hietsd with consumption and other diseases hkely
to iniure the next generation, should pc aehisu
the privilege OF wedlorx; and IN the absence Oh
suitable conscientnusne.s on the part OF parents
the State has right to place restrictions on mar
riage for the Wefare OF future citizens. nlrth
forbidden by law should be construed as eFim-
fnal offence. and the parents should be punished
by fine Imprisonment"
The writer knows this able social teacher an1
agrees with his view that "a smaller population
with better distribution of the blessings OF civil
liza ton among them would be most desFaole'
and as officer OF the State Charities Aid or
New-Jersey the writer has done what he couia
to advocate such we'll founded principles for the
establishing Of better reformatery conditions IN
our charitable and penal institutions
How to control by preventive means the IN
crease of the insane. criminal and Pauper classes
IS problem of pressing Importance The part
heredty plays in the increase OF these afflicted
classes all seeieiegists well understand, and the
question Is, What relief does the science OF
medicine or law offer for such conditions, and
how can We so legisate 10 supply some eQul-
table and practical method of checking the prop
agation of these detectives?
Connecticut seems to have taken the lead in
this matter. and she now has In successful opera
ton law which reads in part follows:
Section !. No man either OF whom Is
epileptif imberile or feehlernnded, shall inter
marry or live tegeth hsF as husband and VIE wren g
the woman Is under forty-hVe years of tge- Feh-
alty for violation of same. imprisonment in the
Sec 3 Any sesetman or any other person who
shall advise, aid abet, cause or assist IN pfocuT
this act. or the marriage Of any pauper, when the
in sgoh msrrags is ,! under ,6,n !. M or
priseRed not less than one year. or beth
Having been interested in charities aid work for
twenty years. fully aware of the difficulties
attending the enforcement OF law stringent
cult iS Ra 6Sfi6e
feebeminded and how easy il IS for a pauper TO
take his her discharge from the almshouse, and
So ceasing to he a rauper. marry in defiance OF
the law And then the penalty here n msntifasa m tesa
objections: and although once the law was @ tIr
Tec9gnized Sy ali a. proper law and the author
tiles are wil1ngly aiding in its enforcement R mt ,.rt.
latures of Colorado. Indiana. Minnesota; Pernsy-
vania and Wisconsin. and at one OF the eonIer-
ences charities and correction a Boston deIe-
gate urged the passage of national law along the
Also it has been suggested that medical com
mission should he appointed by the Judge OF pro,
marriage license Of all persons under the age of
fortv-fve wears and the certificate granted by
such commission must be filed in the of1ce of the
official issuing maFTtage license No riergS nan I.
marriage ceremony when either part to Suc9 mar
rage vas prehbIted ny aW from rom con-
would he fne of 81 rHO or imprisonment for not
The Increase in the number of insane and fee eble-
minded and the number Of enildren who haos S
parents tainted with the diseases mentioned show
clearly the necessity of reform in the prem
ises. NATURALLY the ob1ectcn is made that any law
of this sort will drive those desiring to marry 70
other States where no such Law exists: but phys-
clans and those charge of State ch7rita bic in
stitutons favor some such action being taken, be
Ieving that some State must make the start ar
nothing will ever be accomplished
But want of spaca feFbds my writing aoFe a.
length I hope that the Rev. John Seudder Will
keep up his well advised crusade and that he Will
along social betterment lines will aid in in
etrueting his people their obligations in those
defective dependent and delinquent CLASSES in New
Jersey. There is too much viearious suffering
as citizens ana lawmakers. who believe in pro
EFessive civilization de much fear 10 perpetuat te
and intensity many social conditions which true
statesna nsilip could master or ame1orate
JOSIAH Z. PUMPELLY.
Ner York Feb q. 1893