Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-03
The Facts as to Divorce.

Roosevelt that the census bureau be
| authorized TO collect the facts as !"
American marriages and divorces since
since 1856 when the lastinVestiGatlon
WAS made will doubtless be acted upon
| by Congress- The suggestion is par
,icularly timely now when there is an
agitation against the divorce evil and
vnen as the President says, Intelligent
and prudent action in that direction
will be greatly promoted by securing
reliable and trustworthy statistics on
marriage and divorce
When Carroll u. Wright made his re
port on marriage and divorce for the 20
Years between 1861 and 1856 he discov-
vorcr rate had increased 1J1 per cent.
while population had increased but 50
vorces in the United States WAS 9.931 :;
in 1856 no less than 25,535. Their" is
ton will not show bettcrmcnt The
number OF American divorces is nov
uuof.icially estimated at 80 600 annu-
ally, an increase Of 100 per cent, in III"
last 10 years. while population has in
creased only about 30 per cent. lncnln-
rletc State reports prepare us for WHAT
to expect. Here in Maine we have seen
the number of divorces rapidly IN
creasing in recent years. We have not
at hand the figures for the earlier
Years. but for the past dozen Years the
increase is sufficiently alarming. III
1892 there were 552 divorces in Maine:
G21 in 1898: GA in 1921: GA1 in 1879;
66S in 1896: 80 i'll 1897; 76i in 1898:
$50 in 1879; sol in 1900: sos in 1901;
ao5 in 100, and ?46 in 1903. Ii will
not be strange if the 1000 mark was
reached in 190f the returns for which
have not Yet been received. OF course.
this increase is all out Of proportion
to the growing population Of our State.
In cone other states the increase has
been even more lapid. lndiana. for
example. III 1861 granted 1895 divorces.
i6JJ i'll 1856. and 1879. or one To rTerE
- marriages. in 1890. Nichicans di
IN 1856. and .ilS in 1900. ohio granted
noI in 1867 ara 32l7 i'll 200. Ticking
estimated that there WAS one divorce
to every II marriages. III Maine in
that year the rate WAS one divorce 10
every IS marriages. or more tl"n
tHicc then rate for the country at
large. In these United States. Whrr"
Their, IS 50 much boaatinG as to the
purity OF the family relations. more
divorces ;lrr annually granted than iii
Ill Europe with Canada. Australia and
South America thrown in ior good
me-; sure.
Under our form Of government ai'l
stat" Of society we cannot hope t"
lessen the evil except Il wholesome rc
act!un is created by a full kmoWlcl2"
Of III" facts. Mr.. WriGhts 1856 report
did great good marking practically
the beginning Of the anti-divulce Hgi
thtion. Since largely the result of tho
facts Of the report. steady. if SLOW.
progress has been made toward cor
rcctinE and making uniform our di
Norcc laws. During the last 20 years
changes toward laxity have been sci
dom nade-the whole tendency being
toward greater legal strinSency. Tn"
"omrIbuS' clause has been rclnOv ID
from the statutes Of several states;
the period of necessary residence has
been increased; many states require
the lapse Of time before Il decree be-
comes final: the number of grounds
for divorce has been lessencd. In view
Of the improvement that followed the
report OF 1886. and the greater interest
LOW felt in the problem. it is not too
much to hope that the new report will
be followed by even greater improve
| ment.