The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1905-03-23
THE DIVORCE REfORn
Some ReCeai History About ioyemeai
Which Had lbs Origin in
This City.

For the benefit of those who may
be interested in the fate of the Di-
vorce Reform movement | ask space
to record some recent history. The
people are familiar with the interest
that was aroused when the fact con-
corning the rapid increase of divorces
were published. That interest took
a practical turn. and one of the
remedies sought was at the hands of
the legislature Of Texas A bill was
presented TO the senate by Hon. En-
ory c. Smith of Denton, which pass
ed that body after most helpful
amendment offered by Hon. s. p
Skinner. our ellow-townsman. The
bill as 1t passed the senate contain
ed the following provisions:
l. Making 1t the duty of the court,
if the defendant is not properly rep
resented, TO appoint one or more COM
petent attorneys TO represent such
defendant, who shall be allowed reas-
enable compensation for services, the
same to be taxed as costs In the case
Making ii the duty of the court
10 cause q statement OF ali the facts
proven upon the trial to be made out.
signed, approved. and filed among
the papers of the cases tried. and
these to remain free to public inspec-
tion.
3. Making II the duty of the court
10 make out. sign and file among the
papers of the case. his conclusions
and fact of law, stating which party
to the suit is the guilty party.
4. Allowing the defendant when
such has not appeared in person, one
year in which TO ask for a new trial
in the case
8. Forbidding the guilty party to
marry with In three years and the
other party within one year (The
house amended the bill by striking
out the words three years and 'one
year" wherever they appeared in the
bin and substituting for Them the
words ''one year" and six months
respectively.
8 Making Ii a felony ii any di- |
vorced person marries in the state
within the forbidden time. or If any
such person marry out OF the state |
and live as husband and wife within |
this state within the limit OF the pre-
scribed time.
The bill passed the senate with |
handsome majority. When IL went |
To the house il was referred to the |
Judiciary committee. Hon. b. f.
James of Waxahachie. Is a member |
of this committee A majority OF |
the committee reported it adversely |
while favorable report was brought |
In by the minority. The reader WIFI |
OF course notice that the bin sug-
gested no changes in the Law which |
assigns the causes for which divorce
may be granted. and that every pro-
vision looked to one of these ends: |
1. The strengthening and enforc- |
ing OF the Law as ii now exists.
2. The prevention of hasty action |
in divorce proceedings.
8. The forbidding of Indecent |
haste in subsequent marriages
To many of us 1t seems that every
man who represents a great people
in a legislative assembly would give
hts hearty support TO such a meas
ure, Bat there were fifty-five mem
bers OF the house who voted against
IL. and fifty-two who approved IL.
OF Ellis county's representatives Hon.
:. p. Skinner and Hon. ] NJ Alder
dice supported the bill while Hon
B. F. James voted against il both
In the committee and in the house
There ts only one preacher In
the lower house of the Texas legis-
lature-Hon. Mr. Fitzhugh of Tar
rant county Mr. Fitxhugh voted
against the bin His colleague. Hon
William ID. Williams. OF Fort Worth.
supported IL II the votes OF Mr
James of Ellis county and Mr. Fitz-
hugh OF Tarrant county had been
given 10 the bin. 1t would have pas
sed to third reading
But the movement Is not dead
The 3ath legislature viii have. tn
substance. the same bill before IL
It's friends who stood by II SO hero
icaily will doubtless he there 20 rec
peat their action and II Is hoped
that those who helped te kin IL will.
II they are reelected. discover In
time the mistake which they have
made