The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-11
DIVORCE A BAR
TO FEDERAL JOBS
Morrell Bill to Govern All
Future Appointments.
He EXPLAINS HIS ATTITUDE
Thinks Separation of Married Couples
An Evil Which Government
Should Check.
HE EXPLAINS HIS ATTITUDE

Ii order TO make the United States
Government leader in the reform OF
divorce evils, Representative Morrell
introduced in the House late yesterday
afternoon bill making divorced per
sons ineligible for appointment to the
Government service in the executive
departments and in the army judi
GARY, and diplomatic corps
The bill provides that no person Of
either Sex shall hereafter be appointed
70 any position in the classified or non
classified service of the Federal Gov
eminent at Washington or in any of
the Government offices located outside
of Washington either in the United
States or in its insular possessions, in
Guiding the diplomatic or consular SER
Vice, the army or navy, the Depart
nent Of Justice. and the Federal courts
Of the United States. who at the time
OF his or her nomination is, or who at
any time antecedent thereto has been,
divorced for any cause save adultery.
Cuts Still Further
But this reform measure goes still
further It stipulates that instant dis
nissal from Government service shall
be the fate of any person now holding
Office or hereafter appointed to office.
who shall be divorced in the future.
unless it be the innocent party in
case of adultery.
The causes for the introduction OF the
measure are set forth in its preamble, as
follows:
The alarming increase in divorce in
the United States; the widespread agf-
tation in the country against it; and
President Roosevelt's recent message to
Congress suggesting the advisa biIity of
the Government collecting statistics on
the subject.
Mr. Morrel1's Views.
In discussing the bill, Representative
MorreII said:
1T was framed and introduced by me
in Difference to the universal agitation
throughout the country on the part of
the different religious denominations
and those who had the true welfare of
the country at heart. that something
should be done to stop the wholesale
application for and granting of divorce
which lately seems to have taken pos
session of our people, and which, if con-
tlnued, would result in serious social
evils. Attention was lately called in my
own State to the fact that the percent
age of divorce, as compared with mar
rfage, had increased very considerably
during the last decade.
while this increase IN PENNSYLVANIA
has been small in comparison with that
IN some other States. vet the whole num-
pel granted in all the States, taken as
an aggFegat- has bee such as to cause
SO universal al alarm that the presi-
dent OF the United States has lately
made it the subject of a special mes
sage to Congress
Uniform Law Doubtful.
The question OF divorce being one
entirely reiegated &c State law. Con-
gress cannot pass any general law that
would restrict the rights and privileges
O. divorced person, and the laws in
the different States governing divorces
being widely diverse there viii he
81 eat difficulty in a uniform divorce Law
ever being adopted.
AS TO apDuintiye positions, the ques-
ton IS entirely different Congress can
end SHOULD take the Initiative ~ en-
acting this bin into Z law which would
al once bar cut from eligibility TO Fed
eraf offices or any appointment under
The Federal Coy eTnTEen Mt those who have
been divorced, except for tns ore GROUND
OF adultery.
Where eligibility to certain Govern
nieut offices Is defined by the Constitu-
ton, no further restrictions may bt
u12de by Congress; but IS to those othe
Government Offices to be filled by citi
zeI.s If tn United States whose qualtf
cations arr not so defined, Congress rnds
law fully prescribe the standards.
Eligibility 70 Position
Congress mas already determined tha
eligibility to all positions in the classi
fed service shall depend upon the quail
fcatIon> required by State citizenship
and :hc added qualifications disclosed
b. a civil service cxETC:natiOr.
II Congress may restrict eligibiiit;
10 1puCiDti:-e positions 10 Il Weil-defineC
standard II Intellectual attainment
much NOR Elay il restrict il to well
defined ss;,Esoald Of iiforti excellence
Tic BihlicaH cause for divorce, th'
cause. advocated by the strong chur2i
1ecog niZcd ~ state I-cElsl;t lures. But
= Congress desires 10 l-vSt lis "a uS'
anon ;ce= ol--v che r=Cogn3Zed by Iii
Bi5lc. t7f3- appears Il b2 no rcasoE
.:gajnSt L.
Is Moral Effect
The moral effect OF This law yzoul,
resch far beyond those who a~c actual
Is seeking empIoyEeHt unCor the Fed
erff Government Tor man OF woman
wants 10 feel that &C! tain walks in IL
are barred 10 them, nCr viii they, with
out serious thought. voluntarily rele
gate themselves to such a class.
The matter OF divorce having reache
so serious a phase as to have beer
deemed worthy 10 be remembered 10
investigation and consideration by Con
sress BY the Federal Executive, IL seem
pnIuentIy proper that this bill Shout
&c iacted into law. as il would a
once stamp with the Gisapproval of IN
highest legislative body OF the couutr
The practice OF divorce,
This bill. if enacted into law, meot
the trend OF adva-ced pcpiic opinion, .
expressed by great ecclesiastical organ
izations IL meets the demand for re
form IN q way that will tend 10 unif
the diverse State laws upon the questio
Of divorce.
III sets a good example. to say III
least. and viii be effective in purtfyin