The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-05
DIVORCE.
President Urges Constitutional
Amendment as Remedy


Amendment as Remedy
] am well aware OF how dirlc,lt q, rs.
pass constitutional amendment No.
theless. in my Judgment. the whole ouos-
toh or arriagc and divorce slot,id D.
leItsatea 70 the authority az the national
consress. At present the wide differerces
10 the laws OF the different States on tffs
subject result IN scandals and abuses.
ana surely there 81 nothing 20 vitality 49,
s'lAiai 70 The welfare Of the nation. MOTH
ing around which the nation should so
Dend Itself 90 throw every saref-t,a~s 81,
tnc nome life OF the average citizen TIE
change would be good from every staun-
point 10 particular % would be good DO
cause IL would confer on the congress the
power az once 70 deal radically and en-
.leAiy win polysamy. and This should
"r N'"e whether or not marriage and de
N"ice are dealt with II isl neither safe
nor proper 20 leave the question ~ roi,-
sany io be- dealt with hy the several
Power % deal with 70 should be concerned
on the national government
When home ties are ioosened: when
men ana women cease 70 regard . worthy
FAMILY life, with all IT'S duties fully oe~-
formed. ana ar lts responsibilities nyes
UP 20, as the life best worth iiylnq. then
evil days for the commonwealth are AZ
hand. There are regions tn our land. and
classes o. our population. where the
birth rate has sunk below the death rate
surely should need no cenonstration
20 snow that vgiiful sterlIty is. from, tno
standpoint o. the nation. from the stand.
point OF the human race. the one Sin for
which the penalty is rational Death. race
death; a sin which for which there is no
atone17ent. Sin which is tire more dread
tui exactly in proportion &C the men and
women guilty trerccf are in other re-
spccts. IN character. ard bodily and mem
tai powers, those whom. for the sake -
the State, Il would be we'll 70 see the
fathers and mothers o. many healthy
all
happy by their presence no man. no
wona can shirS tire primary duties o.
ilfe whether for love OF ease and pleas
ure. or FOR any other Cause. and retain
his or her sef-respeot.
American Vessels.
Let me once again call the attention y
Tie congress 20 TWO subjects. couccrnlng
which lav- frequently before cornwun.-
Gated With them. one is the question o..
DEVELOPING American sh.prllE Z ttr,sJ
that a law emhod5 ing in substance the
views, on a major part 20 The views. eN-
prest boz the report OH tLls subject laid be-
tpre TIE house ~ lts last se-s 4ou Will =
past. / am well aware that in former
years Or ccr40Uahle measures have bec,l
proposed -n reference 90 The crcouragc-
ment ~ American shipping. but 10 seems
20 me that the proposed measure ls -
nearly uroDjccrloua BOZ. AS auy can ae IL
VIII. 81 course. benefit primarily our sea-
I board states such as Maine. Louisiana
ana " .l4i. sLuNs NNt what dement's part
or our people IN the end benefits az. Just
as government aid 90 Irrigation and for
cstry IN the West is really OF benefit. not
only 10 the Rocky Mountain States. bat TO
an our country. II Il prove impracticao.e
70 cna q law for the cucoura cement q
shipping generally. then al least pro-
vision should be made for better CONE
muuicatluu with South America. notably
for FAST mail lines 10 the chief South
American ports. IL Is dscreditable 10 us
Tt.e O. .
rect communication ia the shape OF lines
OF stelmers with South America. should
/ in that great sister continent Doe AZ a dis
advantage compared 10 the business peo-
PIE Of Europe.
New Currency System.
especially call your attention to the
second rubject. the condition or our cur
rency laws. The national bank act has
ably served great purpose in aiding ihs
enormous business Development Of the
country: and within ten years there hes
been an increase tn circulation per capita
from Sg1.H TO $S80s For several years
evidence has been accommodating mat ad-
ditional legislation Is needed. The recur-
renee o.. each crop season emphasizes the
defects OF the present laws There must
soon be a revision OF them. because TO
leave them as they are means TO incur
liability of business disaster. Since your
body ADJOURNED there has been huctua-
ton in the interest on call money from
. per cent TO 80 per cent; and the fuctua-
ton was even greater during the preced-
ing six months. The secretary OF the
treasury had TO step IN and 10y wise ac-
ton put stop to the most violent period
of osciilat iOn. Even worse than such
FLUCTUATIONS is the advance in commercial
rates and the uncertainty felt Ia the SUE
hcicncy Of credit even at high rates. All
commercial interests suffer during each
crop period Excessive rates for cali
in New York attract money from the IN
terror banks into the speculative helds
this deDletes the fund that would other
wise be available for commercial uses
and commercial borrowers are forced 20
pay abnormal rates; so that each Iail "A
tax ~ the shape Of increased interest
charges. is placed on the Wnole coIh-
merce Of the country.
After further discussion or inc prop
lem and evils, the President says:
The law should be amended so as spe-
/ Officially to provide that the funds deriN-
ed from customs duties may be treated by
/ the secretary OF the treasury as he treats
/ funds obtained under the internal revenue
laws. There should be a considerable in
crease in bills Of small denominations.
I Permission should be given banks. II nee
essary under settled restrictions. TO retire
their circulation to "a larger amount than
three millions month
The message urges lower tariff for the
/ Philippfnes citizenship FOR Porto Rcans
| unceasing efforts to develop the Hawaiian
Islands and a reorganization Of the gov
eminent OF Alaska
International Morality.
II is mistake. and it betrays spirit
of foolish cynicism. TO maintain .hat all
must ever be. based upon mere selfish
/ ness and that to advance efhfcal raoso,.