Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-18
UNIFORM DIVORCE LAW
TO CONSIDER ONE
TO BE HELD HERE.

February 10 next there vii convene in
Washington congress to consider the
laws and decisions of the several states
upon the subject of divorce with a view
to the adoption of a draft for a proposed
general law to be enacted by the various
states. The body had Its origin in an act
OF the legislature of Pennsylvania, approved
March 16, 1905.
This act recites that the constantly in
creasing number of divorces in the United
States has become recognized as an evil of
threatening magnitude, fraught with seri-
GUS consequences to the well-being of our
institutions and civilization. and referring
also to the diversity of legislative enact
ment in the several states in the way of the
correction of the evil. 1t is also recited that
the President has drawn the attention of
Congress to the necessity for uniformity in
the divorce laws, and proceeds to direct the
governor of Pennsylvania to communicate
in the name of that state with the COVER
nors of the several states, requesting them
to cooperate in the assembling Of con-
gress of delegates to meet at Washington
for the purpose of examining, considering
and discussing the laws and decisions of
the several states upon subject of
divorce. The purpose is to adopt a draft
for proposed general law which shall be
reported to the governors of the states
for submission to the legislature thereof
with the object of securing, as nearly as
may be possible, uniform statutes upon
the matter of divorce throughout the ma
ton.
Governors Correspondence.
In obedience to this act of the Legislature
Governor Pennypaeker has been in corre-
spondence with the governors of the va
rious states and the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia, requesting them to
a m
with the result that thus far thirty states
and the District Of Columbia have appoint
ed delegates, five additional have promised
to appoint six additional have promised CO.
operation, One-South Carolina-has de-
clined and three have not been heard from.
Some of the states have appointed three,
some four, one eight and another-Tennes-
see-sixteen delegates. Altogether more
that 12O delegates have thus far been ap-
pointed, without including the governors of
the states who may attend as delegates.
Texas, Mississippi Tennessee and Ohio have
named some distinguished theologians as
delegates and Utah. Washington and Idaho
have named women among their delegates.
District Delegates.
The Commissioners of the District have
appointed as delegates from the District to
this congress Messrs. r. Ross Perry Fred
erick l.. Siddons and Adds B. Browne of the
District bar. Mr.. William H Stake of
Philadelphia, secretary Of the Pennsylvania
Bar Association, one of the commissioners
on uniform laws for Pennsylvania and
member of the American Bar Association.
Is the chairman Of the provisional commit
tee of arrangement for the congress, and
under his supervision and for the use and
consideration of the delegates there is be-
ing prepared a digest or abTdged state
ment of the divorce laws of the various
states.
Presumably the delegates to this congress
have made more or less of a study of the
divorce problem and will bring to their con-
sidera ton of the subject just and enlight-
ened view, and an agreement ought to be
reached by the delegates on the form of
law which, If adopted by the states. Con-
gress and such territorial Legislatures as are
authorized to enact such law. will go far
toward removing the causes for much OF
the criticism now leveled at what is some
times characterized the divorce evil.