The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-14
A UNIF0RN BILL
ON DIVORCE LAWS
Which VIII BE Presented 70 Leg
islatures OF All the
States.
FOUR GREAT CAUSES NAMED
Paragraph Provides That Evi-
dence IN No Case Shall Be
ImpOunded.

PHILADELPHIA. November ls-The
National Congress ON Uniform Divorce
Laws held its second rleeting IN this c.ey
to-day The first meeting was held IN
Washington nine months ago. AZ which
tsne an adjournment WIS taken 10 per
nit committee 10 draft bin ON uniform
divorce Jaws 90 be presented 70 the I.egis-
latures of au the states
THE bin drawn by the committee names
SIX causes Tor which divorces can he
granted. They axe irfldelity. felony
oigamy desertion. habitual drunkenness
and iutoierable cruelty.
The committee recommends that the
various legislature be asked to agree on
period OF residence before application
may De made for divorce. u is expected
hy The committee that this recommenda-
zion. II adopted by all the states VIII
decrease the number of migratory d.
vorces.
Governor Peunypacker presided.
The rol-cau showed the presence ~
delegates from twenty seven States and
the District of Columbia.
In reading sections OF the bu Chairman
Smith called special attention 70 the para
graph which provides that nc record or
evidence in any divorce case shall DE i'm
pounded or access thereto refused Tlc
said there had been some opposition 10
making all divorce proceedings open TO tho
public because Of the evil influence they
may have on the community. but the com
mittee. he said. decided on open proceed
ings because the benefits from public
hearings outweigh the dangers
Insanity Cause for Annulnent.
In the discussion OF the causes for an
nulment Of marriage. Governor Penny
packer took exceptions TO the clause
which provided that II either party. un-
known TO the other was insane at the
time OF marriage. It should be annuled
The Governor held that the clause not
only gave the sane party the right 70
begin suit. but also 60 a committee OF
the iunauc. This would give commits
sion appointed by the court "A right to
begin a suit in the name Of an insane
party. even II the person not insane did
not want divorce. lie argued that mar
riage was a personal relation. and a
third person had no rights in the con-
tract.
Seneca y. Taylor OF ST. Louis and @.
LaRue Munsou. Of Willamsport. Penn.
clashed with the Governor on the subject.
Mr. Taylor said the third party IS the
public. and it has a right 20 forbid the
propagation Of children from the insane.
The question OF property rights. be also
held. was involved.
Mr Munson said the clause was the only
protection for au insane person against a
designing man or woman. lie cited "A case
where relatives and friends We're helpless
10 help an imbecile who had married "a de-
signing woman. The clause was adopted.
Cannot Marry So Young.
There was also opposition to the clause
annulling the marriage Of girl under
the arc of sixteen and a youth under
eighteen years. Ernest Mcrten. OF Wis
consin. held that a girl under eighteen
years was incapable OF moNine proper
marriage contract and Fl 4nk TT. Kerr. Of
Ohio. favored the. law In his state. which
makes the marriage OF q boy under TWEEN
tv-one and a girl under eighteen void.
Miss Rachael Siegei. OF Utah. the only
woman speaker. held that sixteen years
for the girl was all right. She said. we
women ought TO know
Tho clause Cas adopted.
The congress passed upon about one
third of the bill as presented by the
committee. with few minor changes
au the causes for lnnulment under an
CAUSES for absolute divorce were adopted