Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1906-11-16
FRAMING UNIFORM
DIVORCE BILL
PART OF MEASURE ADOPTED

Philadelphia, Nov. 14-The National
Congress on Uniform Divorce Laws.
In session in this city, adopted about
One-third OF the proposed uniform bill
as drafted by the committee appointed
at the meeting held in Washington
nine months ago The portions adopt
ed include seven causes under which.
annulment of a marriage may be CD
tanned and six causes for absolute
divorce.
Delegates from q states and the
District of Columbia and representa-
tives of all Protestant denominations
who attended the international confer
ence on marriage, together with the
Catholic prelate. Bishop Stanley OF
North Dakota. attended the sessions,
which were presided over by Governor
Pennypacker.
The important changes in the bill
are the striking out of all reference to
proceedings and practice. leaving the
question for the various legislative
bodies to pass upon. The committee
decided that so long as open hearings
are held and the laws provide for
direct service on the respondent and
fix a punishment for collision. the
measure need not conform to any
fixed rule.
The causes for which divorce can be
granted are infidelity, felony, bigamy,
desertion. habitual drunkenness and
intolerabIe cruelty, and in the discus
sions of the various sections there was
little opposition to any of these pro
visions. but in the list Of causes for
annulment of marriage, opposition was
presented against several.
Governor Pennypacker took excep-
tions to the clause which provides
that if either party unknown to the
other was insane at the time of mar
riage. it should be annulled. The gov
ernor held that the clause not only
gave the sane party the right to begin
suit. but also to a committee of the
Iunatic. This would give a commission
appointed by the court a right to be
gin a suit in the name of an insane
party. even if the person not insane
did not want divorce. He argued that
marriage was a personal relation and
a third party had no rights in the con-
tract
Seneca N. Taylor, of St. Louis, and
C. La Rue MunsOn, of Williamsport.
Pa. clashed with the governor on the
subject. Mr. Taylor said the third
party is the public. and it has right
to forbid the propagation of children
from the insane. The question OF prop |
erty rights he also held was involved. |
MI Munson said the clause was the |
only protection for an insane person
against a designing man or woman.
He cited a case where relatives and |
friends were helpless to protect an |
imbecile VINO had married designing |
woman. The clause was adopted.
There was also opposition to the |
clause annulling the marriage of a
girl under the age of Is and youth
under IS. Ernest Merten. of Wiscon-
sin, held that a girl under Is years
was incapable of making a proper mar
rage contract, and Frank H. Kerr, of
Ohio, favored the law of his state,
which makes the marriage of a boy
under 81 and a girl under IS void,
Miss Rachael Siegel, of Utah, the only
woman speaker. held that 16 years for
the girl was all right. She said: 1--WE
women ought TO know" The clause
was adopted.
Though personally opposed to di.
vorce, Bishop Stanley voted for the
sections in behalf Of his state because
the other delegates were not present.