Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-24
THE DIVORCE QUESTION.
Proposed Measure for Bringing Abou
Uniformity in the Law.

dispatch from Philadelphia says: Judge
Stake of this city, secretary of the d.
vorce congress, has received from Its COM
mittee on resolutions and forwarded to the
various delegates proposed measure for
bringing about uniformity In the present
divorce laws of the United States.
The proposed statute Is the outcome of
deep study on the subject by eminent law
yers and jurists and prominent churchmen,
all of whom are conversant with existing
conditions of the so-called divorce evil. and
the proposed new act is calculated to insure
remedial results all over the country. It's
compilation was intrusted to the resou-
tons committee. which consists of repre-
sentatives to the congress from this state
and New Jersey and they will unanimously
report the proposed act to the congress,
which reassembles in this city on Novem-
Der IL. Practically every state and terri
tory will be represented at the meeting.
AS soon as practicable the delegates will
be asked to have the proposed new law
enacted in their respective states
The proposed new act is divided into
three chapters. The first consists of juris-
dictional provisions, the second procedure
and the third general provisions. and is en-
titled can Act Regulating Annulmeat of
Marriage and Divorce"
While little or no change is made in the
given causes for divorce as now existing
evidently made with a view of arresting
the increasing demand for legal severance
of marital bonds. Under these Stipulations
secret or star chamber sessions for hearing
divorce cases before masters or other repre-
sentatiyes of the courts are done away
with and 'all hearings and trials shall be
had before the court and shall in
all cases be public" 1t is also provided
that "a decree dissolving the marriage tie
so completely as to permit the remarriage
of either party should not become operative
until the lapse of a reasonable time after
hearing. or trial, upon the merits of the
case" The Wisconsin, Illinois and Califor-
MIA rule of one year is recommended
Another enactment of the proposed new
law prohibits the solicitation of a divorce
case by advertisement. circular or other
wise, and prescribes for such an offense a
fine of not more than 81, coo and imprison-
ment of not more than one year
Anhulment of the marriage contract, as
distinguished from divorce will be made
for the following causes: Impotency, coa-
sanguinity, existing former marriage
fraud force or coercion insanity and lille
gal age.
Divorce. it is provided. shall be of two
kinds-absolute or divorce a vincule matri-
, mon and divorce from bed and board or
divorce mesna ct thoro. Under the first
classification the grounds shall be adultery,
bigamy. conviction and sentence for crime,
followed by two years continual imprson-
ment. extreme cruelty, willful desertion and
habitual drunkenness for two years. The
same causes will prevail in the second
class, with the additional cause of 'hope-
less insanity of the husband"
No divorce shall be granted IL 1t appears
to the satisfaction of the court that the suit
has been brought by collision or that the
plaintiff has procured or connived at the
offense charged or has condoned it. or has
been guilty of adultery not condoned
The Few law also makes some important
changes in the practice and procedure nee
essary in divorce cases and their trial.