The Washington herald., 1906-11-14
SIFT DIVORCE CAUSES
National Congress on Uni
form Laws Meets.
MANY STATES REPRESENTED
Two Recommendations Are Made.
Grounds for Absolute Divorce and
for the AnnuIment of Marriages
Observation-Disclosures Next Sub
Ject 20 he Taken UD at Convention.

Philadelphia. Pa, Nov. 13.-To obtain
that which has been the aim for years OF
social reformefs, Of ecclesiastical confer
ences. and Of eminent jurists-a uniform
divorce law-there gathered in this city
to-day more than 100 delegates to the Ma
tional Congress on Uniform Divorce Laws
with Gov. Pennypacker, of Pennsylvania.
at their head.
a majority Of the States OF the Union
were represented by distinguished law
yers, clergymen, or sociologists. and in
several Instances women prominent in the
fight for stronger marriage law and
female suffrage represented States. Gov
ernOrs and high church dignitaTies were
present
Though much of to-day was necessarily
taken up in the work Of organization and
the hearing of the reports from commit
tees. still considerable progress was made
and even should by some unexpected and
improbable cause an end be put to the con-
gress tonight, the adoption by all Of the
States in the Union Of the two recon-
mendauons approved by the congress to-
day would result in a great reformation
in the divorce laws in the United States.
Two Points Are settled.
The two important things settled were
the causes which should permit of the
annulment Of a marriage, and the causes
which should permit OF the granting Of
absolute divorce
Upon the section which covers the
causes for annulment Of marriage. it is
ruled, first:
Incurable physical impOtency at the suit
of either party, provided the party MAX
ing the application for the divorce was
ignorant Of such incapacity or inability
at the time Of marriage
Consequently or affinity, blood reIa-
tionship, according to the table Of degrees
established by laws. at the suit of either
party. It is provided. however, that when
any such marriages shall not have been
inquired into during the life time of the
parties. the validity shall not be inquired
into after the death of either party
II then provides
When such marriage was contracted
while either Of the parties had husband
or wife living
Fraud. force or coercion at the suit OF
the injured OF innocent party. unless the
marriage had been confirmed by the acts
Of the injured party and the offense so
cOndOned.
Insanity Cause.
insanity, provided such insanity ex-
listed at the time of the marriage and was
unknown to the person marrying the
lunatic
At the suit of the wife when she is
under sixteen years Of age. or Of the
husband il under eighteen years Of age
at the time Of marriage. providing that
such marriage shall not have been con-
firmed by her or him after arriving at
these ages, are all TO be subjected to an
nulment
For absolute divorce the following
causes are approved. Adultery. bigamy.
conviction and sentence for crime. fol-
lowed by a continuous imprisonment for
at least two years. and extreme cruelty,
such as TO endangeT the life or health Of
the plaintiff. habituaI drunkenness for
TWO years. and Willful desertion for the
same time.
At tomorrow session partial divorce
and jurisdiction will be considered.