Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-20
COMMITTEE FILES REPORT
Congress of Ministers and Laymen
Discussing the Details.
RESOLUTIONS ARE INTRODUCED
Delegation From Inter-Church Con-
ference Heard Today-Bishop
Doane, and Others, Speak.

When the congress on uniform divorce
laws consisting Of official delegates from
forty-one states and the District of Column
bia. began Its afternoon session today al
ESQ o'clock, after nearly two days of de-
liberation, it's had just reached the subject
Tor the consideration of which It was con-
vened. The technicailties of organization
and the conduct of business and the hear
Ing of addresses from members of COM
mission representing the interchurch con-
ference on marriage and divorce have oc-
cupied all of yesterday and the greater
part Of today. When the committee on
resolutions presented its report little be-
fore l pm today Gov. Pennypacker. the
president OF the congress. announced this
fact and urged that the business OF the con-
gress be carried forward with all possible
dispatch The proposed resolutions do not
recommend any legislation as to causes of
divorce. and state that any effort to secure
a federal law would be Intellectual but urge
the enactment OF legislation looking toward
comfy between the various states In the
matter of divorces. The debate will prob
ably last until some time tomorrow.
The report of the committee on resolu-
lions was introduced by Walter G. Smith,
chairman of the delegation from Penn
eylvania The portion which mas 10 40
with divorce legislation directly Is Dased
upon an outline suggested by the rem
sylvanla delegation. 1t is essentially as
follows
TT is the sense of the congress that no
federal divorce law is feasible. and that
all efforts TO secure the passage or a con-
stitutionai amendments necessary pre-
requiSite-wOuld be futile
Legislation by Each State.
Each state should also adopt legislation
restricting the remedies afforded by It's
statutes of divorce TO its own citizens.
When the courts are given cognizance OF
suits where the plaintiff was domiciled IN
a foreign Jurisdiction at the time the cause
OF complaint arose. it should be insisted
that relief viii not be given unless the
cause of divorce was included among those
recognized in such foreign domiciles
Not less than two years residence shoutu
be required on the part of plaintiff VINO
has changed his or her state OF domlciie
since the cause Of divorce arose.
IAN innocent and injured party. husband
or wife seeking "A divorce should not pc
compelled 10 ask for a dissolution or the
bonds Of matTimony, but should be allowed
at his or her option, TO apply for a divorce
from bed and board. Therefore, divorces a
mensa should be retained where already
existing and provided for in states where
no such rights exist
The causes for divorce would seem 10
be susceptible of classification into certain
groups that would be approved by the COM
mon consent OF all the communities rep
resented in this congress, or at least sub
stantially so These causes should be re-
strlcted to offenses by one party to the
marriage contract against the other of so
serious a character as 10 defeat the OBJ
tects Of the marital relation. and they
should never be left to the discretion of a
court. but in all cases should be clearly
and specifically enumerated in the statute.
Uniformity in this branch of the law is
much 10 he desired, but the evils arising