New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-08-14
TO AIR SKELETONS.
Women Clerks to Examine DiUOrce
Records for Tgcenty Years.

The appearance yesterday in the County Court
house OF a detachment of government clerks from
the Census Bureau at Washington for the purpose
of making records of ali the divorces granted In
this city during the last twenty years will prob
ably occasion considerable alarm among people
whose family skeletons have lain hidden for years
in musty archives. and who naturally do not
want to them executing skirt dances in public
These people have been uneasy in their minds
ever since Congress authorized the Census Bureau
examine the divorce records of all the principal
cities and county seats in the United States. with
a view to preparing a full and complete record
of all the divorces granted in the United States
during the last twenty years. and these appre-
tensions have been increased by rumor that the
individuals concerned would be visited. All this
alarm, according 10 William II. Jarvis. who IS IN
charge Of the detachment of clerks in the County
Courthouse is quite unnecessary.
The report cards will be made out without
names he said. land after they are handed IN no
will be able TO tell from another. No one
will see the names in any case except the person
government clerk. subject TO 1ne and lmprison-
ment as well as loss OF position If he diVulges IN
formation obtained in this way.
1t is not true that we are going to can on the
sure that We will open the sealed cases No
doubt if it becomes necessary that We should
it is likely that will find all the information re
The census ' Bureau isn't interested in anybOdy's
secret. All it wants is totals.
The divorce clerks have taken possession of the
Surrogates Court, over the ground floor OF the
County Courthouse. Only two three men We're
10 be yesterday, the rest We're women. They
were all gathered round large table i'll white
waists and fluffy pOmpadOurs, and appeared to
find the supposed sensational records they were eX-
amining dry as dust.
We using the women Mr. Jarvis said.
simply because haven't men enough to go
around. We will employ them in the large cities.
where have a in charge Of them It
doesn't desirable to have them travelling
around alone from county seat TO county seat. So
men will be detailed for that work
Returns have been supplied to Mr.. Jarvis and his
staff concerning all cases brought in the Supreme
Court and also in the Court of Common Pleas and
the Supreme Court, and which were argued in the
Supreme Court in 1895. The following questions
to be answered:
FlrSt-State country in which married.
SecOnd-Date of marriage.
ThiTd-Date of separation
FOurth-Date of filing petition.
Fifth-Who was ibelant? husband? Wife?
SiXth-How notice served? Personally? BY
publication?
Seventh-Was case contested?
Eighth-WaS decree granted?
Nintl-Date OF decree or Judgment.
Tenth-Number of wears married.
EleVentl-Cause for which divorced.
Twelfth-lf not direct, was intemperance in
direct cause?
Thrteenth-K of divorce. Absolute? Limited?
Fourteenth-Number OF children. By this union.
Affected by decree.
Fifteenth-Was alimOny asked?
SiXteenth-Nas alimOny granted?
nteenth-Occupation of husband. Wife.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of libelee