Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-11-17
FRAMING UNIFORM,
DIVORCE BILL
National Congress in Session at
Philadelphia.
PART OF MEASURE ADOPTED

Philadelphia. Nov. 1.-THE National
Congress on Uniform Divorce Laws.
in session i'm 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 OBJ
tanned and six causes for absolute
divorce
Delegates from p states and the
District OF Columbia and representa-
tives Of an 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 bin
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 inhdelity. felony. bigamy,
deseruon. habitual drunkenness and
intolerable cruelty. and ia the discus
sions of the various sections there was
little opposition TO any OF these pro
visions. but i'm the list OF causes for
annulment OF marriage opposition was
presented against several
Governor Pennypacker took excep-
tions TO the clause which provides
that III either party unknown TO the
other was insane az the time of mar.
riage 70 should be annulled The gov
ernor held that the clause not only
gave the sane party the right TO begin
suit. bat also TO a committee of the
lunatic. This would give a commission
appointed 10y the court n right 20 be
gin suit i'm the name OF an insane
party. even if the person not insane
did not want divorce. lie argued that
marriage was a personal relation and
a third party had no rights in the con.
tract
Seneca y. Taylor. OF St Louis. and
c. la Rue Munson. OF Wiuiamsport
Pa. FLASHED with the governor on the
subject Mt Taylor said the third
party is the public. and 90 has a right
20 forbid the propagation OF children
from the insane. The question OF prop.
erty rights he also held was involved.
Mr.. Munson said the clause was the
only protection for an insane person
against designing man or woman.
lie cited case where relatives and
friends were helpless 10 protect an
imbocila VINO had married a designing
woman. The clause was adopted.
There was also opposition TO the
clause annulling the marriage of n
girl under the age OF Is and a youth
under is. Ernest Mertcn. OF Wiscon.
sin. held that n girl under Is years
was Incapable of making a proper mar
riage contract and Frank II. 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 lC years for
the girl was all right She said: I'VE
women ought 20 know" The clause
was adopted
Though personally opposed 20 an.
vorce. Bishop Stanley voted for the
sections in behalf OF his state because
the other delegates were not present.