Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-02-19
DIVORCE TOPIC
OF DISCUSSION
Pennypacker's Congress
Has Assembled in
Washington.
UNIFORMITY IS DEMANDED
Present Laxity in Many Places
Is COnfessedIy Harmful
Every Way.
UNIFORMITY Is DEMANDED
PROBABLY OTHER CONFERENCES

Washington, d. c., Feb 19--'rn,s
Is the day for the formal onening q,
,ne DForce congress which was called
oy Governor Samuel w. Pennypacker
oi pennsylvania, to consider the prob
lem OF uniforming the divorce laws OF
the different states of the union. The
delegates or commissioners appointed
by the governors of the different
states, or at least a great many of
them, assembled here last week and
held number of preliminary consul.
tations, in which they exchanged their
views on the subject and compared
notes In regard to the d/yorce laws
In force in their respective states.
South Carolina is the only state not
represented by commissioners. The
reason given by the governor of that
state Tor not appointing commission
ers 10 the conference was, that such
appointment would be unnecessary, as
The state of South aCrolina has no
divorce laws.
Governor Pennypacker, the prime
mover of the conference, will nreslde
at the formal meetings of the confer.
ence. He Is by far the most promi-
nent figure of the conference anu, sun.
ported by the other representatives of
Pennsylvania, C. La Rue Munson of
Wlliiamsport, Walter George Smith
ana Mllliam H. Stake of Philadel-
phia, he will undoubtedly take the
lead in the deliberations and discus
sions of the conference.
IL is expected that the conference
VIII lead to important results and will.
eventually bring about greater uni
tormity in the divorces laws of rue dir
terent states. The present condition
is so perpleXing and undesirable, that
every improvement will be warmly
welcomed. Even in the states wnere
there is the creates laxity in regard
10 divorce laws, the people are begin
ning to see the evils of the existing
and clamor for a change.
Marriages contracted in one state are
unlawful in another, while divorces
obtained in one state are not recog-
nized in others. The greatest difficulty
In unltorming the laws of the various
states seem to be the popularity of
existing conditions in some of the
states and which materially differ
from the conditions existing in other |
states. Another matter which prom |
lses to be a great stumbling block is
the position taken by the laws of GER
tain states in regard to inter-racial |
between whites and colored |
persons
Conservative members of the con- |
terence do not believe that the pres
ent conference will be able to agree
On any definite basis for uniform
livorce laws, but are inclined to be-
ieye that the best that can be accom-
)lished at this time Is to discuss the
'arious phases and features of the
avs in the, different states, pomt out
existing defects and leave it to a COM
nittee to work out draft OF laws, to
'e considered by some future confer
nee and, If approved. to be submitted
or approval to the legislative bodies
# the various states. 1t is doubtful
hat an effort will be made to have a
ational divorce law introduced in con
ress as this might raise the question
I constitutionality.