Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20
UNIFORM DIVORCE LAW
DELEGATES TO RECENT CON.
GRESS ISSUE STATEMENT.

In a statement signed by Messrs. Fred
erick L. Siddons, A. B. Browne and Walter
c. Clephane, which has just been issued,
it is declared that 'in the light Of recent
publications in the press and for the
sake of accuracy, and in order that their
position may not be longer misunderstood
or misrepresented, the undersigned. who
were appointed delegates by the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia
to the recent national congress on uni
form divorce laws, desire to state that
upon the completion of the work of the
divorce congress they submitted their re-
port to the Commissioners which was
as follows:
I'VE respectfully submit this our re-
port as the District delegates to the ma
tional congress on uniform divorce laws
of the results of the work of said con-
gress.
AS Adopted by Congress.
"a few days ago Mr.. Siddons handed
to President mcfarland copies of the
resolutions and drafts of proposed uniform
! laws on the subjects Of 'Annulment of
| Marriage and Divorce and for the Max
| ing of Returns of Marriage and Divorce
Statistics adopted by the congress. and as
well an address, accompanying these reso-
| lutions and proposed laws, submitted by
| the committee on resolutions of the con-
gress. This latter document contains para
graphs explaining now the COuSIeSS nap
| pened to be convened, and sets forth the
spirit with which 1t approached the con-
| sideration of the subjects with which 1t
| dealt. Mr.. Siddons was a member OF the
committee on resolutions which drafted the
| proposed laws. and it is his pleasure to tes-
| tify to the anxious care and solicitude with
| which that committee performed the work
| committed to 1t by the congress.
THE draft of this proposed uniform di-
| vorce law is now before you, and the Dis
| trict delegates unanimously recommend its
| enactment into law for the District of
1 Columbia in its present form, subject to
1 some few verbal changes which will have
| to be made to conform it to local conditions
| and requirements of legislation. But If this
| recommendation Is adopted, 1t Is proper to
call attention to the fact that 1t would in
\ crease the number of causes for absolute
| divorce over what Is now the law in the
| District.
Sixth Resolution.
| "And in this connection your attention is
directed to the sixth resolution of the con-
| gress which is as follows:
| While the following causes for annul-
ment of the marriage contract. for divorce
| from the bonds of matrimony and for legal
separation or divorce mensa seem to be
| in accordance with the legislation of a
| large number of American states. this con-
gress desiring the number of causes re-
| duced rather than increased. recommends
| that no additional causes should be recog-
nized in any state. and in those states
| where causes are restricted no change Is
| called for.
| There then follow an enumeration Of the
| causes for annument of marriage and for
| absolute and limited divorce, not necessary
| here to repeat But for your information
| it should be stated that the causes referred
| to and enumerated in the above quoted
| resolution exist in about 80 per cent Of the
| states of the Union.
| 1.-The subject is now submitted to you for
| your consideration and such action you
| may deem proper
Increase in Number Of Causes.
| From this letter 1t will be plainly seen,
| the writer's say, that in recommending the
enactment into law of the draft submitted.
| they called attention to the fact that if
| their recommendation was adopted 1t would
| increase the number of causes for abso-
| lutte divorce in the District. and, therefore,
! they took care to direct the notice of the
| Commissioners particularly to resolution 6
| of the congress, which stated it's position
| on this point.
| I'm conclusion" the delegates say, per
| NIT us to add that it was our plain duty
| to express to the Commissioners our views