Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-18
FAVOR new DIVORCE BILLS
Kings Measure Approved BY Those Who
Want Stringent Legislation.
WOULD BREAKUP MANY DIVORCE COLONIES
rvvO-Year Residence Rule would Pre-
vent Nebraska Courts from BecOm-
ing Meccas of Seekers After
Legal Separations.

The three bills relating to divorce which
have been introduced into the state senate
by Senator King are supported by a num-
Der OF Omaha people who believe the d.
vorce laws OF Nebraska should be re-
formed. The bills carry out the recon-
mendations Of the Uniform Divorce con-
gress held in the east last fall and are
based on model bills drawn by that con-
gress.
One Of the changes proposed which would
be felt especially in Omaha is the provis-
ion requiring two years residence in the
state before a divorce can be secured, ex-
cept under certain conditions. This would,
II is believed, effectively prevent divorce
colonies. which have become more or less
notorious in several western states.
Another feature which meets the approval
Of Judges of the district court is a provis-
ion requiring the attendance OF an at
torney appointed by the court to represent
the state In default cases, and to see that
no Improper advantage is taken Of the abb
sent party. This, II is believed, would pre-
vent much of the fraud sometimes prac-
ticed IN default cases. The bill also pro-
vides the court may grant divorce nisi :"
which does not become effective for year
after Il Is entered. This would prevent
hasty marriages after divorces, and In case
of reconciliation could be set aside before
1t became absolute.
Three Kinds of DEGREES.
The bill recognizes three kinds Of de-
crees. First, the annullment of the mar
riage because OF conditions which would
invalidate It. These DEGREES may be is
sued because Of impotency at time Of mar
riage. bigamy. fraud, force or coercion, in
sanity unknown at time Of marriage, or
O 10
wife under 16 at the time of the marriage,
unless the marriage is confirmed after
reaching the proper age,
Divorce DEGREES under the bill may be
absolute from the bond of matrimony or
from bed and board. Absolute divorce may
be granted for adultery, bigamy, conviction
OF felony, extreme cruelty, desertfon of two
years and habitual drunkenness. Divorce
from bed and board may be granted for
these causes and for the additional one of
insanity of the husband. Insanity of the
wife Is not a cause for divorce. The rules
relating to procedure are much more strin-
gent than under the present law.
Companion bills require the collection and
tabulation of statistics relating to marriage
and divorce The divorce congress issued
a report last fall In which II urged the
adoption by the states OF these laws in or
der that the laws OF the several states
might be made more uniform and stringent.
Senator Thomas bill to allow street rail-
way companies to build interurban lines
passed the senate by a large majority and
will soon come up in the house for a vote.
This bill affects Omaha more than any
other place. Directors OF the Omaha &
Council Bluffs Street Railway company say
they have made no effort to have the bill
passed, as there is no money to be made
by them in building interurban lines from
Omaha for the next ten years. They main
tain the lines would be an expense for that
time and then some adverse legislation
might cut down the fares until nothing
could be made It is reported from Lincoln
that the opposition Of the railroads to this
bill was 80 strong 1t aroused the ire Of
some OF the legislators and they determined
to pass the bill. ..-'