The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-20

Since DR.. 7. b. Beatty of the state board
of health advanced the idea that the mar
riage of first cousins, feeble-minded per-
sons and detectives should be prohibited
lively discussion has been. aroused among
thinking people. A bill which embodieS
these suggestions was introduced in the
mouse of representatives Thursday last by
representative Petersen, and when the
measure is argued it is probable that some
interesting features will develop. Among
persons not directly affected ii would
seem that there is little diversity of opin-
ion on the subject. and practically all are
agreed that the present system is too lax.
Physicians who have made a study of
such marriage and the effect on offspring
are more decided perhaps than others as
to the needs of the measure. Many law
yers and ministers, however. favor the
move. Below are some opinions on the
subject.
Wants Rigid Examination.
DIR. w. +. Beer-I should make such a
law so stringent as to absolutely prohibit
the marriage Of the unfit of any kind L
think before man is allowed to marry he
should pass a rigid examination both as to
mental and physical fitness and a record
should be made to a certain extent of his
family history, especially as to health and and
for blood relations of any degree of con-
sanguinity TO marry. This could be done
by establishing a commission with repre-
sentatiVes in every county TO whom per-
sons seeking a license would apply before
applying for the regular marriage license.
The fees for such l think should be paid
by the man applying for a license, and al
though it might come under a different
matter, If doctors had the adjusting Of
such affairs they would say that a man
ought to have paid-up policy for at least
$1,000 before he determines to marry at all
Believes In Old Law.
DR. II. n. Mayo-I believe in the old law
against the marriage of blood relations in
any degree of relationship. The whole
continent of Europe gives us a sufficient
riage, for the percentage of feeble-minded,
of imbeciles, of physically defective and
deformed children is very large through
out the families of royal blood. Attention
was called to this fact at the time Of the
death of King Christian Of Denmark, "the
father-in-law of Europe" when it was
seen that a great number of his descend
ants were imperfect. either physically or
mentally. For this reason L think the
laws governing marriage should be very
strict and i see no reason why man
should not submit willingly to rigid eX-
animation before securing a marriage IL
cense. Any one asking $1,000 insurance
policy must do this, and surely the one
is of as much Importance, both TO the IN
dividual and to society at large, as the
other 1t should be as difficult for a
couple to take up the responsibility of
the relation as for either one to secure
policy.
DIR. A. s. Bowers-I certainly think such
a law ought to be enacted, but 1t viii be
difficult to make it a working law. The
responsibility should not rest with the
county clerk, as it must do at present.
There should be some power behind the
clerk. and he should be required TO apply
a series of questions to each individual
asking for license which If not proper
" answered would be cause for referring
him TO a higher authority.
Says Law Is Needed.
DR.. Robert r Hampton-Such law is
perfectly sound and should have been
passed long ago. Many OF the feeble
minded in the state today and many of
the crippled would not have been in eX-
istence If proper steps had been taken TO
prevent the marriage both of relations
and of those not mentally able to assume
such responsibilities. Reports show that
marriages of blood relations have had a
direct bearing on the number of such
cases. The marriage laws should prohibit
the marriage of epileptics and ali persons
having diseases of which the cure is
doubtful.
Or. A. c. Ewing-The law is good
thing IT ought to be made strong enough
to prohibit the marriage of imbeciles. con-
surnptives and all persons having trans
missible diseases, as well as those men
tally weak and those who are blood rela-