Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-17
PENALTIES OF MARRIAGE.


In several of the legislatures during
the sessions of the past winter, meas.
ures of different kinds were introduc.
cd dealing with tho matter of marri-
age. In most Instances these took
the form of n tax on single persons,
and were ostensiby for the purpose
OF encouraging marriage. AS Il rule.
though they were treated with lcyity.
and referred to non.existent or dead
letter committees, and served only as
topics for would.be humorous speeches
or exhibitions of wit or sarcasm OH
tho part of tho newspaper corrcspon.
dents. From time to time discourses
arc delivered from the pulpit, AMI
We have even had from tho Chief lex
ocutivc of tho nation. declaration
in favor of early marriage. These
things, like the bills brought bef.Tc
the legislatures, have been treated
lightly, and not at all with the scri-
BUSINESS the matter should command,
While these things have been thus
flippantly handled, there have been
many things done that were directly
aimed ut tho encouragement of mar.
riago, and even placing penalty
upon those entering into tho married
state. Why this Is SO would be hard
to say. Probably those responsible
have reasons that are to them all suf-
iiciont, but these reasons are not all
the same. Take as an illustration the
rule recently adopted Tor the govern.
inent of the state constabulury or
police In Pennsylvania. This rule
provides that all married men of the
body shall be dismissed and unmar.
ricd men given the places thus mudc
vacant. There seems to be absolute
~ no good reason for this. The eff
cheney, bravery or fitness Of the mon
is not questioned, not considered, in
TACT; the men arc dismissed solely be.
cause they arc men of families. 1t
is n wcll.known fact that only single
women arc allowed to teach in tho
public schools Of many of tho large
CUES, and that us soon us Il woman
gets married she is dismissed. There
docs not seem to be any claim made
that the women are not just us good
teachers after us before marriage. In
many lines Of commercial busincs,
tho preference Is given to single mon,
tho idea, supposedly, being because
they can afford to work for smaller
wages. In many institutions where n
large number Of mon are employed.
TIC rule maintains that an cmployo
whose salary Is below certain figure
must not marry on pain of dismissal,
ana only tho other day Il clerk in a
chicago Innk was discharged because
he married on II salary less than a
thousand dollars year.
Just why employers thus discourage
marriage does not always appear
clear. In some instances ii is on the
ground of honesty, in others the idea
seems to prevail that the single man
Or woman can and will give moro
time ana better attention TO the in.
tcrcsts of the employer than the one
WIN home ties. Whatever the as.
signed reason, the real reason is
plainly selfish one, and such rules
ana regulations are antaponistIc In
IDEAS OF personal liberty of conduct
ana rcpugnant to Il genuine sense of
Justice. What is the use of trying to
enrorce or induce marriage by legis.
iatioh or by arsumcns, when the PEG.
pie who hold the right to rule people
through the bread and meat authority
lorDid 1t? Whence will come the
family that is SO cloqucntly held up
us the nations bulwark, if marriage is
10 be prohibited in fact while being
encouraged in theory?