Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-05
QUICK DIVORCE.
Only Ten Days Left for the Hurry Up
 Style in South Dakota.

Sioux Falls, s. D., June 5.-Lasl call for hurry up South Dakota di' vorces Only ten days now remain in which the matrimonially unhappy may have assurance of relief after six months of residence. Any abused wife or neglected nus band who arrives in South Dakota on June will be barely able to bring suit for divorce after six months wait. Any arriving on June may be required to do penance for one year. For on November the voters of South Dakota will pass upon a law submitted to them under the initia- tive and referendum, providing that divorces shall not be granted to any person married outside the state who has not resided in South Dakota for one year.
 The initiative and referendum pro- vides that bills submitted to the peo- pie for vote shall become laws af- tersthe result of the election is off, cially announced by the state can wasting board. This board meets De- cember 8, so that, if the law is ap- proved-as in all likelihood it will be it will take effect on that day.
 Would-be divorcees arriving now are expecting to get in their suits be- tween daylight and breakfast, as it were. It will require fast work by their attorneys to bring their cases under the old law.
 Of the 552 divorces granted in South Dakota last year S64 were to non-residents, every one of whom came here for the purpose of a .di- vorce and committed perjury by talk ing the required oath that their resi- dence was established in good faith. Of the total number 1S4 were issued in Sioux Falls, the chief divorce mill. Without doubt the enactment of the proposed law will reduce the number of divorces to less than two hundred a year.
 Another change that will be made by the new measure, if approved, is to require hearing of divorce cases at regular terms of court. Heretofore the judges have been very accommo- dating. listening to the complaints of those chafing under marriage ties at almost any time.
 Otherwise 1t will be no more. diffi- cult to dissolve the marriage bonds in South Dakota under the new system that at present, provided the discon- tented are willing to wait a year be- fore the beginning their actions. The courts will continue to be as com plaisant with divorcees as heretofore, and the divorce lawyers will lose none of their cunning In. shielding their clients from publicity.
 Without a doubt the approval of South Dakota's new law would have the effect of giving the Nebraska di- vorce business great impetus. A res- idence of six months before begin- ming actions is all that is required there. but there is the handicap of a prohibition of remarriage within six months. However, this would re- Quire those wanting to be rid of their mates to live away from home only six months. as compared with a year in South Dakota. But on the other hand, the grounds for divorce in Ne braska are not so convenient as those in South Dakota. They are. in Ne. braska. two years, habitual drunken ness, physical incapacity, felony. fail ure to support two years and cruelty. In South Dakota they are cruelty, de- sertion one year. physical incapacity, neglect one year. drunkenness one year and felony. The ease of these grounds for action in South Dakota is shown by the fact that in 1907 of the S52 divorces in the state 255 were for desertion. 153 for cruelty. 90 for non-support and 24 for wiIfui neglect. ali general charges which in the cases Of non-residents are often not much more than nominal.