Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-07-02
MARRIAGE LICENSE
Law IS CAUSING
MUCH CONFUSION
Jokers' Queries Add to Burden
of Martin BrOss, Chief Clerk
of Department.

Twenty couples applied for marriage
licenses yesterday, and not one OF those
concerned had a clear idea of what he
was expected to do. The most con-
fusion was caused by the requirement
that the witnesses be known personally
to the city clerk or some one in his
office. This was a stumbling block for
several of the couples, and a number OF
them had to do a lot of running around
to find someone who was known to
John Hancock, who has charge of the
bureau, or somebody else in the office.
That this requirement Is a good one,
however. was shown in one case, where
a witness, when asked how Ions he
had known h couple applying for the
license. surprised the clerk by saying
that he didn't know them at all. 1t
seemed that he had been approached
In the street by the prospective groom,
who asked him IL he would mind going
to the City Hall as a witness in get
ting q marriage license. Having moth
ing very pressing to do the man agreed
TO go. but, of course, the license was
refused when the circumstances be-
came known to the bureau.
As a result of the new law, the tele-
phone In the city clerks office has been
kept buster than for many a day. All
kinds of inquiries are made, and Chief
Clerk Martin Bross Is having a merry
time explaining the more complicated
features of the new license. Many OF
these inquiries are from practical
Jolkers n employees in other depart
ments, who imagine that Mr.. Bross
hasn't enough to do to answer those
who are really serious In their ques-
lions.
Yesterday the head Of one of the
principal departments called up to ask
the following question. II want to
get married to O. girl / have never seen.
Where shall l go for that kind OF a
license?" Martin Bross, who answered
the phone, told him where he could go,
but 1t is doubtful IL the advice will be
followed.
A ruling hat has occasioned some
surprise was made yesterday by City
Clerk Connolly that the names of those
to whom licenses are issued shall not
be made public until after the marriage
takes place. Mr.. Connolly was not at
the hall today, and no reason could be
ascertained for the ruling. It Is be-
lieved by many that this rule will &c
a long way to encourage the very thing
that the new law is supposed to dis
courage, namely, concealment.
The argument is advanced that If
there Is any good reason why a couple
should not be married the publication
of the fact that such a marriage Is con-
templated will reach the eye of some
n in a position to tell why the mar
riage should not take place. The more
publicity given such matters, accord
ing to the spirit and purpose OF the
new law. the better the object of the
regulations will be served.
In many States the publication OF
such matters is necessary, while In no
other State is such information with
held.
Up to the time the bureau closed at
noon today eighteen licenses had been
issued and the work is progressing
more smoothly, as the handling of the
details and the clerical end become
more familiar to those In charge of the
Office.