The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-04
HAVEN OF DIVORCE
J MAY BE- DESTROYED
People of Nevada Want Nickel
in-the-Slot' Law
Changed.
tspecial to rhc Times pispatch.l

\ Especial to The Times-Dlspatcn.J
New York. April 3--Mismated nus
New. for few months in order to get
a divorce will be subjected to much
| Inconvenience If the next Legislature,
| which meets in January, amends tho
| present "nickel-in- the-slot" divorce
| law Members of the two houses, VINO
| viii be called upon to consider the
| proposed change. will be urged by
| leading men and women throughout
| the country to assist In reforming the
easy conditions that now exist.
The bill extending the period that
| an applicant for divorce must actually
/, reside in the divorce city from SIX
| months to one year Is to be presented
! again, and will probably constitute
| the leading reform issue of the ses-
| sion IT was proposed last year, but
| did not reach vote.
| With New viGor.
| The campaign is to be renewed with
| redoubed vigor at the coming ses-
| sion. Many notable men and women,
who oppose tho system which makes
divorce merely matter of spending
vacation in a town famous for Its
climate and residential attraction, VIII
| make personal appeals to the legisla-
| tors to remove the stain from the
name of their State.
That interest In the subject. aroused
by many fragrant instances OF
misdrected justice characterizing the
! granting of divorces upon the most
trivial and inconsequential grounds
! has not abat9d Is evidenced by tho
| protests against the continuance of
| tho "nickel- in the-slot" methods that
make them possible.
| The divorce law operates through
out the state. but Reno Is the divorce
| centre, and 95 per cent. of the litiga-
| ton of that character Is tried there
In order to determine the views of
| the men who represent the little State
in Congress, correspondent asked
them If they favored tho proposed
change In the present law fee from
| sis months to one year.
Senator Nixon would not express
any opinion. The matter must be
/ determined by the Legislature" he
said, "and not by outsiders. l do not
think United States Senator should
interfere in the work of the Legisla-
ture."
aware that the subject was under con-
sideration by the people OF Nevada"
Representative Bartlett had this TO
I say: The State of Nevada admits a
man to citizenship after he has lived
six months in the State. 1t is logical
therefore. that II should permit any
citizen. man or woman, after six
months residence to sue for divorce.
/ favor divorce as much as l do mar
riage. I believe that when people are
unhappily mated they should have an
opportunity to relieve themselves OF
ties that burden them.
The Legislature OF Nevada meets on
the third Monday OF next January,
do not know of an agitation to extend
the period of residence to qualify to
sue for divorce. Such a proposal was
made at the last session of the Legis-
lature. but was killed.
"Nevada's divorce law differsfrom
some OF the older States only in the
term of residence. The grounds for
divorce are similar TO other States.
N ew York. of course. recognizes but
one ground for divorce. .Nevada's law
grants divorce for New York's statu-
tory offense. for habitual drunkenness,
failure to provide, extreme cruelty,
desertion, insanity and other offenses
which are statutory grounds for d.
vorce In most States.
Singled Out for Criticism.
Reno is singled out for criticism as
the divorce centre, because 1t is more
pleasant to live there than in other
parts Of the State. The same law
and other towns.
Most people who wish to establish
temporary residences in the State go
to Reno, because they can live more
comfortably there Naturally, this is
source Of revenue to Renos trades
people. But, that is not an inducement
to the whole State. and has nothing TO
do with Nevada's Law.
You may put me down as strongly
opposed to changing the Nevada d.
vorce law. l an, in favor of divorces,
and do not think 1t will be wise 10
take any steps which make them more
difficult to obtain when there is rea-
sonable ground for them"
That there are great many people
in the State of Nevada who do not
share the views of their representa-
tives in Congress was recently shown
by the popular note struck by the de-
cision of Judge Orr, at Reno, who re-
fused to grant the application OF an
Eastern man for divorce upon grounds
that would not be considered in any
other Estate. Judge Orr practically
repudiated the six months residence
provision in the present law by de-
Gliding that both parties to the action
must reside in the state tor a period
of six months. Since that decision,
the output OF divorces has appreciably
fallen off.