The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-14
PROPOSED TAX ON DoWRIEs.

! We see that Representative Julius
Kahn, representing a San francisco
district In the present Congress, pro.
poses that the National Government
shall impose heavy tax on the dowries
of American brides in international
marriages, $50 that the inpecunious but
titled fortune-hunters might secure but
small moiety of the price the bride
pays him for a name which he him
self dishonors by thus putting it up at
auction to the highest bidder
We are sorry to see proposition of
this kind made small by guttersnipe
recrimination like that. There may be
no just reason why such tax should
not be imposed. but there is every rea-
son why no such language should be
employed, either in the proposing Of
such a tax, or in the augmentation
which might support it.
But, while it might be entirely iusti-
fable TO impose such tax, it is neither
logical nor practical to impose it un-
der present conditions. For, Congress
has nothing TO say about the question
of marriages. international or other
wise. The marriage question is entire
ly left TO the States, and the States
have no relations with foreign govern
ments. The only way in which Con-
jurisdiction in matters Of this kind,
either for taxation purposes or other
wise, would be to give Congress con
trol OF the marriage question by Con-
stitutional amendment. 1t has often
been proposed to give Congress that
control for the purpose of stamping out
polygamy; but, as we have frequently
urged heretofore, the reasons why Con-
gress should be given this jurisdiction
are by no means limited to the question
of polygamy, Those reasons extend to
this very question of international mar
riages, and the protection Of the rights
of American citizens therein. AS it is.
nothing can be done by any power here
i'm this matter. The Federal Govern
ment, which alone deals with foreign
nations, has no jurisdiction Mt all in
matters of marriage or divorce. The
States, which have jurisdiction, have
no relations with foreign govern
ments.
In order to arrive at the matter that
Representative Kahn proposes, the
amendment giving Congress jurisdiction
al
over divorces). would have to be
passed. With such an amendment to
the Constitution, Congress would estab-
lish uniform marriage laws and uni
form divorce laws, There would be no
immoral haggling as between the courts
of the different States whether a di-
vorce granted in one State was legal
in another, or whether marriages of
divorced persons within certain limi-
tations Of time are legal or not. AS ii
is now, man living in New York can
legally have three families He may
divorce his wife in New York, and that
divorce will not be recognized in Con-
necticut. Thereupon he can move his
WllS W SONucCtlCuU duu i've LucIc WlCH
her i'll legal marriage relations. But
as he is a divorced man in New York,
he can marry again in that State.
Then he can repeat the process in New
Jersey that he has put into effect in
Connecticut. He would therefore have
three wives, all legal, and all within
easy reuch while living in New York.
This sort of thing has been fully ex.
plotted in the New York newspapers,
and the possibility Of it thoroughly
demonstrated.
Again, we often see that the courts
in New York, Massachusetts, or else.
where. deny the validity of divorces
granted in Indiana, Nevada, or Cali
fornia. All this creates moral scan.
dal that is 1 reproach to the upright
ness and straightforwardness of the
American people. 1t can all be cured
by constitutional amendment giving
Congress jurisdiction of marriages and
divorces, And now that the president
of the Mormon church has come out
emphatically in repudiation of polyga-
nous marriages, there would seem to be
no nucleus of power left in this country
-opposiuC such q. constitutional amend