Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-09-11
UNIFORM DIVORCE
LAWS CHIEF TOPIC
FOR GOVERNORS
Executives from Thirty-seven
States Will Attend Spring
Lake Conference.
ALL AGREE AS TO NEED
OF NATIONWIDE ACTION
Public Utilities and Prison Las
Dor Problems Will Also
Be Discussed.
Especial to the Newark start

SPRING LAKE, Sept. LA nr. -orm
divorce law In all States will be the
chief topic discussed by at least thirty
seven governors at the governors con-
ference, which opens here tomorrow,
and which will continue until Saturday.
1t is believed that such a law is neces-
sary. AT present, it is pointed out,
nearly every State has different laws
regarding the granting of divorces.
1t is probable that steps will he
taken to bring the matter to the at
tention of the next Congress, it being
believed that it would be better TO
have a national divorce law than for
each State to have a separate law Il
is known that the governors have been
discussing a uniform divorce aw for
some time and that the matter will
come to a head at the. conference.
Another matter which will come be-
fore the governors will be the estab-
lishment of a library embracing the
laws of every State in the Union and
to be replenished annually with the
m"ultitudinous enactments of the forty
six States. This will be brought be-
fore the conference by William George
Jordan, secretary of the conference.
Taft to BE Present.
President Taft may be present for
one day to address the governors. This
year the governors will attend strictly
to business. At the conference In
Louisville, KY. last year such a round
of pleasure was arranged for them
that business was neglected. There is
very little pleasure on the program
this year.
This Is but one item, however. in the
longest and most comprehensive pro-
gram attempted by the executives at
n time since their first gathering
four years ago. Matters foremost in
the various States will be discussed,
such as the question of the regulation
of public utility corporations, employ
ers' liability, the inheritance tax ques-
ton, prison labor and strengthening
of the executives power. The ques-
ton of uniform divorce laws may also
be brought before the gathering.
state control of public utility cor
porations, employers liability and
workingmen's compensation are to be
given a full days discussion each. A
half day will also be devoted to a dis
cussion of the rights of the State to
fix intrastate traffic rates. This will be
led by an address from Governor Her
bert S. Had1ey, of Missouri.
Governor Francis E. McGovern. OF
Wisconsin, is on the program for the
principal address on the State control
of public utilities Governor Beryl F.
Carroll, of Iowa. was also slated to
talk on this subject, but will be unable
to attend. Governor Eugene N. Foss,
of Massachusetts, will open the discus
sion on employers liability and work
ingmen's compensation, while a paper
by Governor Chase S. Osborn. Of
Michigan, will take up the problems of
prison labor. Governors John A. Dix,
of New York, and Edmund F. Noel,
of Mississippi, are on the program for
discussion of the inheritance "a and
State comfy.
The meetings will open tomorrow.
when Governor Woodrow Wilson, of
New Jersey, will deliver ar address of
welcomes Governor Joseph M. Carey,
of Wyoming, will respond. In the eve
ming Governor and Mrs. Wilson will
tender a. reception for the visitors and
those who accompany them at the
executive cottage at Sea Girt, two
miles away.