The Washington herald., 1912-06-30
NORWAY SOLVES
The DIVORCE EVIL
Fru Ella Anker, Leader of Move
ment, Will Start Crusade in
United States.

It 10 Fru Ella Anker, a leader Of the
woman's movement in Norway. who an
nounces that her country has solved the
divorce evil She Is a sister-in-law of
Herr Johann Castberg. minister Of jus
tice in the last Norwegian cabinet. Herr
Castberg framed the law Of 1910. which
is believed to have accomplished the
miracle. FTu Anlzer expects to visit the
United States before many months TO
agitate in this country. as she already
has done In England, for a general d.
vorce law modelled on the Norwegian
measure.
First. want to make II clear" said
Fru Anker recently, that this law,
which has done 30 much to solve the
divorce evil in my countryN was one OF
the direct results OF the enfranchise-
ment of my sex. The law was passed
by Liberal government but It had the
support Of all parties. II Is based on
the principle that mutual love between
the husband and the wife is the only
moral basis for marriage. When that
feeling fails or is seriously shaken, It
Is absurd to bind the two together any
longer. The law ought then to step in
and provide the means for a divorce.
Preliminary to Divorce.
"our law provides admission to sep
aration as the preliminary TO divorce
when both parties request II, and SINH
lar relief when one requests Il on such
grounds as make II probable that mutual
good will is ruined II there is agree
ment between husband and wife, the law
grants a divorce without inquring into
the reasons, but as security that the step
has been we'll thought over before ac-
tion, it provides that a year Of sepera-
l.
ton and the actual granting Of the di-
vorce. II the request is made by only
enc party, two years Of separation must
precede the actual divorce.
'In my country divorce is not looked
upon as a disgrace, but rather as re-
lief from an unfortunate state of af-
fairs. II is kept out OF the courts as
much as possible, the machinery being
largely in the hands Of administrative
oficials. The proceedings are very
simple and extremely cheap. The cost
varies in different cases, running from
little less than 81 to SIS 1t is not
necessary to employ lawyers. 1t is the
duty OF the administrative officials to
make their own Investigations and to
collect the necessary information, to
settle the questions Of money. and to
arrange for the care OF the children.
Ask for an Order.
when a husband and wife agree
that they want a divorce they appear
before a magistrate and ask for an
order. He sends them TO the concilia-
tion board. a permanent Institution for
mediation in all matters Of judicial
conflict. II the officials OF the cOncili
alton board fnd II impossible to
change the minds OF the couple the
latter are granted a separation order.
he 49,
OF justice is compelled to make the
divorce final II It is demanded by either
husband or wife.
Separation. as the preliminary to
divorce is called, is granted by the
ministry of justice for the following
causes:
Continual neglect Of support Ceither
by the mans money or the woman's
work IN the house).
Continued alcoholism.
Bodily nl-treatment Of consort and
children.
Grave discordance.
Immediate divorce is given on the
application OF one party for the . fol-
lowing causes:
Separation lasting two years.
'Incurable insanity for two years.
separation de facto OF three years
Nf the consorts have lived apart from
each other for three years).
Divorce without previous separation
knowledge of the other before mar
riage has been suffering from:
Insanity.
Bodily faults which make him or
her UNIT for marriage.
Grimes enumerated in the criminal
law.
criminal punishment with loss Of
liberty for three years.
"Desertion for two years.
"Infdelity on the part Of either hus-
band or wife has been a ground for di-
vorce in Norway since 1880. 1t is still
considered 4 crime, and the offender can
be punished with penalties and impris-
onment on the request OF the other
party But few divorces are nowadays
obtained on this ground, the couples
preferring to come to an agreement and
give no reason for their request for
divorce In 1910, Of the 800 divorces 81
were granted on the grounds OF separa-
ton de facto. I31 by mutual consent. Il
on the ground Of insanity. > for bodily
unfitness. and only for inhdelity.
Division of Property.
After separation and divorce the
common property is divided equally be-
tween the husband and the wife. Usu-
tribute to the support Of the wife. the
exact extent Of his contribution being
fixed by the magistrate and depending
upon the earning capacity OF both the
man and the woman. II the divorce is
caused by her conduct, he can be eX-
cused the duty Of support. II she mar
ries again he is also excused. The con-
tribution is collected by the magistrate.
A Norwegian wife is looked upon as the
sharer Of her husbands property. Upon
his death, as upon divorce, she has a
claim on half of his wealth. The hus-
band cannot give away more than one
tenth Of his money without his wife s
consent, and the wife has a right to all
she earns after her marriage.
After divorce there is no obligation
upon both parents to support the chill
dren. No fixed rules are laid down,
but each case Is decided on the circum-
stances. II the parents can agree upon
a plan they can enter into a contract,
but the terms must be approved by the
magistrate. II the parents cannot agree
the ministry of justice settles the ques-
ton. The utmost care of the welfare
of these children is taken in my coun.
try and the magistrate must constantly
consult the guardian committee, a per-
institution for the care of al
deserted children.
Either Party May Marry.
Either party is privileged to marry
again after divorce in Norway. We can
not see that society has anything TO
gain by hindering divorced people from
This easy divorce law has not been
by a great rush of dissatisfied