Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-12
SENATE HAS BILL
RESTRICTING
MARRIAGES
coueIand's Measure Provides
Medical Examination and
Shuts Out Dope FiendS.

pieid medical examination as a pre-
.aouisite to marriage and prohibition Of
.,.rdages of drug and alcoholic habit
..+es persons afflicted with heredi-
49,. diseases or Iunatic taints, is pro-
,.;dad in bill introduced in the state
.anate today by Senator E. A. Copeland
e the Nineteenth district.
rba author of the measure, although
o,.ore of the fact that it can not pass
.na legislature, is confident that mar
-t,re reform along some similar line
,T eventually be considered by Geor-
gia lawmakers
,some one has got to do the mission
-. work necessary to awaken the peo-
,,e IN realization Of the necessity of
odicaI marriage laws and l might
met as well be the one to do It, said
senator Copeland, in explaining his
hill
The machinery of the bill Is elaborate
and the opinion of the majority of the
soratA seemed to be that the measure
,.onld he defeated. The prime objec-
4;on IN the bill seemed to be that 1t
mas considered an interference with
personal liberty that would not be toll
Grated by the general public.
What the Bill Provides.
The bill provides;
A commission of three members,
me a physician appointed by the
Judge of superior court. This com
mission Is to make a physical eX-
animation Of all persons seeking to
marry.
Declaration of intention to mar
~ shall be made to the ordinary of
county at least 80 days before such
marriage is contemplated. Upon
such declaration the ordinary shall
reonire information as to the pa
rents and grandparents of the mar
rage parties before issuing mar
riage license.
Persons addicted to the use OF
alcohol or drugs. affected with or
having transmissible ta1nts of dis
ease or insanity shall be denied
marriage license.
Senator Copeland asserted that sew
eral states and at least one foreign gov
-Cermany-had enacted laws
along this line. His bill, he maintain
ed included the best features of res
olution recently adopted by the Amer
lean Medical association.
The senate confirmed the following
nominations made by Governor Brown:
Appointments Confirmed.
e King of the county of Clay, to
he solicitor of the city court of Fort
Gaines for a term of two years from
August q, 1911.
s Burkhalter to be solicitor of the
county court of Clinch for term of
two years from October %. 1911.
Roger L. Gamble. of the county of
Jefferson to be judge Of the city court
of Louisville for a term of two years
from November I, 1911.
John R Phillips, of the county OF
jefferson, to be solicitor of the city
court of Louisville for a term Of two
years from November /. 1911.
E q. Elmore. of the county of BRYAN.
TO be Judge of the city court of Penn
broke from September % 1911, until
January /. 1918.
J F Dukes to be solicitor of the city
court of Pembroke from September %,
1911 until January 1, 1913.
r G Ham to be Judge of the county
court of Echols from April23, 1912, un-
til his successor is elected and quail
fed
r. o. Jackson to be Judge of the
county court of Henry for term of
two years from December /, 1912.
Paul Turner to be solicitor of the
county court of Henry for a term OF
two years from December 1. 1912.
Mrs. Maude Barker Cobb, of the
county of Fulton, to be state librarian
for term of four years from June %
1912
The senate adjourned at noon until
Monday at II o'clock