Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-29
SENATE REPORT.
tcontinued from Page Two.)

siding and practicing in this State for
the certificates required by this act"
The penalty has been read
Where now is the evidence that any /
such an act as this is demanded? Point
out the specific instances in this state
where an act CT this kind would he
beneficial or prevent the occurrences, if
any, that now exist If it is said that
1t is not desired to Join in marriage
insane persons what minister OF the /
gospel or justice of the peace today
would ioin in marriage an insane per-
son? You cannot find one within the
borders of the state. What minister
of the gospel or justice of the peace
would do it, What ono, a fsehe-mind-
cd person. think over the list, each
one Of you, OF the pastors of this STATE,
and feeble minded persons coming up
to him to bc Joined in marriage, do.
YOU think that he would do it.
No;g ihtn this provides FOR a physical
examination of the parties about To
contract marriage shat each one of the
contracting parties must so to the
clergyman officiating, carrying III his
hand or presenting to him before the
marriage ceremony can he performed
Il certificate compromising the fol-
lowing
Each rarity desiring TO marry shall
present a certificate of Il physician duly
registered and residing in this STATE,
TO the city or town clerk or other oftic-
isl issuing marriage licenses. stating
that such party desiring To marry IS
net an epileptic, imbecile, fceble-mind-
ed person. idiot. insane person, or per-
son who has heretofore been afflicted
with hereditary insanity. or person az
flicted with pulmonary tuberculosis in
its advanced stages. and apparently is
= moi afIifefed wifi, amy contagious ven.
ereal disease.
Think OF that! That the splendid
young women OF the state and the
,.ohle young men should be obliged 10
have certificate of that sort to pre-
sent to the city or town clerk, to be
filed and kept on file. The senator from
fenobscot, on the day of his speech in
favor OF this measure, cited the m
stance of man who WAS afflicted viii
.oeomotor ataxia cursing himself and
,ursing his parents who had brought
him inb5 the world Is there anytime
in this act that would prevent tho
bringing of persons into the world with
locomotcr ataxia. But 1t is said that
YOU prohibit the marriage. Does thds
prohibit the bTinsing INTO the world
IF n rsons who are idiots, persons at
f,icted with focemotor ataXia, or other
diseases?
think yeu can trust safely to the
state as you have for ell these years,
TO the conscientious pastor to the JUS
tice of the peace who very rarely Of
fciates in comparison with the whole
number of marriages in this state; it
is only an !neonsequential number, and
that it would he better by far to let the
marriages continue as they are than
to impose this piece Of cumbersome
machinery which will have the deter
rent effect OF causing the marriages Of
the respectable young people OF the
state to take place outside Of the bord-
ers Of the state.
| do not know whether "A motion has
been made or not; If not, Mr.. President,
| move that the enactins clause b.
stricken ont of this bill.
The PRESIDENT; The Chair will
state the question is Oh the motion II
the senator from Aroostook, that the
bill he indefinitely postponed.
Mr. BUTTON Of kennebec: MI.
President. do not desire To speak to
any extent upon this measure. Good
and sufficient reasons have been given
why il should not become II law.
II strikes sne that this is the most
outrageous and obnoxious piece OF leg
islation which any legislature could
put upon it's statute books, 1t is a di-
rect affront 10 amy Young man or any
young woman who has tried to live a
decent and proper life. Why. a man $
manhood and a Woman's Womanhood
rises up to resent the suggestion that
our pure and decent young men IN
Maine and our pure young women in
Maine must put such It certificate as
called for here upon the public records
Of Maine where the curious can so and
examine it, Think al it, senators, wha
Lave sons and daughters, senators who
hope 10 have sons and daughters. Do
gou want your SONS and voH daugt-
ters, however pure YOU may believe
them Ia be. and however pure they may
be. to be compelled before they can be
united in fbe holy bonds OF wedlock to
spread upon the public records Of the
State bf Milne, any such outrageous
certificate as uEs? Why, a man, an
american, who loves freedom, who
loves virtue cannot help feeling his
whole system aroused in indignation at
sneh an outrageous proposition.
Nor viii the good effects which gen
tlemen desire to accomplish be ac-
eomplishcd by legislation like this
These unfortunate persons afflicted by
hereditary insanity by imbecilhy OF
by epilepsy in their family or in
themselves, will not only have to
curse the parents who brought them
into existence with this palsy upon
them. bat with the additional dis
grace that they we're brought into this
world illegitimately. Every man who
loves manhood, every man who lovc%
womanbood, and their joint virtue
repels such a proposition. And | sec
oId the motion Of the Senator from
Arsostook.
MIR. COLE a York. Mi President,
in order that may rise 10 the Nights
Of the orutory of the senator from
Kenpebec. who has iust spoken,