The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-12-11
MAY CALL FAMILY PHYSICIAN
AL Physicians in Kenosha Over Thirty
Years Old Licensed to Practice in the
State May Issue Certificates of
Health to Bridegrooms.

Acting on the orders Of the new state
statute the county clerk is planning to
unroll another roll of red tape in con-
nection with the marriage rite and the
decks are being cleared for action in
connection with the issuance Of licenses
only on the presentation of physician IS
certificates, certifying that the groom
to-be IS sound in health Many people
had believed that special physicians
would be named by the state to have
charge Of these examinations, but this
IS an error and Clerk Jones has been
notified by the secretary Of state that
the examinations of prospective bride
grooms may be made by any physician
above the age of 80 years who has been
duly licensed to practice in Wisconsin
The blanks on which the ce9tifcation
Of the health of the applicant for the
marriage license is to be made will be
furnished by the county The clerk
has secured large supply of them and
they viii be. given out to the various
physicians The official blank is short
and it gives no guarantee that the APP
plicant is able to support wire or of
his physical condition to have a real
earning capacity. It simply states
that in the opinion >of the physician
making the examination the holder Of
the certificate IS free from venereal
diseases.
Under the law the. examination, of
the prospective bridegroom may be
made BY his family physician. The
law gives the physician the right to
charge as high 9 three dollars for the
issuance Of the certificate but there is
nothing to prevent the cutting Of rates
and if physicians see fit they may Of
fer the certificates as wedding presents
or make cut rates for them as they
may value their services. The law pro-
yides that the physician must apply
I" the recognized clinical and labora-
tory tests of scientific research before
signing the certificate.
After the first of January no license
may be issued without the presentation
OF such certificate by the groom to-
be. The law also tal-es care Of Wiscon-
sin couples who may 60 to other states
to marry. In such cases the groom if
he returns to make his home in Wis
consin must file with the county clerk
within ten days after the wedding GER
emony a certificate similar to those de-
manded in til state. The law provides
a heavy penalty for violators.
The safeguard is also thrown out to
guard people planning to marry against
imposition and physicians who make
false statements in regard to the ply
steal condition Of any person acting
under the law may be sent to prison
and in addition have his license to prac-
tice in the state withdrawn Forfeit
ure of license automatically follows
conviction on charges of making a
false certificate. Under the law the
physicians making examinations are
forced to treat such examinations as
confidential and any public statement
made in regard to them will make the
physician liable to heavy fine and
imprisonment.
There is wide difference Of opinion
as to how the new law will work out
Some people seem to see in it a panacea
for all ills connected with the marriage
laws while others believe that an easy
way will be found to get. away from
the enforcement Of the act.
One thing is certain and that is that
it will kill the last vestige of the Chi
cago marriage business in Kenosha.
Chicago couples will certainly refuse
to come to Kenosha and get their clean
medical bill ane then wait five days
before marriage ceremony can be
performed
At the same time this law goes into
effect another state statute putting an
end to the marriage of first cousins in
Wisconsin will also become effective.