Evening journal., 1913-03-13
SENATE FOR
MARRIAGE ELAW
REFORM HERE
Upper House Unanimous fer
More Stringent Require
mentS on EIOperS
96 HOUR RESIDENCE
REQUIRED UNDER BILL

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, Dol. March 13.-Should
the House pass the Gormlcy bill 10
regulate the issuance Of marriage
licenses. as the Senate did unanim-
ously yesterday afternoon, Whining
Ton would soon lose her not too
proud reputation as a Gretna Green
for eloping couples from other
states There is not much doubt nut
that Governor Miller would approve
such reform. inasmuch as he took
high stand for reform in the Della
ware marriage laws in his inaugural
address.
Not only does Senator Gormlcy's
bill require full publicity for the
issuance OF marriage licenses but II
also provides that a license for nom
residents cannot be used legally until
ninety-six hours after it Is issued. lt
stipulates that the clerks OF the peace
only in each county shall issue mar
riage licenses. This would require
all applicants to get their licenses
either at the courthouse In Whining
ton, Dover or Georgetown. An Of
tempt viii be made in the House to
amend the bill SO that magistrates,
too. may issue licenses.
Mr.. Gormley in explaining the
measure said It had been drafted TO
make the securing of a marriage
license easier for residents and much
more difficult for non-residents; "The
bill is designed" he said, ito break
up tho traffic in marriage licenses. a
disgrace to Wilmington and the state
There is a sound public sentiment
that demands the passage Of some
good marriage law at this session.
Tho marriage traffic in Wilmington is
simply a branch of the white slave
traffic. We will never know nine
tenth's of the misery spread by our
lax marriage laws"
Senator Reinhardt declared II 20 be
important that the legislature pass
some new marriage law at the pre-
sent session and urged the members
to vote for the bill with the expecta-
tion that a compromise may have to be
reached by the House, in view Of the
are back of other marriage reform
bills. He called the members atten-
tion to the fact that the Governor
had recommended this legislation in
his inaugural address.
MY Office" said Mr.. Renhardt, "is
directly in front OF a Justice of the
peace's Office, where scores OF mar
riage licenses are issued. ! have seer
prospective brides In short dresses
who could not hav'ebecn over IA or 15
year old. These girls remained in. a
cab while the groom-to-be secured the
license The traffic has become so
organized that couples desiring to &c
cure a license have TO pay cab fare
OF 50 or IS for a ride OF ten blocks 10
a magistrates Office. The time has
come to remedy so disgraceful con-
dition."
Senator Walls said that he UNDER
stood the magistrates were opposed 70
this bill but he saw no reason why
this should influence the action OF the
Senate In reply to an objection
raised by Mr.. Walls that the magis-
trates were complaining that they
would lose the money they had is
vested in marriage certificates. Sena-
tor Ewing said the claims committed
would agree TO refund the amounts
paid for unused marriage certificates
The Gormley bin provides that resi-
dents must secure a license twenty
four hourse before the ceremony and
non-residents 90 hours before In the
case OF residents, only the man is re-
quired to appear to answer questions
but the Clerk OF the Peace may exam
inc both applicants under oath. Both
non-residents must answer questions
under oath. Full publicity Is afforded
by the Clerk OF the Peace being re.
quired to enter Immediately in mar
riage record book all licenses issued
which shall be open to the public
Record Of the marriage ceremony is
established by the minister being re-
Quired to file a return of the marriag,
with the Clerk OF the Peace within
four days. When a male is under 2'
OF a female under IS, the consent o
parents or guardians is necessary
Making false answer 10 the question:
asked by the Clerk Of the Peace ma,
be punished as perjury.