The Irish standard., 1914-06-20
ASK FOR MUCH
TIGHTER LAW
Colorado Jurist Asks State to Assist
in Curbing Divorce Evil
anyWomen Seek Divorce Because
They are Dissatisfied with
Husbands Wages.
Man on Bench has No WAY to Find
Out Details--Wants Officer to
Probe Each Case.


Probe Each Case.
Judge Ira c. Rothgerber, who has
handled no less than 500 Denver d.
vorce cases within a year and quar-
ter. setting local record, is in favor
of sweeping reforms in the Colorado
divorce laws. In an interview grant
ed to the Register reporter, he ad-
vocated the appointment of divorce
Investigator. the absolute repeal of
the mental cruelty" clause, and 9TH
er reforms.
Judge Rothgerber does not accept
the Catholic idea that there should
be no divorce. but he fully realizes,
as result of his experience on the
bench, that Colorado's laws are en-
tirely too lax. and that the evil is con-
stantly on the increase, instead of ON
the decrease.
-Four women to one man seek d.
vorces," said Judge Rothgerber.
There are four cases in which there
are no children to one in which there
are children. Thirty per cent of the
cases are granted for 'non-support,'
although the non-support' in nearly
all cases means dissatisfaction of
women with the amounts earned by
their husbands. Thirty per cent Of
the cases are also due to mental
cruelty and in nearly all these suits
the couples are childless.
1.-The first great need for reform in
the divorce laws is the absolute re-
peal Of the section which allows d.
vorce for mental cruelty. In my es-
timation. a few would be injured by
this repeal. but the abolition of the
clause would be a great thing for
society in general.
Only After One Year.
1.-THE second greatest need is that
no divorce should be granted for non
support unless the couple have lived
apart for year. This would do
away with most of the divorces OBJ
tanned under the non-support clause.
IA large percentage of the d.
vorces are obtained on the spur of
the moment. One Of the parties be-
comes infatuated with someone else,
or there is petty quarrel. or some
thing else brings about the disa-
greement. In a number Of these
cases the divorce is granted one day
and one of the Divorces is married
the next.
after the hearing no decree
should be granted for one year. This
would prevent many of the divorces.
as the parties would have a chance
to think the question over. would
also compel the defendants to appear
II they are in the jurisdiction of the
court. would insist that all divorce
trials be held in public. This might
not have great effect. but 1t would
do some good. would also like to
see a public divorce officer. who
could investigate all divorce cases.
I am convinced that many divorces
would not be granted IL the Judges
knew more about the cases than they
can possibly find out under the pres
ent conditions. At present divorces
are often granted in five minutes and
no investigation is made before the
trial. Some women will tell anything
when they want a divorce.
Should Want Children.
"Girls should be taught by their
mothers to want children after mar
riage. At the present time. I am con-
vinced, some parents advise their
children not to have offspring for a
time after marriage. Where there
are children there are always fewer
divorces"
Judge Rothgerber is of the opin-
ion that anti-race suicide sermons
should be delivered in the churches.
They are given constantly from Cath
olic pulpits.
IA few weeks ago." said the Judge,
II gave talk before the Congrega-
tional ministers on the divorce ques-
ton. One of them asked me II I
approved Of the Catholic stand on d.
vorce and whether thought the
Catholic Church's stand was effect
i've IN combating the evil. an
swered that I had no way Of proving
the latter question. as I kept no rec
ord Of the religion Of Divorces. I
said. though. that I was convinced
tkat the divorce evil would be great
~ reduced II all the churches would
preach against It - vigorously as
ID