The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-21
Judicature Commission Asks
Check on Quick Divorces and
Restrictions on Wedlock
WOULD BAR WEDDINGS
OF WHITES AND BLACKS
Union of Diseased Persons
Should Be Made a Felony,
Says Report

rage anu divorce laws or MlcnS
are proposed In the report OF the in
cature commission appointed &
years ago by Gov. Ferris, 70 reyi
and consolidate the laws OF the sta
The report of the commission W
read Saturday, before the bar as:
ciation and Lawyers club. OF Detro
and has been submitted to the &c
ernor.
Following is a synopsis OF tho mo
important changes proposed In q
statutes covering marriage and
vOrce: "" -.
/. Marriages between whites
and Africans, or those OF African
descent. absolutely forbidden;
violation OF this section a felony.
2. Marriage OF insane persons
and persons suffering with one or
both OF two communicable sexual
diseases prohibited; violation or
this section made felony.
3. Marriage OF q sane person
with former inmate Of state
asylum made a feloay unless a
certificate OF absolute cure Is
shown.
4. Any sane person aiding and
abetting In a marriage such as
described In the foregoing Is gull
ty Of q felony.
5. All physicians must report
direct to the secretary OF the
state Board OF Health all cases or
the two communicable sexual dts
eases.
6. Adds to the present mar
rage license application q certiti-
cate or freedom from all faint OF
the two diseases. .....
Z. Compels persons wanting TO
marry to apply for license to
county clerk 60 days before IL
cense can be issued.
8. County clerk must advertise
In newspapers for six consecutive
weeks the fact that a pair want
% marry. ="
9. Certificates from the secre-
tary OF state Board OF Health nee
essary before county clerk can is
sue license, provided name OF
contracting party is on the boards
books.
Provisions Covering Divorce.
I. /. Making presence or one or
two communicable diseases, con-
tracted either before or after mar
rage. legal cause for divorce.
2. No bill OF divorce permissi-
BILE until so days after separation
of the parties. This time is waiv-
ed where II can be shown that the
defendant is about 10 leave the
state.
3. Divorce granted in another
state, for cause, arising while par
ties lived In Michigan, made He
gal as to Michigan.
A. Compelling the attendance
OF the prosecuting attorney In all
divorce suits, and barring him
self, his partner or employe from
participation as private counsel.
s. Conditional decree or di-
vorce must be made within 80
days after hearing. This condi-
tional decree lasts for four
months, when q final decree Is
made. This time limit waived In
desertion cases.
6. Appeal TO the supreme
court to lie only from condi-
tional decree, except in cases
where final decree changes rad
ically the terms OF the condf-
tional. In other cases no appeal
from q final decree.
z. Payments OF all moneys or
dered paid to be made to the
clerk Of the court In which action
Is pending, and by him paid to
proper party.
Judge Philip T. Van Zile, who hs
bald special attention to the divorC
wi and other problems arising fro
marriages, declared th'
he proposal to publish the banns Wa
,ne OF the strongest good points
he report.
In my judgment, the publicatic
,f the banns will prevent many hast
md ill-advised marriages" said Judt
Van Zile, "and to one who has serve
ln a divorce court for any length
time, II Is plain that hasty marriage
are responsible for most OF the I
vorce cases.
Judge Van Zile declined to col
ment on the eugenic provisions or u
report. The question Is OF such
delicate nature, he said, that II shou
not be touched upon without long al
mature consideration.
II am heartily in favor OF the Pill
10 have marriage licenses publish
Tor 30 days preceding the date of Z
said Rabbi Leo M. Fran
a.. pastor OF Temple Beth FL. IT
many engagements are the result
short acquaintance and the has
impulse OF young folks W
ave not learned the true significan
4 marriage and the problems OF mi
Ted life"
While he advocates the publicati,
Z the banns as a safeguard TO your
DIS who plunge into matrimol
fithout proper consideration OF Z
tep, the Rev. Joseph A. Vance Is
he opinion that marriage laws ca
? made too stringent.
"You cannot make q man and W
ian love each other and live happi
,gether by means OF legislation"
I'D.
Educating the people. particular
Dung people, TO the fact that the
esame a great personal responsible
N when they take the marriage vo
the best means OF preventing nj
4Dpy marriages. said Judge Geore
y Hosmer.
law alone will never solve N
oolem." he said. People who an
l'out to be married must realize n
@ponsibiiities they assume whe
&ry are welded. Teach them tn
ne OF responsibility, and the nur
o. divorces will be decreas,
bulge Henry g. Hubert is also
"a be'isver OF publicity before ms