Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-05

.afec n this nthte e'ae' w. N
s ~ s.,,, uther States.
as as.,.,st,re .g, refused to pass divorce leg
~ urred by Divorce Congress. de-
~, eaoris Of lawyers.
u.. Elsie Ferguson, an actress wanted
,,rorce her husband about four years
sbs lived in Long Branch, and the
-. Il New Jersey would not permit her
!, me absolute divorce she desired.
4, ,bst time Reno was at the height of
). t.me. and was known all over the
s..,uttv az a city where the marital bonds
WA be severed legally with little diff
Guilty -
"a she crossed the river into this
s1sIs and took up her residence in Phila-
sslnbIa After maintaining a legal home
~ 4 year, the time required by the
,.ws N this State, she brought suit
.eslnat her husband, Fred Hoey, of Long
nr.ncb. subsequently the decree was
snea that time the example set by
ulsz Ferguson has been followed by hun
srsds Of residents of New Jersey and of
Nsw York and Delaware. AS a result
4 this Philadelphia has received the
sotnquet, Reno Of the East" This mi
grafton into the State still continues, due,
according to members of the bar in this
dly 10 the comparative ease with which
ilyorce may be obtained in this State.
BAR PoNDERS PROBLEM.
THIS matter has occupied the attention
Il the Philadelphia Bar Association, and
at a recent meeting 1t was decided to
...Na III,
of this State based on their experience,
as to the workings of the law.
The legislative act gives the courts
Jurisdiction Notwithstanding the fact
that the marriage OF the parties and the
cause for divorce occurred outside this
Commonwealth. and that both parties
were at the time of the occurrence of
said cause domiciled without this Com
monRealth, and that the respondent has
been served with subpoena only by pub
lieatioH as required by law. In such cases
he llbellant shall be competent wit
ress to prove his or her residence within
be Commonwealth"
ne law further provides that the
naIi shall also entertain jurisdiction
q sH cases of divorce from the bonds of
maiFmony for any cause now or here
after provided for by law, when the libel
ant or applicant for such divorce shall
Il the time Of filing the petition or libel
"a divorce have been resident one year
previous to the time of filing the petit
iionh
One Of the cases that resulted from this
Aw has become famous among lawyers.
Il IS known as Bergovlc VS.. Bergovic. A
roman who came to this country from
AUSTRIA obtained separation from the
husband she had married in Austria,
EaeIe the acts she complained of took
place.
Judge William H. Stake, who is one
q he Pennsylvania commissioners on
Uniform laws and who was an active par
ueipant In the National Congress on Uni
i9fm Divorce Laws, which met in this
eiy IN 1906, declared that the Judges of
lais city and the earnest-minded MEM
pss oi the bar are becoming alarmed
sssf the Increase in the number of d.
sosres Granted In this city and State. !
FOR Two-YEAR RESIDENCE.
me Congress- on Uniform Divorce Laws
sssohnended that a residence of two |
- - IN the State be required of any one |
eaasihs suit for divorce. Efforts have |
zen made several times to get this
: s'asnaAent TO the divorce laws through |
'as =. legislature but without success
!. me ooasress also urges each State not
= .seosnlze divorce granted in another
80 =. ehsn the marriage or the grounds
81, sH9 eNofee took place in the first
slsss The act OF May, 1918, of the Penn
- legislature not only ignored this
!, but was a step in exact
ne opposite direction.
NeW York city, with more than
49, umes the population OF PhiladeI-
m - teWer divorces In a year than
~, 'ssalopols. Philadelphia 8 average Is
-, Msnef than that OF Wilmington,
Bsssfa newark. Jersey City, Paterson,
ssas- noehester or Albany, or any
b. e-,.F nearby city, except Baltimore.
al. 49, eeorge Smith, an attorney OF
IL. Who Is one OF the representa-
- IN Pennsylvania on the commits
ttsIs UNIFORM laws, and who was
{. S. ot the Resolutions Committee
gns' me Uniform Divorce Laws
s. sssset alet IN this city, declares that
a. esaey In Pennsylvania Is to be-
gss=.s .s and more lax ia the attitude
ne divorce question.
ths aeatlon OF that" he said, was
ar se OF the last law in 1918, maxi
lsn 7ipie Tor person to come here
.aiss =. other place and get a divorce
e laws Of this state.
RIDICULOUS APPLICATION.
.sIsffed to Bergovie vs.. Bareovie
Is where the application OF this
s - nsen carried TO an end that
- s'ssseions Mr.. Smith smiled when
= nov the laws OF Nevada, where
als situated, compared with this
szsz and the application OF them
|s sss- = still a disgrace 10 the en-
ne said. But the laws OF
s.s = A sa are entirely too lax. much
.sss sss.n ~ many other States"
.aasa = saaa, which achieved such fame
s1f - reputation acquired by Reno,
assss pied 70 make its laws more
Iszss :, hyers point out Reno
s - tame during the period when
saeaths' residence Ia the state
49, n order 10 bring divorce
M A few years ago, however,
asss 80 - extended to year. Then
ssssiS as aleiens grew a bit slack. ana
S. - mere elamored for q restora-
"a 9la laW, saying that the old !
- ssEoasht many persons 81 wealth
spsns money freely.
a Hlas Catholic Convention