Evening journal., 1916-02-04
RAISING MARRIAGE
BARS IN maryland

DHnO III IMHNlhHND.
ANNAPOLIS. Feb. A bill raising
the age at which a girl may marry
without the consent Of her parents
or guardian from 16 to is years and
making other drastic changes in the
marriage laws of the State was miro
duced in the Legislature yesterday by
Senator Williams. OF Cecil county VINO
explained that the measure had been
offered by him in compliance with the
request of of the legislative commit
tees OF several civic societies which
had il drafted
Among the other amendments It
proposes is that in filling the appl-
cation for marriage license the
clerk of the court applied to shall, If
either of the applicants has been di-
vorced. state the date of the Decree
tthe cause for which it was granted
and the court by which it was en-
tered.
Another amendment provides that
if the applicants for a marriage IL
cense live outside Of Maryland the
consent of the parents or guardians
TO the marriage shall be in writing,
signed and acknowledged before a no
tary public, who shall certify to such
signature and acknowledgment under
his hand and nOtariaDseal.
Would Send Ministers TO Jail.
Still another section provides that
should any minister. or other person
authorized to marry, perform any
marriage ceremony without the pres
entation OF a license therefor. obtain
ed in accordance with the provisions
OF the measure, or shall perform the
marriage prior to the expiration Of SO
hours from the time of the license,
when both parties are non-residents OF
the State, or prior to "a hours from
the time the license is issued when
one or both parties are residents OF
the State, he shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon
conviction, be sentenced to imprison-
ment for a term not exceeding six
months or to a fine not exceeding $500
or both. at the discretion Of the court
The present law directs that non
residents. desiring to be married
within this State. shall obtain a Ii
cense at least ninety-six hours before
. the ceremony is to be performed, anC
that when one or both OF the appli
cants fer a marriage license live il
kf. irnnnrrrf
twenty-four hours before the marriage
is TO take place.
The effect of the amendment in thu
Williams bill. therefore. would seen
to be simply to impose a penalty of
rather severe nature on any minister
who does not see that the law is com
e piled with.
d No Change as 70 Age of Man.
The Williams bill does not max
any change in the law requiring
man to be q years OF age before h
can procure a marriage license with
out the consent Of his parents o
guardian. and while It is not alto
gether clear upon the subject, tn
, supposition is that the amendment re
lating to notarial certificates is to az
S ply only in case the non-residents G
I one OF them applying for a marriag
r license are under the required ages
a Nav Hit All Gretna Greens.
Some time abo Senator Williams in
troduced bill TO prohibit any mir
lister or other person in Cecil countl
authorized to perform the marrag
I. ceremony. from giving directly or IN
+. directly any fee to anyone as an IN
+ ducement to that person to bring O
l. direct to him any persons for the pun
y pose Of having him marry them
= similar bill was introduced for ALE
4 gany county by Senator Zihlman, VIII
Y offered It at the request Of the Mir
e isterial Association of Cumberland
. That town also, developed into some
!, thing OF a Gretna Green.
u On motion the Cecil county bill wa
withdrawn from the special commit
tee to which it was referred when II
troduced and it, together with the A
& legany county bill. was referred to Ii
y Committee on Judicial Proceeding
e This is taken to indicate that an e
e fort will be made to have the meai
IS ures made Statewide.