Evening star., 1922-02-11
LOOKS FOR DRASTIC
LAW ON DIVORCES
Judge Norton, After Review,
Describes Conditions in
Alexandria as "Horrible." +"
From s,an Correspondent of The Star

Fto'n s'au correspondent OF The Star
ALEXANDRIA, Va, February IL
The Virginia legislature during the
present session will enact legislation
to correct the so.called divorce evil
which is alleged to exist in the state,
especially in Alexandria, according
to Judge ]. X. NJ. Norton of this city,
member of the committee appointed
by the local bar association to inves-
tigate the divorce situation here.
In making this prediction Judge
Norton declared that conditions are
horrible in Alexandria" and that he
Is convinced that the people OF this
state generally are aroused and that
Judge Nofton7 Mas just returned
from Richmond. Va. where he. at
tended the hearings before the courts
of justice committee of the state legs
islature on the several bills proposed
to amend the present divorce law.
From his observations, after being
in the atmosphere of the state CAPT
tol. he feels satisfied that some good
law will be enacted.
Says Remedy In Demanded.
Judge Norton explained that he was
not forming his judgment solely from
convictions obtained while in Rich
mond. but also from realization that
the citizens OF Alexandria and else
where throughout the state are eager
for some remedy. He stated tha,
considerable feeling is known to exist
among the people in the matter and
he is convinced that the members
OF the legislature are thoroughly
aware Of this fact and that they
cannot but act accordingly.
Judge Norton did not care to ven.
n - Vvyt1 fnI- ~
! the proposed divorce bills would be
passed. but he did say. and with
much emphasis. that the bill as draft.
/! ed by the local investigating com.
mittee. and which has since beer
introduced. by Wilbur C. Hall. dele
stitute for the one originally intro.
duced by him two weeks ago, is, in
| his opinion. a superior one.
He said it embodies every neces
| sary feature intended to close thu
| loophole of the present code and t.
otherwise correct the easy fashion il
which divorces may now be obtained
He explained. however. that the bill
| introduced by, Charles Henry Smith
| delegate from Alexandra. is excep
for few minor provisions. substan
TALLY the same as the committee,
bill, which in the future will b,
known as the Hall bill: AS a matter
| of fact. either bill will be perfectl,
satisfactory. in the opinion Of Judg,
Norton.
| Speaks. n Individual.
As representative of the local in
vestigating committee, Judge Norton
In presenting the latters bill at tn,
| Richmond hearing, called attention t,
| the divorce conditions here and de
| clared that relief is urgent. and TO
that reason little time should be los
in changing the law. He expIaine,
each provision contained in the pro
posed measure. AS an individual. an,
not as a representative Of the loca
committee. he then vigorously at
tackled conditions existing in Aiexan
dria,' saying that for more than
year the evil has. been growing. H
scored the weakness of the law whicl
made Irregularities and frauds posi-
BILE. He described. in some detail
how that evil had grown until 1t ha
reached deplorable proportions an
has brought shame to the city. H
| (Continued on Page 2. Column ~