Evening star., 1922-02-16
|MONCURE. STAND.
| BY DIVORCE rule.
Intends to Keep Up Barriers
Against So-CalIed Easy
Cases-None in 3 Days.
From a staif Correspondent.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, February 16.-
Positive assurance is given that the
check placed on the so-called easy
divorces here by the recent rule
adopted for. his court by Judge Rob-
inson Moncure is not to be short
,, lived. ,-'
The barriers in the form Of this
ruling which have been constructed
about the doors Of the corporation
court. which fact is known to have
brought considerable comfort to the
minds OF the community in general.
have been placed there to stay. In
makir-s this known today Judge
, Nc. "ure declared that he proposes to
| continue the rule in question Of the
order of his court indefinitely, or at
| least until that. time when a higher
judicial authority in. the common
wealth directs him to withdraw it.
! He is firmly convinced that the pres
! ent divorce code Is insufficient and
! incapable OF meeting the present day
demands, and is responsible for the
increase in the divorce practice.
| which in recent years has grown to
| such proportions as to be considered
! by many as an evil and menace.
He has the power to issue such
lation Is obtained to strengthen the
divorce code of the state. to dis
courage or entirely stop the irregu-
larities and frauds which are de-
| the court. It is his purpose by the
| use Of his office to bring the desired
relief.
Disregards LesisIature's Action.
The fact that the bill amending
49, ya oF
was drafted by the local committee
Investigating. the alleged divorce evil
here. has been thrown into the dis
card. SO to speak, at the state capital
in Richmond. will not cause Judge
Moncure to alter his course. 1t was
thought by some that inasmuch. as
the court of justice committee OF the,
state legislature. after considering
the committees bill. did not deem 1t
expedient at this time to report it on
the floor of the legislature. that
Judge Moncure probably would with
draw his ruling. This supposition
was probably strengthened by the
knowledge that the Judge based his
Of the bill in question and at the re-
quest of the local investigating com
mittee, pending the enactment OF the
BILL" The fact that the enactment
of the bill appears remote will have
no effect upon the desire or inten-
tions Of this local jurist.
Whether or not the announcement
three days ago that this ruling was
to be the order OF the corporation
court here has been the cause. It is
a fact that since then
not one divorce suit has been hled.
all Of which adds to the contentment
Of those interested in bettering the
divorce conditions.
Power OF Public Opinion.
Rev. DR.. Percy F. Hall. rector of
St. Paurs Episcopal Church and
formerly associated with Epiphany
Church in Washington, d. c., this aft
ernoon addressed the Kiwanis Club
here, taking for his subject "The
Power of Public Opinion" DR.. Hall.
who on more than one occasion has
openly. censured the divorce condi-
tions here, took occasion during his
address today to discuss the race
track gambling in Maryland. the prts-
on laws throughout the country and
the alleged divorce evil in this city
When the committee investigating
fourth time next Saturday 1t will re-
ceIve the complete report and tabu-
lation from the subcommittee which
has been examining the cases on file
in the corporation court for the past
eighteen months. The committee will
enter upon the examination of wit
neSses and those who have made
specific charges in the latter part of
next week. J. X. Y.