Evening star., 1922-02-20
new DIVORCE CODE
ADOPTION UNLIKELY
Little Chance of Enactment
of Law at Present Session
of Virginia Legislature.
From n STAFF Correspondent.

From Staf Correspondent.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. February 90
There is little. if any. chance of legis-
lation being enacted at this session
of the Virginia legislature providing
a more stringent divorce law for the
state. AT least that is the view of
Charles Henry Smith, q local attor-
ney, who, represents Alexandria In
the virginfa house Of delegates at
Richmond. He is forced to come to
this Conclusion, he explained, because
OF the recent trend Of events in the
legislature. Mr.. Smith Is IT'D author
of bill which provides what is gen.
orally considered a stringent divorce
law to take the place of the present
one, and, although he has presented 1t
with much vigor, he is not optimistic
regarding its future outcome.
Besides Mr.. Smiths bin there are
several others dealing with the
divorce law which,will be introduced
during the present session, one OF
which was drafted by the local COM
mittee of lawyers Investigating the
alleged divorce evil here. -
All but Mr.. Smiths bill have been
thrown into the discard by the COM
mittee on courts of justice of the
house of delegates. Delegate Smith is
endeavcring now to have his bill
brought to the floor of the House for
a record vote about the formality of
consideration and report by the COM
mittee in question.
He is convinced that the positions
of his bill are such that it would
literally solve the present divorce
problem. He is convinced that the
present law is primarily at fault in
. he fnr ~ "a in divnrNne
in this city.
Few Words Would SuaIce.
Amending the Virginia code by the
addition Of only a few words would
sufficiently strengthen it SO as to
make easy divorces" not only diff
cult. but probably impossible. accord
ing to James R. Cation, one of the
older members Of the local bar and
acting president of the Alexandria
Bar Association.
Mr.. Cation has practiced law for
more than forty-three years, and is
prominent throughout the state. In
only to be made more definite regard
ing the domicile and resident-require-
ments. .,...
"The law would be entirely ade-
quate," Mr.. Cation explained, If 1t
specified clearly that the residence of
physical and continuous. The addi-
ton Of these few words would make
a world of difference and would un-
Questionably Meet what is now diff
ficult situation"
Mr.. Cation Is convinced that because
of its indefniteness regarding the
domicile requirements the present law
oAn II nnSeth1o fnr a..
sumably unscrupulous persons to OBJ
tain divorce DEGREES upon what might
be considered as rather hfmsy evil
dence 1nd without having legally es-
tablished genuine residence hereA At
present the law specifies that one
years residence within the state is
sufficient, and that the expressed in
tention of an individual to make his
or her home within the state constf-
tutes a domicile. The highest court
in the state has upheld this.
should Withhold Opinion. -
The divorce situation in Alexandria
was touched. upon by Rev. William J..
Norton, pastor Of Christ Church,
his sermon here yesterday. After call
ing attention to what is considered
an evil In connection with the divorce
practice, he explained that while not
wishing to offer any defense he did
think 1t best for the community to
withhold its condemnation and judg-
ment until the committee appointed
by the bar association. to investigate
the conditions, has reached some con-
clusion. It will be time then, he said,
for public opinion to assert itself.
Public opinion 10 a fine and power
full thing" Rev. Morton told his
congregation. "but It should be used
carefully and tnteiligently. The
public must first get the real facts
and carefully weight them before
forming positive opinion and before
acting upon them. for one am
perfectly willing to leave the matter
q the correction of this evil IN the
hands OF the Investigating. committee.
I am not fsmiliar with specifc de-
tails and. frankly speaking."I am
willing to leave the muck raldng to
those In our community who would
care to participate in It In advances
OF the committee.S findings"
Mrs Mary Lee Baggett, who con-
ducts rooming. house at t11sh South
Royal street. ana whose name has
appeared on 144 afldayit1 regarding
the residence requirement of divorce
applicapt9s during the past eighteen
months, 10 to appear IN The local
poliea court tomorrow morntnx te
!1ItS " hRExes .0f snaak King alleged