The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-05-17
Governor SiIzer Leads Fight for
Repeal of Extreme Cruelty"
Act Recently Enacted.
APPEAL MADE FOR HOME
Executive Quotes Figures Showing
Destructive Effect on chiIdren.--Ex-
peot influx Of People Wishing to
Take Advantage Of Statute.


it has been on the statute books for
about six weeks. Governor Silzer is
leading the campaign against the law,
and at every opportunity he is ar
raigning 1t as pernicious legislation.
Even Joseph A. Corio, Atlantic City,
the majority leader in the Assembly at
the last session, who took an active
part in the passage of the measure in
the first instance and finally over the
governors veto, is quoted as saying
that he regretted having argued for
the merits of the BILL
Originally it was introduced by Sen
ator Blackwell of Mercer county. 1t
consisted of 40 words and provided
that divorce from the bonds Of matri-
mony may be decreed for extreme cru
city in either of the parties, whether
the acts of cruelty were committed
prior to or after the passage of the act.
Later an amendment was attached to
the bill which provided tht no petition
for divorce could be filed until after
six months from the date of the last
act of cruelty complained of.
Vetoed by Governor
After having passed both branches
of the Legislature, but not until after
considerable debate, the measure was
turned over to the governor on March
16, but he returned it to the Senate a
few days later disapproved. Among
other things the governor in his veto
message said:
ut has never been the policy Of the
state of New Jersey to extend unnec-
essarily the grounds for the granting
of an absolute divorce. It has always
been our thought and purpose to keep
the family together whenever it is
possible to do SO.
"At the present time. in cases of ex-
IRENE cruelty, the parties may be sep
arated, and there is always an oppo-
tunity and possibility of reconcilia-
ton.
IF there is no reconciliation or
there are repeated acts of extreme
cruelty then our courts will eventually
grant an absolute divorce on the
ground of desertion; because the in
jured party is justified in leaving the
other party in such cases.
Viewing the matter, then, from the
standpoint of the injured party as well
as the good of the state, / believe it in
the interest of both not to disturb the
present law"
Both branches of the Legislature
passed the measure over the COVER
nor's veto on March %, the last day of
the session.
Appearing before a number of wo-
mems organizations in the last few
weeks, Governor Silzer has attacked
the law and on each occasion urged
the women to work for its repeal at
The next session.
Fears Another Reno
At the convention of the New Jer-
sey Federation of Women's Clubs in
Atlantic City he fayed the law, de
claring that he did not want to see
New Jersey a. second Reno.
But" he added, with this six
months divorce law won't hundreds
of people come to our state to take
advantage of its provisions? | want
to see a uniform divorce law in New
Jersey but not one that is uniform
with Nevada"
Talking before woman's organiza-
tion in the northern part of the state
recently, which happened to be the
wedding, anniversary of the Silzers,
the governor asserted that the divorce
law did not express the sentiment of
the women of New Jersey. He contin-
ued:
81 am sure they will not agree that
it should be made easier to pull the
families apart We should provide
opportunities for reconciliation, espe-
cially where children are involved,
and encourage man and wife to talk
their differences over and get together
again. do not think it should be the
established policy of the state to make
divorces easier to obtain"
In discussing the law which would
permit a divorce for extreme cruelty
the governor said he he has pledged
his aid to keep families from being
separated through the medium of easy
divorce laws mo law should be
passed which does not" said the gov
ernor, express the sentiments of the
people of the state, and I am sure
there is no sentiment in New Jersey
for this sort of legislation"
Sixty Days TO ADJUST Lamps
Automobile headlight devices, ap-
proved by the Conference of Motor
Vehicle Administrators, were an
nounced by Commissioners William L.
Dill.
In adopting an approved list of de-
vices, the Conference went on record
as requiring that the full name of
the device with all the type marks
be plainly visible, after the lens has
been installed, without any mechan-
zeal effort.
Commissioner Dill has given motor
lists so days grace for compliance with
the new rules. 1t is the departments
intention to walt until July before
enforcing the Conference rulings
Approval OF the devices was agreed