Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-24
DIVORCE, PENSION
BILLS APPROVED
Senate District Committee
Also O. KS Hearings on
Three Measures.

Bills to broaden the District divorce
law and to provide pensions for the
needy blind were the most important
of eight measures approved by the
Senate District Committee late yes
terday.
The committee also authorized
Chairman King to appoint subcom-
mittees to hold hearings later on the
municipal airport, the public utility
appeal measure and a new compromise
Smoke-control plan submitted yester-
day by Peoples Counsel William A.
Roberts.
Divorce Bill Changed.
Three changes were made by the
committee in the divorce bill, two
making it more liberal than the orig
inal measure and the other of re-
strictve nature. At present an abso-
lutte divorce can be obtained in WASH
ington only on the ground of adultery.
The pending bill, as introduced, would
have permitted absolute or limited
divorces for adultery, cruelty, deser-
ton for two years, habitual drunken
ness for one year or the serving of a
jail sentence for an offense involving
moral turpitude.
At the insistence of Chairman King
the bill was restricted to require that
persons would have to remain bona
fide residents of Washington for one
year before any divorce could be
sought for causes occurring after ar
rival in the District. A longer resi-
dence requirement would prevail If
the cause occurred before arrival in
the District.
The two other amendments were
proposed by Senator Carey, Repub-
lican, of Wyoming. One would allow
divorce after separation for five con-
Secutive years, or insanity that has
continued for five years.
George c. Gertman of the District
Bar Association, Mrs. Martha Gold of
the Woman's Bar Association, and
Jean Boardman. also member of the
bar, explained the bill.
Blind Bill Passed House.
The pension bill for the blind al
ready has passed the House. Chair
man King suggested holding it in COM
mittee until the national social Sc
curity program is agreed on in final
form between House and Senate, so
the local program could be made to
conform. Senator McCarran, Demo-
crat, Of Nevada. pointed out the blind
measure could be reported to the Sen
ate and amended on the floor after
the final terms of the national bill
are known.
The Senate Finance Committee re-
Gently added to the national social
security bill a section providing for
Federal grants to the States and the
District to supplement local payments
to the blind. AS in the case Of old-age
grants, the Federal Government would
match local blind pensions on a $3.50
basis, up to SIS. In other words, the
Federal Government would pay SIS
toward total pension of $50.
The six other bills reported favor
ably by the Senate group are:
To call one of the roadways being
built through the Mall, from Third to
Fourteenth streets, Maine avenue.
The present Maine avenue is being
eliminated in the improvement pro-
gram and the name would be applied
to the southerly driveway through the
Mall.
To authorize the Commissioners to
select a street to be named Missouri
avenue, since the present avenue Of
that name is also being eliminated In
the improvement program.
To renew the articles Of in4eepoea-