Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-16
CARPENTER PLANS
TO. PUSH DISTRICT
DIVORCE MEASURE
Would Put Senate-Approved
Bill on Calendar to Get
Action Soon.
WILL URGE SPECIAL
COMMITTEE MEETING
Report Deemed Necessary Before
June 26, When Crime Report
Debate Is Renewed.
BY JAMES f. CHINN.


Fearing any further delay in pass
ing on the Senate-approved bill to
liberaliZe the Districts divorce laws
might jeopardize its passage in the
House at the current session OF
Congress, Representative Carpenter,
Democrat, of Kansas, announced last
night he would make determined
effort to get the measure on the calen-
dar before the next District day, June
"a
Carpenter, member of the Dis
triet Committee. is author of a lib
eralized divorce bill similar to that
passed by the Senate several months
ago. His measure, as we'll as the Sem
ate approved bill, is tied up in the
judiciary subcommittee Of the House
District Committee, headed by Rep
resentative Palmisano, Democrat, OF
Maryland.
The subcommittee has held hear
ings on both bills, but Chairman
Palmisano has delayed a favorable
report to the full committee because
of his objection to certain features.
Carpenter plans to press him to file
a report early this week, and If he
agrees. he will urge Chairman Nor
ton of the District Committee to call
a special meeting so the bill can be
placed on the calendar in time for
House consideration June "a.
Crime Report Action.
The full District Committee has
agreed to stand in recess until June
rs. at which time it will renew de-
bate on q motion of Representative
Nichols, Democrat. of Oklahoma, for
reconsideration of its action approving
the crime report recommending the
removal of United States Attorney
Leslie c. Garnett. 1t is unlikely that
any pending District legislation will
be considered at that meeting, and
Carpenter feels that unless the COM
mittee meets in the meantime and
reports out the divorce bill the House
will not have an opportunity to pass
on it at the current session of Con-
gress.
One of Palmisano's chief objec-
tions to the bill is that it will make
cruelty grounds for an absolute dl-
vorce. He is willing to make cruelty
grounds for a limited divorce but
fears that absolute divorces granted
for this cause might make Washing
ton a divorce MILL" and another
Reno
Carpenter, however, insists an abso-
Lutte divorce should be granted on
grounds of cruelty. He said cruelty is
one of the principal causes of marital
difficulties. and there should be no
reason for denying an absolute di-
vorce to a couple who cannot live to-
gether without fighting"
Suggestion Considered.
Aside from Palmisano's personal OBJ
lection to several features of the bill,
he has been urged to have 1t amended
so that "temperamental Incompatible
ity" would be grounds for an absolute
divorce. He Is not inclined to approve
that suggestion for the same reason
that he opposes an absolute divorce
on the ground of cruelty-that 1t
would make the Nations Capital a
mecca for prospective divorces.
New Mexico. Palmisano has been
told is the only State that grants a
divorce on the ground of "tempera-
mental incompatibility." Divorces also
are granted for that reason in Mexico.
Adultery is the only ground on
which an absolute divorce is now
granted in the District The two bills
pending VI Pa'misanos subcommittee
would provide these additional
grounds:
/. Cruelty.
2. Desertion for two years.
3. Separation for five consecutive
years without cohabitation.
4. Habitual drunkenness for one
year.
5. Conviction of felony involving
moral turpitude and sentence to a
penal institution.
s. Incurable insanity for period
of five years.
The grounds of separation for five
consecutive years and incurable IN
sanity are in the Senate approved bill,
and Carpenter said he had no objec-
ton to their inclusion in his bill. He
believes, however. PalmiSano's sub
committee will report out the Senate
bill. possibly with several amendments
Special Meeting Plan.
Carpenter said he intended to i'm
press on Chairman Norton the i'm
portance of special meeting of the
full District Committee to pass on the
divorce bill as well several other
important bills now pending before
the committee. so these measures can
be placed on the calendar in time for
consideration the next District day,
which may be the last one at the pres
ent session.
Palmisano's subcommittee also has
before it Senate-approved bill de-
signed to tighten the Districts gam
bling laws by making possession of
gaming devices prina facle evidence
OF guilt. Hearings have not been held
on this measure, however, and indica-
tions are that Palmisano will not call
any in an effort to prevent House ap-
proval before adjournment.