Amendment of American Marriage Law.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1449, 8 September 1885, Page 2

Amendment of American Marriage Law.

The new mauiage license which will soon go into efte&mf Pennsylvania is (observes the "New York Tribune"]* step m the right direction. It says that no person shall be joined m mariage without a license, ajud declares that if a marriage ceremony i» performed where no license has been issued, the minister justice, or other person who performs | tho ceremony shall pay a, penalty of 1 100 dols. The pu» pose of the }awp is to punish persons who perform the) marriage ceremony where the neoessaiy requirements have not been complied with. A somewhat smilar bill was before the New York Legi*. lature, bnt failed to pass. The law makes no charge m the rulings o f the Courts as to the validity of "informal marriages. Unlicensed marriages are not declared void, but any ceTemony where a man recognises a woman ms his wife will lie as binding m Pennsylvania m the future as m the past. If ihat were not so illinformed women would constantly be at the mercy of adventurers, who. thorugh the connivance of a thir<* person could quiet theirs cuples by a pertended marriage cermony and a bogus license. If such marriages were void, theman could discard the woman whatever be sanr fit. Happily suck is not to be the effect of the law. But its purpose to punish such a person who may perform such a ceremony where a proper license has not been obtaiuuJ is a good one.