Speech #520007918

From the report of the Commissioner of Labor I quote the substance of these petitions: That the wide differences between the laws of the several States as to the cause of divorce. and the Jurisdiction of their courts over sits for divorce by or against nonresidents. constitute an acknowledged element of confusion and uncertainty In American Jurisprudence. That these differences have led to many and distressing conpicts of judicial decisions n cases turning upon the degre of falth anp credit to be given to decrees of divorce under the onstitution and laws of the United States or the comity of nations. so that a marriage is often treated. at the same time. n one State as dissolved. and In another State or country as subsisting. an aa man may be convicted of bigamy or adultery in one jurisdiction upon what would be a lawful marriage in .another. That the everroing number of foreign immigrants who become American citizens. and thus subject marriages contracted abroad to the Jurisdiction of our courts of divorce. or by a temporary return to their original domicile. may submit American advorces to the test of examination by foreign tribunals. make these matters a not infrequent cause of collision in the administration of private international law. that the magnitude of these evils. their bearlng upon our general social conditions. and the best methods of guarding against their Increase. can be fullyUapprehended only by a careful collection of the facts and statistics of divorce. and that no attempt to obtain such statistics can hope for any considerable success. unless it is made by the authority of the United States. Your memorialists therefore pray that such a law may be passed as will provide for a thorough inquiry into the various matters above referred to. and the collection of statistics of divorce from the records and authorities of the several States as a basis for future legislation. It is gratifying.