|
MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS
Marriage licenses are
required in all states and territories except Alaska. California and New
Mexico require man and woman both to appear and be examined under oath.
These licenses are freely granted, without the difficulty of many
formalities as required in many countries of Europe. Marriages in all
states may be celebrated either religiously, by any minister of religion,
or civilly, by the state officer who is empowered by law to perform
marriage. And it is the duty of the minister or state officer to register
the marriage with the proper authorities. But in many of the states,
marriages between whites and negroes, or those of negro descent, or
between whites and Indians, or whites and Chinese, are forbidden and
punishable. In other states marriage is forbidden between first cousins,
step relatives, or persons who are seriously defective or seriously
diseased, either mentally or physically.
The marriage of a Jew contracted in America is
recognized as valid everywhere in Europe, if it has been celebrated
according to the formalities prescribed by American law. A marriage
celebrated in any state of the United States by any Rabbi, or other
minister of religion, is valid everywhere without the civil marriage that
some European countries require when celebrated at home between their own
subjects. But all immigrants are strongly advised, in their own interests,
to guarantee their own civil rights and the rights of their heirs, to see
that their certificate of marriage is carefully and exactly filled out in
all its details. It is very important to preserve this with great care, no
matter whether they intend to remain in the United States, or return to
Europe.
BIRTHS-- It is the duty of every doctor or midwife who
has assisted at the birth of a child, or if neither doctor nor midwife
should have been present, of the parent or guardian, to file a notice of
the birth within thirty days in the local office of the Board of Health,
giving the name of the child, the date, and the names of the parents. The
state does not use these records for enforcing military service, or for
other forms of oppression. There is no conscription in the United States.
DEATHS-- A corpse may not be taken from one city to
another, or buried, without permission of the Board of Health. This may
only be had upon the certificate of the doctor who had care of the
deceased, or of other responsible person attesting the name of the
deceased, the time and circumstances of his death.
The violation of this law is punished by imprisonment.
|