Felix Frankfurter

“ In 1940, 34 divorces were granted in the Islands (1.4 per 1,000 population) . In 1951 the figure had reached 312 (12.5 per 1,000) . This, per capita, represented the second highest figure for any State or Territory of the United States. Moreever, the Virgin Islands far exceeded its leader, Nevada, in ratio of divorces to marriages. Nevada in 1951 had 55.7 divorces per 1,000 population but at the same time had 289.5 marriage licenses per 1,000. Thus while Nevada granted 5 marriage licenses for every divorce, the Virgin Islands was granting 4 divorces for every 3 marriages. ”

“ The levying of local taxes and the expenditure of local revenue are authorized. It has not been deemed wise to give the local government power to incur bonded indebtedness so long as local revenue is insufficient to pay the entire cost of local government. ”

“ People of Porto Rico, 258 U.S. 298, 42 S.Ct. 343, 66 L.Ed. 627.↑ Both were distinguished from States. 'A state, except as the federal Constition otherwise requires, is supreme and independent. * * * A dependency (here the Philippines) has no government but that of the United States, except in so far as the United States may permit. * * * (O) ver such a dependency the nation possesses the sovereign powers of the general government plus the powers of a local or a state government in all cases where legislation is possible.' Cincinnati Soap Co. ”

“ People v. Daniels, 6 Utah 288, 293, 22 P. 159, 160, 5 L.R.A. 444 '* * * as to the extent to which the legislature may act on a rightful subject, when the limit is not expressly fixed, the court must ascertain the limit and determine whether the law is within it. To illustrate: * * * Divorce is also a rightful subject of legislation, but a law giving any married person who might apply to the court a right to a divorce without cause would be invalid.'↑ Three members of the Legislative Assembly addressed themselves to the reasons for changing the result of the Court of Appeals in Burch v. ”

“ District Judge Moore, who decided both Alton v. Alton, supra, and this case, wrote the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs: '* * * the present court is not unsympathetic to the fact that the failure to grant these divorces has affected the economic status of both lawyers and guest house keepers * * *' Virgin Islands Report, Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, 83d Cong., 2d Sess. ”