Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-23
vorERs AT scHosL ELECTIONS.
A correspondent submits the follow
ing:
Enron PosT. NTFIIIaFNcFR

A correspondent submits the follow
ing:
EDITOR PosT ISrELLIaEscKR
DEAR SIN: Will you be kind enough
90 inform your readers whether married
ladies who own no property IN their own
name, but whose husbands pay taxes.
are school electors in the legal senss of
the word or not!
We think they are not entitled to vote
at school elections. The Law Of this
Territory prescribing qualifications Of
voters as adopted in 1881, (cnde of
Washington, p. $50, SEQ. $500 provides
that
"AIl American male citizens above
the age of q years. and all American
male half breeds over that age, who
have adopted the habits Of the whites,
and all other male inhabitants of this
Territory above that age, who shall have
declared on oath their intentions 10 be-
come citizens at least six months pre-
vious to the day of election, and shall
have taken an oath to support the Con
ssitution of the United States and the
organic act of this Territory, at least
six months previous TO the day of cleo
ton. and who shall have resided six
months in the Territory, and thirty days
in the county next preceding the day of
election, and none other shall be en-
titled 90 bold Office or vote a. suv cleo
ton in this Territory"
simultaneously with this enactment.
provisions governing school elections
were passed. The qualifications for
electors in such elections are IA follows.
Code y. b54. SEQ. 3lssl;
Every inhabitant, male or female,
over the ace of n years, who shall have
resided in the school district for three
months immediately preceding any dis
triet meeting, and who shall have paid,
or be liable TO pay any tax. except poll
or road tax, In said district. shall be a
legal voter 40 any school meeting, and
no other person shall be allowed 60
vote"
II will be noted that this both extends
and limits the franchise with respect to
school elections, requiring in all cases
property qualification and extending
suffrage 10 women, subject TO said quail
ifcation. The Legislature of 1873
amended the section first quoted by
striking cut the word male" where ID
occurs therein. laws 1888. p. ~, see. !. J
This act was approved November I'D.
1883, and but fer subsequent legislation
might perhaps have been construed b.
operate as repeal of both proceeding
sections. thus making eyeiy elector
coming under It's provisions ccmpeteut
10 vote at all elections. But on Novem
Der 18th, 1883, the school iAw was
amended and the provisions If section
3lss of the code re-enscsed. LaSs ISIS.
%. IL, sec. So As this is the latest leg
islation upon the subject il operates TO
both limit and extend the franchise in
school elections, as in the latter OF the
two original enactmeHts-
A person ''liable TO pay" taxes is one
who holds property in his or her name.
aud whose name appears. or is liable 10
a,pear. upon the assessors list Of per
ANS owning assessable property. A
m.rried woman. nos having separate
property. and whose name does no' APP
near ON the assessors list, Is not, &c
think. in Law ''liable TO pay any tax
even though she, with her husband s'ay
have community property. for wnion
t.a husband is assessed and upoa which
he PAYS taxes. This has, we believe
been the rule heretofore. Hs,. u mas
not been chsneed by tie legislation
herein referred TO.