The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-07-29


When Parliament assembled Feb.
IS, the Women's Franchise Bill stood
on the order book. When the second
reading was moved, motions for ad-
JOurnment were made for the purpose
Of shelving the question, and twice
defeated by increasing maiOritios, and
the Bill was read q second time with
out division. Then the forms Ofthe
House were used by the opposition, 10
prevent its further progress. The
springiBg Of the Irish question,
aud the abrupt conclusion Of the ser
sion in consequence, prevented any
advancement Of the bill, which must
now await until the assembling Of the
new Parliament. The Bill, which
has been Withdrawn, will be ~ intro
duced early in the session which Is
expected 10 begin in August OF Sep
TENDER, aud preparations are being
made 30 push the work with renewed
energy.
Though the Franchise Bill was
thus defeated, English women have
great occasion for thankfulness for the
work Of the same session IN the inn
proving Of certain important laws re-
iating e. women. The greatest step
towards justice b women was the
passing Of the Infants BIZ. This
measure il an excellent one, 50 far ~
&c goes, but it is not what Il would un
siOubtedly have been II women had
been members OF Parliament. It does
not give all that natural right and
Justice demand. II does not give the
mother equal legal fght lgith he IA
fhcr 20 the joint control and custody Of
her children. Heretofore the father
has pOssessed sole legal control and
ownership Of the children In life and
death. When ne died his control
and custody OF the children passed
into the hands Of a guardian, and
neither as wife or widow had the
mother any legal right 70 her chill
dren. The law Is now amended 50
that on the death Of the father the
mother shall be the guardian, eithei
alone, when the father has appointed
no guardian, or jointly with any
guardian the father may have ap-
pointed. But anomalies are difficult
10 keep out Of laws relating TO women,
aud here Is the usual cropping Out OF
the injustice thought good enough for
women. When tue mother dies SHE
may only PROFESSIONALLY appoint n
guardian 10 act jointly with the
father, and not until the court has
acted upon Il and found the father
unfit TO act as guardian for the child,
81 her appointment confirmed. Moth
ing shows the depreciation from
which women have come up, as does
the Common Law.
The Maintenance Of Wives Bill
amends q shameful law, and eOmpels
the deserving husband 10 support the
family be leaves. The deserted wife
may summon her husband before the
magistrates, who, If they are salts
fled that he is able, may order that he
shall pay the wife such weekly SUM
rs they may consider right, not eX-
ceeding two pounds. the repeal Of
the infamous Contagious Diseases Act
made an honorable record for this
session Of Parliament. Surely
though the workers In England and
America for legal reform relating To
women, have not accomplished all
they have undertaken. they yet have
glorious reason 10 take fresh heart and
hope from the successes Of the past
year. The world moves, and wOman's
opportunities broaden. Restrictions
are broken through, barriers are
thrown down aud hOaTy prejudice Is
at the last gasp.