The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-06-08
BLEE BOOKS.
Afternoon.
The house re-assembled at 1 :O5.

| ORDER OF THE DAY.
Property of Married WOmen.-The house
went into committee of the whole on the
second reading of the Act relating to the
property of married women, Noble Smith
in the chair.
Minister ThurstOn, introducer of the
bill, made brief statement of the nature
| and object of the measure. It's provisions
are in line with the progressive legislation
of Great Britain and her colonies and States
of the American Union, some of the sec
tons being identical with those in force in
Massachusetts and Canada.
The first section passed as in the bill
The second section reads: A married
woman may make contracts oral and writ
ten, sealed and unsealed, in the same man
ner if she were sole, except that she shall
not be authorized hereby to make contracts
with her husband"
This section elected considerable discus
sion.
Rep. Kalaukoa said the act would have
bad effect, especially in Hawaiian families.
Noble Hitchcock said the act seemed to
be loosely WOrded He was in favor of
giving married women all the rights to
which they are entitled, but it seemed to
him that the meaning of this act was to
make the woman head of the household.
He moved that section 2 be referred to a
Minister ThurstOn said the hon. Mobiles
arguments were inconsistent with the pro-
visions of his own bill to repeal chapter
LXl. OF the Penal Code e. to prevent mar
ried persons from DESERVING each other. }
This section is part of the law of Massa-
chusetts.
Rep. KamauOha moved an amendment
that married woman would not be au-
thOrlzed to make contracts without her
husbands consent.
NnnnO Oh
law but he was married, and he thought he
could see in this proposed law a possible
source of much difficulty
Rep. G. Brown said he was in a peculiar
position. When this bill was before the
house IN 1886 he was one of a committee
that reported favOrably on it, but now he
was opposed to it.
Noble Widemann thought the effect of
this section would be to provoke disSen-
siOns in families. He favored it's reference
to special committee.
The motion to refer the section was put
and carried.
Rep. kalaukOa spoke at length against
Section 4, which provides that "a married
woman may be an eXecutriX, adminiStra-
trix, guardian or trustee, and may bind
herself and the estate she represents with
out any act or assent on the part of her
husband" 1t would be manifestly wrong
II his wife were appointed to administer on
an estate, make mess of the business and
that he should be held responsible for the
consequences and his property taken from
him.
Rep. Kauhane did not see where the
evils dreaded by the member for Honolulu
were to be found in this bill. He did not
see why women should not occupy their
places IN this country as well as elsewhere.
He had heard of women abroad becoming
lawyers, and why should not Hawaiian
girls become lawyers2
The section, as also Sections g 5 6 II
IL and IL, passed as in the bill
Section was amended. While it was
under consideration, Rep. KalaukOa caused
some merrlment by proposing to add a
section providing that all costs of court
and other expense and loss which would
result from this Act be made lien on the
property of the intrOducer.
sections and 10 were disposed of in the
same manner as Section g.
The committee rose, the House resumed. |
ana the committee reported.
Noble Smith moved that the report of
the Committee of the Whole be amended |
ana that the whole bill be referred to a |
select committee. The bill gives the wife
power to convey her property without con- |
sent OF the husband, but husband is not |
allowed by law to dispose of his property
without the wifes consent
Inc Dill was referred to a select commit |
tee, appointed by the President, to con
SlSt OF Mobiles Hitchcock and Widemann, |
Minister Thurston and Reps. KaIankoa |
and KamauOha. |
Office of GOvernOr-Second reading of |
the bill to abolish the office of Governor,
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Second reading of the bill relating to the |
military forces of the Kingdom Referred |
to the Committee on Military Affairs.
NEW BILL.
Noble Castle read first time, by title,
an Act to provide for the construction and |
operation of a steam railroad on the island |
of Oahu,
At $40, the House adjourned to 10
O'clock Friday morning