The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-06-12
BLgE BOOKS.
Afternoon.
The house re-assembled at l :05.
ORDER OF THE DAY.

The house re-assembled at ! 05.
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, introdueer of the
bill, made brief statement of the nature
and object of the measure. Its 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 i'll
Massachusetts, and Canada.
The first section passed as in the bill.
The second section reads: married
woman may make contracts oral and writ
ten, sealed and unsealed, in the same man
ner as 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 a
bad effect, especially in Hawaiian families.
Noble Hitchcock said the act seemed to
be loosely worded. He was in favor OF
which they are entitled, but it seemed to
him that the meaning of this act was to
make the woman head of the household.
II moved that section be referred to a
special committee of married men.
Minister Thurston said the hon. Mobiles
arguments were inconsistent with the pro-
visions of MS own bill to repeal chapter
LXI 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 a married woman would not be au-
thOrized to make contracts without her
husbands consent.
Noble Young did not know much about
law but he was married and he thought he
could see in this proposed law possible
source OF much difficulty.
Rep. c. 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 1t.
Noble Widemann thought the effect of
this section would be TO provoke diSSen-
sions in families. He favored its reference
to a 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 executriN, administers
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" IL would be manifestly wrong
| if his wife were appointed to administer on
| an estate, make mess of the business, and
that he should be held responsible for the
conseQ ueGces 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 3, 5, 6, s, II
| 10 and b. passed as in the bill.
Section was amended. While it was
under consideration, Rep. Kalaukoa caused
| some merriment by proposing to add q
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 2.
The committee rose, the House resumed
! and the committee reported.
| NODle Cillln BlONSu. that lllG ItpOll "
the Committee OF The Whole be amended
and that the whole bill be referred TO {
select committee. The bill gives the wife
power to convey her property without con
sent of the husband, but husband Is no
allowed by law to dispose of his propert!
without the wife's consent.
The bill was referred to a select commit
tee, appointed by the President, to con
sist of Mobiles Hitchcock and Widemann
Minister Thurston and Reps. Kalauko;
and KamauOha.
Office of Governor-Second reading o
the bill to abolish the Office of Governor
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Second reading Of the bill relating to tn
military forces of the Kingdom. Referred
to the Committee on Military Affairs.
NEW BILL.
Noble Castle read g first time, by title
an Act to provide for the construction an,
operation of steam railroad on the islam,
of Oahu,
At 3:l0, the House adjourned to /
| O'Clock Friday morning