Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-03
DISTRICT IN CON NGRESS,
Attorney Thomas Married Women's Prop
erty Bill Introduced Into the Senate
A. New Law Suggested Instead Of
Matters of Interest.

Senator Harris today introduced into the
Senate a bill to regulate the ownership of
property by married women in the District
Of Columbia, which was referred to the COM
mittee on the District. This bill was pre-
pared by the attorney for the District, Mr..
Thomas and in the letter transmitting it
the Commissioners say that 1t is presented
as substitute for House bill 1878, which
was submitted to them. 1t would require
30 much modification, they write, that they
prefer to submit a substitute.
Attorney Thomas, in a letter to the Com
missioners, which is submitted with the
draft of the bill, says: 1T seems to me that
II any change Is to be made in the law of
this District affecting the rights Of married
wonderland / concede that some changes
should be made-it should be by the substi-
tuition Of a new and better law, rather than
an attempt to patch up a very unsatisfac-
tory one. The substitute l have prepared is
one that think will meet the appreciation
generally Of the bench and bar of the Dis
trtct, and therefore. one which i think you
may safely recommend to Congress for en-
actment."
Provisions of the Bill.
Among the provisions Of the bill, which
contains number Of sections and nlinute.y
prescribes the exact relations between man
owning. Is the general provision to enable a
married woman to hold real estate in her
own name without its being liable for the
debts of the husband. unless the property
is transferred to her after marriage In
prejudice of his existing creditors. The Sec
ond section provides that property SO own
ed or acquired by married woman shall
be for her separate use with power to de-
wise as fully though she were femme
SOLE" 1t is further provided that a married
woman may be sued Jointly with her bus
band and may defenl the action either
jointly or separately. Il shall not De neces-
sary for her to have trustee to secure the
use OF her property. \ widow shall be en-
titled to dover in lanls held by equitable
title by the husband. Any married woman
who. by her skill, industry or personal la
Dor shall earn any money or property. shall
hold the same to her own use with power as
pose of it. No husband shall be liable for
any debt Of his wife contracted before mar
riage.
To Close Alleys.
Mr.. McCreary. by request has introduced
bill in the House providing that the alleys
In square b1 be closed and the land con-
tained therein revert to the owners Of the
abutting property.
The BriehtwOOd Railway Company.
In the House late yesterday afternoon
Mr.. McAleer. by request. introduced a bill
to amend the charter Of the Brightwood
Railway Company to authorize it to extend
its road from its present rights ON 7th street
along Florida avenue to the Intersection
with New Jersey avenue, thence along New
Jersey avenue to b street northwest, using
as the motive power the Love electric con-
duit system. The bill provides that when
ever the route Of the proposed extension
comedies with tracks occupied with other
street railway companies both companies
shall use the same track from terms to be
agreed upon. The bill authorizes the COM
pany to issue bonds to carry out the i'm
provement, the amount of the bonds not to
exceed the actual cost of the improvement.
The Government Printing once.
The question Of the inadeQuacy Of the
present accommodations at the government
printing office came up in the Senate this
morning. Senator Gallinger introduced a
joint resolution. which was referred to the
committee on printing, making Immediately
available the sum Of s250.OOO appropriated
In 1880 and suspended in 1891 for the purpose
Of purchasing ground in square 624. adjoin-
ing the present building, and for the erec-
tion there of suitable storage and ware
house buildings.
Senator Mcmillan presented a memorial
from the Central Labor Union of Saginaw,
Mich, praying that the proposed new gov
ernment printing Office be built by day
labor rather than by contract. This was
referred to the committee on public build
ings and grounds