Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-01-06

ment of the legal status of woman.
The movement originated In the
states vest of the Alleghanies. and,
although there have been number of
champions Of woman's lights, and
particularly Of female suffrage. IN the
Eastern states, their efforts appear.
so far, 60 have borne very little fruit.
From legal standpoint. the women
Of the Eastern and Southern states
bear pretty much the same relation
TO their lords and masters (the mem
as they did under the old common
law Of England.
The rights OF a married woman TO
property which is generally recog-
ni2ed as her separate estate, are pro-
tected to greater or less extent in
courts Of equity all over the country
But the main tendency Of recent
legislation made in her behalf in
number OF states. has been TO give
her rights before the law equal TO
those OF her husband in the matter OF
acquiring and holding property and
making contracts In relation to the
management and disposition of IL.
in short, the object sought is to
make the modern married woman. as
nearly as possible. femme sole IN
tho management Of her estate
In some few states the legislatures
have even gone further, and besides
comforting upon them the right of
suffrage have sought 70 make them
eligible Tor the Highest political
positions
There have been few isolated
cases OF women running for munich
pal offices. and o. them being elected.
but none 81 them have as yet secured
seats Ia the state legislature or been
allowed TO grace tho halls OF the ma
/ tional congress AS inll-aedged con-
I gressmen or senators
! III tic states or Wyoming and Kan
sas female suffrage Is firmly estab.
I lish0d. and women are eligible as
voters at all elections. but in the
balance Of the states where their
suffrage Is recognized at all Il IS
limited principally 20 school matters
and small municipal Offices
A. notaries public. clerks and as
sistant clerks IN political bodies and
assemblies they have obtained d
wider recognition. and the possibili-
ties IN this direction in the near fu-
ture ars beyond conjecture.
A brief glance AZ the prevailing
laws and recent changes made in a
number OF states, East aud West. re-
yeals some interesting facts.
IN New York for the past two years
women have voted for school com
missioners and boon allowed TO hold
the same office They may also hold
4 property ia their own name
In Connecticut no law has been
/ passed relative TO the rights Of
women over property since 1877 In
1877 a law was passed allowing them
TO serve on boards OF education,
school committees. etc.
In Maine women have no rights
worth mentioning.
In New Hampshire they may hold
I property and DO appointed notaries
/ public
4 In Massachusetts, a bill Is annually
introduced styled the municipal
suffrage act and is promptly killed.
1 No laws have been passed changing
4 their legal rights in any respect.
In West Virginia by recent act
OF the legislature. married woman
can deal with her property as II she
were femme sole. except that her
husband must join with her in q
deed conveying the title TO real es.
tate,
The only noted change in the Ohio
law is thata single woman who has
been appointed executrix or admin.
istratrix OF an estate may continue
TO act as such after her marriage.
In Michigan and in Florida there
have heon no changes, whilc in 1lli-
nois and Mississippi laws have been
passed Of late years which enable
women to act aud deal with their
property pretty much as men.
They have no suffrage In either
state. but may become notaries, hold
elerkships and tho like.
In Texas and in North Carolina
/ the homestead rights OF women are
protected. but their general proper
ty rights have not been materially
A number OF bills have been intro.
| changed.
dnced Ia the state legislature oi
Indiana TO enlarge the property
rights Of women, but they have
almost invariably been reported ad-
verscly By the committee and failed
to pass.
In Montana no laws have been
passed recently affecting the legal
status OF women. AZ present. how
ever, they hold all the positions as
county superintendents of the county
schools. and also majority of the
elerkships in the legislature.
In California women may hold
property separatelyi may be post
mattresses. school directors and
clerks OF the legislative committees
They have no suffrage. The same
state OF affairs prevails in Nebraska.
Nevada and Arizona Bills are con-
4