The Washington times. (Washington, D.C.) 1894-1895, 1895-04-11
YOUNG BUT QUITE ACTIVE
First anniversary of The District
Federation of W0men's Clubs.
MRS. MUSSEY'S ABLE ADDRESS
( he sDiseonrsed On the, Legal Status Of
Woman in: the District Of Columbia, and
Demanded Equal Property Rights for
Man and Wife-Ex- of Ed
ucation Eaton Speaks to Encourage.


The District Federation of women's
Clubs signalized its entrance upon second
year OF progress before a large asSemblage
and with interesting exercises last night at
the Church of Our Father.
The newly-elected officers, which are
given elsewhere, occupied the stage The
mHsic. was under the direction of Mrs.
Susanne oldberg, the contributors to that
part of the entertainment being the I'M
periaI Mandolin Club, Miss wnlenbucher,
Mrs. Ralph Barnard and Miss Emma Brock.
briefopenlng address was made by Mrs.
Marble, presideIt-elect, after which brief
sketches of the object and work of the
affiliated clubs were read. as follows:
''Womah's National Press Association"
Mrs. II. B. Sperry; "Pro Re Nata," Mrs.
Lucia f. Bount; Legion ofLoyal Women"
Mrs. NJ. H Weisner; District Womans Suf-
frage Association, Mrs. Ellen Powell
Thompson; Department of Woman's Re
lief Corps, delegate Mrs Mary McMonI-
gal; District Woman's Christian Temper
ancc Union,' Mrs. Mary E. Griffith; lex
celsior Literary Club" Mrs. N. H Stearns;
Loyal Women of American Liberty" Mrs
Sarah ID. La Fetra; Washington Kinder
garten Association" delegate, Miss Amy
May.
MRS-MUSsEY's ADDRESS.
The address OF Mrs. Mussey on What
shall be the legal status OF women in the
District OF Columbia" was received with
frequent expressions of approval and sp-
plause. The first half OF the paper re-
viewed the laws of the District and de-
scribed the position OF woman under them
as laws by which she is practically left
in the condition OF woman in the feudal
age.
Airs. Mussey's conclusions and ideas of
the proprieties IN this relation are summed
up 10y her as follows:
1.-The District Federation of Women's
Clubs represents 2 800 women, and we are
pledged 10 use our united and undivided
efforts TO procure the legislation which
will give women the same property rights
as men, and we want ii quite as much for
the benefit of the men and the business
community as for ourselves.
"Our platform is this: All the property
which a woman may have at the time OF
her marriage or that shall come TO her
during her marriage. except from her hus
hand, should be Rer sole and separate es-
husband or subject 10 his debts.
"a marT7ed woman should be able to
sell aud convey her property and enter
into any contract in relation TO il in the
same manner and TO the same effect as a
married man may in relation TO his prop
erty.
SUE AND BE SUED.
"a woman while married should sue and
be sued in the same manner as if she were
unmarried.
"a married woman should be able to
carry on any trade or business and perform
any labor or service on her sole and separate
account, and the earnings OF a married
woman OF the income from her business or
estate should be her sole and separate
estate and be used by her and invested
10 her own name.
1.-The homestead should belong TO the
widow and children Jointly
Zone half OF the property OF the husband
should go 10 the wife at his decease
and the same proportion to the husband
at her decease, and neither should have
the power TO devise away more than one
half OF their property without the writ
ten consent OF the other.
THAT estates Of dover and by courtesy
be abolished.
THAT any married woman may sue in
her own name for any injury to her person
herself and husband.
DEALINGS WITH THE HUSBAND.
@In dealing with her husband in relation
TO her separate property she should have
all the powers OF a feme sole, aud take title
directly from him the same as if the
relation Of husband and wife did not exist.
''She should be able to loan him money
OF her separate estate and take transfers
of property in payment, and buy Of him
in good faith and lie of her.
"a married woman should he able to
insure for her own benefit the life of her
husband, son, or other person. and every
policy of insurance expressed TO be for
the benefit Of or made payable to any
married woman should inuIe to her own
separate use ana benefit, free from the
claims of her husband, his representa-
| tives and creditors.
Hence forth the rights and response
bilities OF the parents in the absence OF
/ miscondu ct should be equal, and the mother
| be as fully entitled to the custody con-
| troll. and earnings of the children as the
| father, and in case or the fathers death
the mother should have az full and COM
plete control OF the children and their
estate as the father does in case OF the
| mothers death.
"Such radical change in the laws of
the District may seem rather alarming to
/ the co nservative element, and perhaps
even dangerous, but not a provision has
been suggested that has not been tried
with marked success in the prog ressive
| Western States. And let me say right
| here that it is a remarkable fact that
when women are in the minority there is
the least trouble in getting liberal Iegis-
! iation in her behalf
1T WORKS WELL IN KANSAS.
Justice Brewer, of the Supreme Court OF
! the United States, has recently borne public
testimony to the satisfactory workings OF
! tlecOde in Kansas from which hayedra wn
/ largely in suggesting new legislation foI
women. And in a recent private interview
he expressed himself more at length to the
same puTport
Inc changes suggested would, ii Is
believed, give married women the same
property rights and responsibilities as mar
r1ed men, and such a change would not only
| give new impetus to business by unlocking
capital, but also educate our women to an
appreciation Of their responsibilities as an
/ important part OF the business community.
| Business education aud experience is a
| valuable legacy TO any woman anc
a safer dependence for the future than an
| inherited fortune. Wealth may take to
itself wings and fly away, but the knowledge
born OF experience cannot be taken, it is in
destructible