The morning times., 1896-01-17
CURFEW may RING HERE
Women's Clubs Draft a Bill to
Protect Young People.
MUST BE HOME AT TEN
They VIII Endeavor to Secure Its
Passage by Congress at This Ses-
siOn-Measure Also Drafted 10 Give
Women Property Rights In the Dis
trict of Columbia

One of the most Interesting features OF
the session or The Fl derauon Of women's
Clubs yesterday afternoon was the prop
ositiOn that the women unite in support
of curfew bill measure that is to be
urged in Congress.
Miss Bennett of the Excelsior Literary
Society announced that her organization
had decided To step outside its usual field
and prepare bill rurbidding all persons
under sixteen years OF age from being on
The streets OF The city after 10 O'Clock at
night.
The trainers OF the bill which will be
presented ia Congress soon, aim particu-
larly at the protection OF young girls, but,
as believers In the perfect equality of the
sexes, they will Insist upon having the
curfew Restrictions apply to both boys and
girls.
The ladies' consider the idea entirely
feasible. They point TO the apparent sac
cess of similar methods in several OF the
Northwestern States, where currew rings
at certain hour every evening To warn
young people OF the time to retur q to their
homes.
PLACE TO KEEP THEM.
They VIII urge that a special truant
home be provided, so that persons arrested
on the streets after the curfew hour need
not be taken to the police station.
This is probably the first serious endeavor
to secure such legislation Tor city as
large as Washington.
Tbepresidentso OF thevarious organizations
included in the Federation made reports
that Indicated a great deal both in amount
and in variety, of "woman'o work" done
during the last three months The presi-
dents, with the societies they represented,
were as follows:
Mrs. Hannah b. Sperry, Woman's Ma
tional P ress Association; Mrs. E. B.
Coues, Pro Re Nata Club. Mrs. Fannie
Pomeroy, Legion of Loyal Women; Mrs.
Ellen p. Thompson, District Woman's
Suffrage Association; Mrs. NJ. b. Platt
District " C. T. T.; Mrs A. n. Hamilton,
woman's Relief Corps; Mrs. Jeanette
Bradley Hubbard, Wimodaughsis.
Miss Bennett reported for the Excelsior
Literary Club, in the absence OF the club S
president, and the Loyal Women of Arneri-
can Liberty were reported disbanded.
VOICE FROM ARMENIA.
Miss Rebecca Kirkorian OF Aintab, Ar
menia, appeared in a picturesque Ar
meniau costume, to plead in behalf OF her
suffering people She read letter Just
received, giving a vivid picture or the
awful atrocities committed in her own
native city.
The theory that women have no capacity
for business affairs was disproyed by the
way those present disposed OF the many
matters that called for considerat ion.
Dr. Ella NJ. s. Marble, while gentle and
courteous as presiding officer, was as firm
as Spea ker Reed in her rulings
Chief interest was shown in the evening
session, when Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey,
the chairman of the Federation's committee
on laws, read bill which Senator Nc
MILAN, of Michigan, will introduce in the
Senate today. The provisions OF the bill
embody a radical revision OF the la VS. affect
ing the legal status OF married women
In the District.
woMENS PROPERTY RIGHTS.
The bill proposes to give them full right
to acquire and transfer property and enter
into business partnerships, 10 relieve hus-
bands from liability for ante-nuptial debts
OF their wives, and to repeal the law which
allows n father to dispose, by viii. OF the
custody of his child, even II unborn at
the time of his death, contrary TO the wishes
of the mother.
The bill will be accompa MED by a me-
morial signed by the presidents OF all the
women's clubs in the District.
Hon Edwin wiilitts, ex-Assistant Sec
retary OF Agriculture, made thoughtful
address on the history OF the various move
meBts, looking to a full realization of the
principle that "All men are created free
and equal"
Col Henry F. Blount said the three things
that had done most toward raising women
to equality with man were The power
loom, the spinney jenny, and the red school
house."
Miss Marian Longfellow o'Donoghue.
of Maine, read an original poem on
"Womap's Work. and the National Man.
dolin Club furnished music.