New-York tribune., 1901-04-13
WOMAN SUFFRAGE ABROAD
CONCESSIONS WHICH HAVE DEADENED
pTBLIC INTEREST - CONDITIONS
UNDER WHICH WOMEN VOTE
AND HOLD OFFICE.
London. April 3.

bich have served to indicate that the extension
3 suffrage has neither interested the main body
& women. nor made any appreciable difference
IN notical results There are no records by
v.bich the percentages of male and female votes
oe, in local contests can bes ascertaned. In
oloee election a few women may have con-
eciousuess Of having turned the scale by their
nerformance of civic duties, but the same con-
so1atory reflection is open to any small group of
male voters. An experienced campaigner, the
secretary Of the London Municipal Society Mr..
7 G Hay Halkett, tells me that he has not
,rou-, Of anv particular contest which has been
onnreciably affected by the female vote The
truth is that women, in spite of special efforts
which are occasionally made, show little interest
IN local elections, and few of them take the
trouble to record their votes. From their apathy
in local contests practical politicians have drawn
the inference that ii would be idle to grant an
extension OF suffrage as to enable women to
vote at Parliamentary elections.
IN the single square mile of London known as
the CITY women properly registered can vote for
the County Council and the Board OF Guardians.
but not for the School Board. In the congeries
of cities constituting the metropolis they can
vote for the Board OF Guardians, the Borough
Councils the School Board and the County
Council In England and Wales. apart from
London they can qualify Themselves under re-
strcted conditions of registration. for taking
part in the elections Of Boards of Guardians.
School Boards Parish Councils. Rural District
Councils Urban District Councils Town Coun-
cils and County Councils. In Scotland women
are subject TO fewer disa bilities in local cleo
tons than they are in England and Wales, and
Irish women under the Registration and Local
Government acts Of 1895 are left in still better
position Local government in this way is
brought within the range of women. but not on
equal terms with men. The political rights of
men owning property We're enlarged under the
Local Government act Of 1894 for England and
Wales. whereas women as property owners were
disfranchised at least for the elections of Board
Of Guardians. No woman vote simply be-
cause she owns property. She must be an oc-
cupier. whether as owner tenant paying
either rates or rent, order claim registry.
No woman vote lodger in any local gov
eminent election. whereas men can be registered
as lodgers for the exercise of suffrage in cleo
tions for District Parish and Borough councils
and Boards of Guardians. Men have what is
known as a service franchise when they are in
occupation of buildings or dwellings officials,
jantors or servants There is no service fran
chise for women, whether officials, caretakers,
matrons or servants. These limitations
terially reduce the number of women entitled to
vote in local elections.
The requirements of registration intri-
cate that it is not easy for women to ascertain
their precise rights. and, consequently. large
proportion Of those entitled to suffrage In local
elections neglect to qualify themselves for vot-
ing. For School Board elections registration is
unnecessary and except in municipal boroughs,
where a woman's name must be on the burgess
roll, it is enough if there be entry the
ratebooks. For ordinary local elections a wom-
in order must be registered as an oc-
cupier. This household qualification requires
cupation of dwelling house, or of a portion OF
a house separate dwelling, or OF a
single room. provided the landlord does not live
under the same roof. A woman may also vote
If she occupies land business premises of
clear rental value of not less than flo a year
Women sharing the same dwelling. land or bust
ness premises may be registered joint
piers, provided the tenancy averages for each
a rental Of f10. Husband and wife cannot be
registered joint occupiers but both may vote
In local elections. if they are not qualified in
respect OF the same property. The wife, for "
ample, may be registered the occupier of the !
home, and the husband by virtue of ownership |
OF property elsewhere, through service fran |
chise. Since wives cannot claim registration as /
joint occupiers. few married women vote. The |
majority OF women entitled to registration are |
either unmarried or widows. and dodgers are ex-
cluded. well educated woman in charge of a |
London institution occupied as home for stu
dents OF her in medicine and art was |
recently refused registration. AS an official she |
was not entitled to the service franchise, and /
since she received salary the head of the in
sutution, she was not rent payer, and conse-
quently could not qualify for registration as an |
occupier. The students paying rent for their |
rooms We're entitled to vote
If IL be difficult for women TO master the in
trlcacies Of the registration laws it is hardly !
practicable for many of them to take an active |
interest in the details of local administration.
duly registered London woman can vote In |
'le course OF three years for Guardians Borough |
council, County Council and School Board: but |
phese contests are not exharating and not
many women concern themselves with these
municipal issues. The London Guardians main
'dlh over one hundred thousand paupers at a |
."st OF s2oOOooeo annually. the entire system Of
roor Law relief having been revolutionized by |
the Local Government bill of 1894 under a |
popular franchise women being eligible for cleo
Noh as members OF the local boards Few
"Oiheh vote In the triennal election. and this |
vast system Of relief is administered mainly by
"ieh. The Borough Councils under the London |
government Act OF 1899. have been substituted |
LOT the oldtme vestres, and sub-muncipal
eehtres OF local administration, with mayors and |
uoht benches Of aldermen. The creation of |
."ehtV-eight cities out Of the chaos Of vestry
'oil dic not appeal to the Imagination OF women.
anu they took little interest in She first borough
=iecticns last autumn The London County Coun-
'il is the metropolitan Parliament, and women, |
"hle not eligible to election as members. are
Al hDerty to vote as householders occupiers |
ihoer the restrictions Of registration already |
q de OF