The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-27

pose OF his wffe's personal property and
real estate upon her going security or
his account A woman perhaps inherits
property from her father A wife may
purchase q few groceries. and 8 hus-
band. declining to pay the bill. the wife
is sued, because the merchant says sue
bought them. There is no dishonesty
in the present law.
Wright favored the bill. for q two
fold motive. The time has come in
North Carolina for the freedom OF our
women. In every civilized country II,
the world freedom has beer given wons-
en exception North Carolina and one or
W other places. In the laws OF tbs
state married women are classified In
the same as infants and una
tics. This Is q reflection On the man.
hood and civilization OF the state. Ger
turtles ago women were supposed TO &c
no more than little children and were
incapable Of contracting. but II any
women IN the world ire capable Of
~transacting business matters they ars
married women. The women are COM
petent TO manage their own affairs and
this law. prohibiting their rights Is an
nsui; TO the states womanhood. The
brainest lawyer In North Carolina
Chief Justice Clark. has defined this
law as a relic OF barbarism and this was
true, for everywhere except in North
Carolina this law had been abolished.
There was q time when a married man
here had the right to whip his wife, but
now the law does not regard her as a
chattel. but as his helpmeet n COM
panion. Pearson asked il there was not
a law here allowing a married woman
TO become q free trader II she so desir-s
ed. Wright replied that she could Ii
she were able to get the consent Of that
~pusi!lanimous part OF humanity. call
ed her husband. He went or to say that
this act should go into course at once,
so a wife could dispose of her own
property as she likes. An INSCRIPTIONS
may perpetrate fraud which this law
will prevent. A man may purchase
enough property in his wife's name.
He contracts the debt in her name and
it cannot be collected. h contracts a
debt and it cannot be collected.
Coke said he had opposed the bill at
first, but after hearing argument was
more opposed than ever. as in many
instances married women were not able
to make good contracts. Mason OF Gas
ton heartily favored the bill.
Ward replied to argument against the
bill. A vote was then taken. and the
bill failed to pass. 20 to 23.
OTHER MATTERS.
Bill regulating judicial salaries was
made special order for tomorrow at
Eoon.
Bill passed to increase the jury tax to
S. in all cases in Pitt county.
bill to fix the weight and regulate
the trade in corn meal passed second
reading. Third reading was objected
to. Senate bill relating to negotiable
instruments and making the law uni
form passed second reading and went
upon the calendar.
Bill relieving the Boar Of Agricui-
ture for contributing to the current ex-
pense Of the Agricultural and Me-haG-
zeal college was made special order for
e Thursday, it being stated that it
was not a thrust at the college but to
prevent the farmers from being dis
eliminated against and that the ov-
ernor and commissioner of agriculture
favored it.
Long, of Iredell, S aid he had voted
against the bill giving married women
the right to contract but since that
vote he had thought the matter over
seriously, and move a reconsideration
of the vote. This prevailed q to 10.
E1npie moved that the bill be made spe-
cial order for tomorrow moor Ward
desired immediate consideration. 1t
was made special order for Friday.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS
Speaker Guion called the House TO
order ar II n'o1arE Pav Mr. ROvarg
Of Mocksville offering prayer. On mo-
ton the reading of the journal was
dispensed with.
PETITIONS PRESENTED.
Hasten: Memorial from NJ. Z.
Church South on divorce law.
Robertson: From merchants of High
Point, asking for a law against obtain
ing goods under false pretenses.
Graham of Granville: On the same
subject.
Cowles: To place certain veterans on
TIE pension lists.
TeinSter and Powers From mer-
chants of Catawba n Rutherford Tor
a law against obtaining goods audi
lently.
REPORTS RECEIVED.
Reports from the state insurance,
auditing and criminal insane depart
mems of the state prison were read,
showing the amount Of money each de-
part:nent used last year, the amounts
being as follows: Insurance depart
ment, superintendents salary, $4,000,
clerk sh,G00, stenographer 5000, messsr-
ger $3.50: total 1880. Auditor: sa.ary
of auditor, $1,000, chief clerk $3.50, as
sis.ant clerk $3.50, s~tenographer 500.
janftor 1866; total s5,4G5. State Prison:
physician, $500. clerk $500, attendents
$500. clerk $50; total $3.50. These re-
rrGra ar1arn3 n1oand srnn thu
calendar to await coming Of other re-
ports.
Mr.. Warren Of Jones asked that he
fore the speaker signed the enrolled bill
for the relief Of Treasurer Lacy. * be
placed on its third reading again. SIM
ply for the purpose Of allowing a :oil
cal. Mr.. Warren said he voted for the
bill and he did not mind going on 'he
record. As a roll call was demanded
Yesterday he thougn III nothing hlI