New-York tribune., 1905-02-14
NTESTATE INHERITANCE
Women to Go to albany to Plead
for ReUision of Lac.

large delegation Of women viii 90 up 70 Albany
next Tuesday morning, 70 present their views on
the equalization o. the laws of tntestate inherit
aooe, as they affect widows and w1dowers. 10 the
Judiciary Committee Of the Senate Tie New-York
legislative League and the State Federation OF
Wonel's Clubs have asked the legislature to revise
these laws, and the hearing Is the result Of their
joint petition
Mrs. Lille Devereux Blake, president Of the
legislative League. VIII head the delegation and
l. N-I lncl1oe Mrs Charlotte WlIbour president Of
6orosls; Mrs. AInen Hensley. president Of the
Mothers Clio; Miss Emile BuIlowa, and probably
many othe-s.
The present Is thought 10 be an auspcious mo-
nsnt for the consideration Of such { subject be-
cause one OF the more or less regular attempts TO
oepc7e widows OF the night OF dover is under way
This is such inconvenient relic OF the common
law that IL IS thought that the legislators viii be
Wiling 70 consent 10 anything for the sake Of
getting nd Of It
We are perfectly willing to give Up the right Of
dover" Mrs. Blake said yesterday before the
Mothers Club, but We want something in It's
Pace- The present laws regarding the distribution
lot the property Of married persons dying intestate
sre most cruel and unjust TO women In one case
-ney are unjust 10 men. and don't want that
10 continue, either. Men have oppressed Us for
many centuries. but we don't want TO oppress them
- Is not right that z woman should be able to
cut her husband of without q cent Neither is II
right that when she dies intestate and having no
children the husband should take practically all
her property, life interest in her realty and her
personality absolutely. A case which recently came
70 my notice was that OF a young woman who died
shortly after her marriage. The whole OF her per-
soEa4 estate became the absolute property of her
husband and when, in about years time he
married again, after the manner Of widowers he
bestowed his first wife's jewels upon the second
one"
The laws OF intestate Inheritance are supposed to
De based on common sense" Miss Emile BuIIova
sad They aim ar carrying out the intention Of
ne deceased person in the absence Of a viii: but
while q man dying lntestate IS supposed TO have
intended 70 leave his wife only a fraction of his
estate. he intention OF a is assumed 10 be
that her husband should take everything. Common
sense would indicate similar intention in
Ooth cases. ana II the present bill making the wife
partly responsible for household expenses becomes
law The principles OF far play VIII require that
e1e have The same rights IN her husbands prop
don't think either party should De allow
70 take al Is left BY the other but believe
Ilen would rather see the women get all than give
" anything themselves
When equalization was proposed some years
since 2 great hue and cry raised by The Bar
Association. the idea Of reducing the rights of
N4aOWers vas treated something entirely out Of
lle question. Parents rights are also included in
me Present movement. present the father the
80 helr and the mother has no rights unless the
::etAer Is dead. when she shares equally with
1eo'Aefs aaC sisters as 10 personally and takes q
~ interest IN realty
-Ae mothers Club nominated Mrs Lille Dew
S-1 Bake its next president yesterday and
- sflcLec its delegates 10 the city federation TO
80 tor Mrs Belle de Rivera Mrs. Edgar l.
t-.1TL wanted the club TO support Mrs. Dore Lyon,
sc tEis was considered impossible. Mrs. Street
"---are% her motion