The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-31

husbands debts. Empie said he was
not married, but he thanked God he
was not divorced, and he opposed the
bill, as from the time when women
first tried to manag the affairs of
men she failed. When she again tried
10 manage his affairs, in the time of
Socrates. she failed, and Socrates no
doubt was glad that he drank the
HemlOck. The women in old English
times failed to manage affairs sue
cessfully and now in North Carolina
the laws protect women more than
they do men. A woman hay convey
her ~sband property without his
consent. but a man cannot conve an
insane wife's property without her
consent. A woman with experience.
working. by degrees, may become NC
cessful, but if she, without experience
~@smvests $4,000 the result is disaster.
mar left this amount profitably in
vests it. This is the experience of
mankind. Bragaw aid the bill was
a most serious innovation. and had as
its purpose the destruction of one Of
the ancient landmarks Of the law, and
he it did not know the conditions in
North Carolina demanded any such
radical change. This bill gives mar
ried women power to do things
against the Will OF their husbands, and
it disrupts the unity Of marriage reta-
lions. He could not conceive that
those in favor Of it had seriously con-
sidered consequences. 1t is an OBJ
stacle to social industrial and educa-
tiona progress. All laws of New YORK
should not be copied and ne was glad
to see that North Carolina had better
managed laws h New York. He
hoped Mr.. Coke would withdraw his
amendments, as he regarded it as Il
distinct concession to the original bill.
Mr.. Mclean asked Mr.. Bragaw if he
thought Chief Justice Clark was an
authority. Mr.. Bragaw replied yes.
Mr.. McLean said he had read where
in Judge Clark said he was in favor
of this bill. Mr.. BOddie said that i'll
many States in the union 1t had been
q valuable law. Women have eman-
cipated themselves by education n
have proved themselves worthy to
stand on an, equal with men in educa-
ton. Herbert Spencer said the time
would come when they would stand
on an equality with men economical
w. This law would be of great bene-
fit to women by placing them on the
same footing economically with men
and it will put into place a great part
of ~propertv in North Carolina which
is hedged about by the laws OF nm1-
tation and it will be of benefit to the
women educationally and morally. Mr..
Williams favored the bill and said 1t
would tend to EDUCATE women ana
educate them to take care OF them-
when they are thrown on their
own resources. Mr.. ZollicOffer offered
an amendment providing that the
9sbiII shall not apply to any existing
contracts. The original bill was de-
feated by a vote of 33 to ID.
A memorial was received from the
jamestown Exposition Company to
appear before the legislature and to
address it next Thursday. The reso-
luton was adopted. The bill to re-
peal the one gently passed refund
ing State Treasurer Lacy's money
stolen from him by Clerk Martin was
made a special order for next We'd
nesday.
THE HOUSE.
peake Guion called the House 10 or
der and Rev. DIR. Pittenger, of Il"
Church of the Good shepherd, Offered
prayer.
Petitions were presented as follows:
Hollowel. from merchants OF wayne
county asking for the garnishment la"
and a law against obtaining goods Dy
fraudulent presentation.
Hutchinson from the citizens OF
Cherryville asking hat 40 law amend
ing the present labor law be enacted.
Winborne-From the Methodist Con-
ference asking repeal Of all divorce
laws.
BILLS TABLED.
The following bills were tabled, upon
adverse reports:
To exempt Hendersonville from the
law requiring public drinking water to
be analyzed by the State Chemist.
o prevent the sale Of patent med,-
49, containing alcohol, morphine etc.
40 procure speedy trials in Hvl. ac
tons by amending the act OF 1907.
To amend the law regulating the rule
of descent relating to illegitimate Grill
dren.
RATIFICATION of BILLS.
Bills were ratified:
To validate the election of justices
of the peace in Allegheny.
To divide net proceeds of dispense
- -