Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-11
Odd Complication Growing Out OF
Restrictions Made for Com
ing Bond Election.
DECIDED PROPERTY TO WIFE
Thought 1t Good Thing to Do But
For Bond Election Husband Has
Transferred His Vote With 1t.

AS ancient as the world, is the stua-
while his gentler and better half has
stood by complainingiy. and demanded
n share in the franchise. Now, howev
en- the tables are completely turned,
and in the coming bond election. there
are wives who can vote on an import
ant public problem, while their hus-
bands stand aside helpless suppliant on
the right of the ballot 1t is an odd
situation and comes as a development
in the rights OF women to equal priyi-
leges with men,
Women now may own property. Many
husband, anxious TO keep his home
and his business separate, has decided
the home TO his wife. One man who
owns only n home and that In his
wife's name, pays the taxes out of his
own pocket. He has asked whether he
can vote in the bond election, and
whether. If he can, his wife can also
vote.
The answers from three attorneys
who happened to be encountered In the
city and county building by News"
reporter is that the husband can quietly
stand aside while his wife does all the
voting, and IL he really wants to vote
on such matters. to prepare for the
next election by getting some of to-
property out of his wife's name and
into his own. Until then her title to the
family property gives her in bond cleo
tons, the full title to the family vote.
The fact that it is out of his purse
that che taxes come avails him abso-
lutely nothing. 1t is in his wife's name
that they are paid, and only upon her
showing of her tax receipt will the
vote be made of record in case of a
challenge.
OPINIONS OF ATTORNEYS.
The opinions Of the three attorneys
queried, follow
BY Atty. Gen. Breeden 'In such a
case, as in all others, only the person
who Is assessed for the property. or IL.
other words the owner of the property.
Is entitled to vote on the bond question
In the case stated, the owner, of the
property is the wife and she alone is
entitled to vote. Whether the husband
pays the tax or not Is not oonsidera-
ton. the ownership OF property being
the qualification necessary TO cntitle the
elector to his VOTE
Atty. Daniel Harrington-Th COM
mon law disqualifications OF married
women have, by our statutes, been en-
tirely removed. hence il they are prom
erty holders they have the same rights
as any other adult, male or female II
would follow naturally that the woman
who holds property Is the person to vote
on the bond tssRe. the fact that her
husband actually pays taxes on the
property out of his own pocket making
no difference as TO his disqualification
to vote. He does not own the property
and 1t Is only property owners, on
whose property the tax is paid. who are
entitled to vote. as | understand 1t.
Atty. Ray Van Cott-l should say the
husband has no right to vote, but his
wife has. The tax is credited TO the
person against whom the assessment is
made and not TO the person actually
paying the money. If the husband
wishes to vote he must have the title
placed In his own name, and pay taxes
assessed against himself