The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-18
Constitutional Amendments To
Be Submitted i'm States.
BILL REVIVED IN WISCONSIN
Mothers Pensions i'm Com.
mOnWeaIthS for First Time.
Survey of New Laws Shows Di-
vOrce i'm Limelight.

New, York, June 1S.-EQual Suf-
frage and other legislation affecting
women figured prominently this year
in the discussions of a large majority
of the state Legislators. The sessions
of most of them have now come to a
close and a summary of their activi-
ties collated by the Associated Press
discloses that the question of woman
suffrage came up for deliberation in
twenty-five states and that divorce
laws, mothers pensions, women po-
lice, minimum wage, eugeric marriage
other subjects relating to women
were considered in twenty-eight states.
The legislatures of seven states
adopted resolutions whereby a consti-
tutional amendment giving women
equal suffrage rights with men will
be submitted TO the people at the fall
elections either this next year
They are Nassa chusetts, New Jersey,
New York and Pennsylvania in 1915;
Iowa, South Dakota and West Nir-
ginia in 1916. Tennessee adopted
similar resolution, but it must also be
passed by the next succeeding legisla
ture before it can be submitted to the
voters. So did Arkansas, but the reso-
luton was ineffective, because of a
provision of the state constitution
which forbids more than three con-
Stitutional amendments to be sub
mitted at one election and three had
already been filed with the secretary
of state.
California adopted a resolution de-
clarinS that woman suffrage in that
state had been an unqualified success.
Ala bama Will consider the question at
an adjourned session to begin July Z.
Defeat in Eleven States.
In eleven states woman suffrage
measures met defeat = Connecticut,
Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Michigan,
Dakota. Oklahoma, Texas. Vermont
and Wisconsin. Three votes defeated
the measure in Indiana. 1t was
passed by The senate with only three
votes registered against it, but a mo-
ton in the house to call the bill out
of committee failed to carry, As to 40.
Three votes also killed the measure
in the Texas legislature, where it was
thirds majority, however. was re-
quired 20 pass it and the suffragist
supporters claim a great gain. The
resolution did not reach the senate.
There was a bitter contest on the
question in North Dakota. where, un
daunted by the defeat of their cause
at the general election last year, the
suffrage adherents renewed the fight.
In Delaware a proposed constitutional
amendment was defeated deciSively in
both houses; in Florida in the lower
house; in New Mexico and North Car
DINA it died in committee. In Michi-
gan a proposed amendment to the
constitution giving women the right
to vote for presidential electors and
all officers of educational nature was
never reported out of the senate COM
mittee. The general assembly of Con-
necticut declined to send the measure
to the next assembly for ratification.
Revived in Wisconsin.
The assembly of Wisconsin by a ma
jority of eight votes killed on April
20 a bill for statewide referendum,
but on Wednesday last the senate re-
yived the question by ordering a sim
liar measure engrossed by a vote of
JIG to 13. The bill was not expected
to come up for action in the assembly
until next week or later.
New Mexico, however, passed a law
providing for the appointment of
women on the governing boards of
state institutions in the discretion of
the governor. North Carolina enacted
come notaries in. the state and giving
them the right of petition in certain
instances. Women may become no
taries by a law passed also in Ten
neSsee and serve in that state on
school boards.
Mothers Pension Laws.
Pensions for mothers came up for
consideration in eighteen states. In
eight-kansas, Montana, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma,
Tennessee and Northumberland
for this purpose was enacted for the
nrst time In two-TexaS and West
observation-disclosures pension measures
laws were amended or amp1ified.
The new Kansas statute fixes the
maximum grant to needy mothers at
S25 month to be paid at the discre-
ton of county commissioners. The
New Hampshire law limits payment