The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-03-25
WILL WOMEN HELP
enact NEEDED LAWS

Now that women have the vote will
they enact any laws that will tend to
the general benefit, and insure peace
and quiet in either communities or
familiesg One of the first and most i'm
portant laws they will attempt will oe
with reference to community property
rights with reference to the disposi-
tion, sale and conveyance of personal
and real property acquired after mar
riage. AS the law stands, the husband
has the sole control over personal prop
erty belonging to husband and wife.
With equal rights, innumerable dis
putes will necessarily arise between
them with reference to the control and
disposition of the same, and largely
tend to unrest in families. If the
joint signature of both is required in
bill of sale of personal property it
will be nearly impossible for either to
carry on a successful business. But
this could be averted by power of at
torney, which would have to be re-
corded in every county where the prop.
erty is situated. If both have equal
rights to dispose of personal property,
without the joint signature of the
other, then the husband may find his
smoking outfit sold, and the wife her
bonnets in hock The result7 Here /
draw the curtain on the scene
With reference TO conveyance of
real estate, whilst the law is in a de-
plorable shape and sorely needs fixing,
it would not be nearly so inconvenient
as with reference to the control over
personality. As the law stands, both
husband and wife must join in the
execution of deed to real estate upon
which they reside. Whilst this is plain
enough, we have, besides, the home
stead laws which are indefinite and
uncertain. The homestead exemption
is to the tune of $4,000. and according
to decisions of the Supreme Court of
this state, this exemption can be claim
ed by either husband or wife at any
time prior to sale under execution,
whether the homestead claim has been
recorded or not This leaves the prop
erty in such condition that money can
not be borrowed on the real estate up
on a mortgage, except it be acknowl-
edged by both husband and wife, no
matter how badly it may be required
for improvements upon the land, or for
cattle to eat the crops grown thereon.
The homestead law is further indefinite
and uncertain in the fact tha lots,
pieces and parcels of land which are
separate and apart from the piece on
which both husband and. wife reside,
may belong to the homestead, and the
upshot is that no money can be bor-
rowed on anv piece of property belong
ing exclusively to either husband or
wife unless both join in the execution
of the mortgage or other instrument
qiven to secure its repayment. These
obstacles to borrowing money tend to
create high rates of interest, and in
many instances act as a complete bar
to the ability to borrow, and thus re-
tard progress and improvement.
Tt is easy to find fault, but difficult
to prescribe a remedy. However, 7
believe the laws should be amended so
as to permit either husband or wife to
convey real estate the record of which
stands in the name of the party con-
veving, irrespective of the fact that
either or both may reside upon it. With
reference to the homestead law,I would
have it amended so that no homestead
right definitely describing the property
could be claimed against innocent pur-
chasers for value. unless the same was
in which case both husband
and wife would have to acknowledge
the conveyance.
am aware of the fact that the de-
cisions with reference to homestead
rights have been exceedingly liberal
to the right on the ground that the
is a sacred place. But bust
ness is business, and I believe that
the removal of impediments that OBJ
struct business will tend to create bust
ness, and lower rates of interest, and
viii tend to safety, peace and quiet
and help us to keep out of court-that
dreaded plaee.-Quelquefois, in Rec
ord Courier.