The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-16
SUFFRAGE ACT
RAISES MANY
ODD QUESTIONS
Only Voters Under so Years
of Age Pay Poll Tax-No
Vote on County Officers.
Probably Void.

The full text OF the woman's suffrage
Dill passed by the general assembly tndt-
Gates more clearly han did the synopsis
that the act probably will fall before
the courts. 1t provides in a general
way for registration of women and for
a poll tax for those under so years land
of course that includes practically all
women) who wish to vote. There Is
no specific amendment to the general
poll tax law providing for assessment
of poll taxes against all women between
Fl and so years of age, nor is there a
specific amendment or the registration
laws.
Their suffrage is limited to presi-
Dental electors, city officers and city
questions. They can not vote for state
or county officers or for county school
directors or bond issues.
But the most serious omission is in
the form of ballot. The present law
calls for all candidates to be named
on n ballot and the ballot to be Sc
cret. How then al a woman be known
to have voted for only part Of them?
The full text of the bill follows:
Full Text of Act.
AN act granting women the right
to vote for electors of president and
vice president of the United States and
for municipal officers; to participate
and vote in certain matters and cleo
lions; and prescribing the qualifications
and conditions under which women may
exercise such rights Of suffrage.
Section l. Be it enacted by the gen.
eral assembly of the state of Tennes-
see, that all women, citizens of the
United States of and above the age of
Fl years, having resided In the state
for one year and in the county for six
months preceding any election therein
and who shall be an inhabitant Of the
! nlhrffnn hiafpint or nrnninnt In yuhin1
they offer to vote, shall be entitled and
allowed to vote at such elections for
electors Of president and vice-president
of the United States, and for all off,
GERS of cities, towns n taxing dis
tricts, and upon all questions or propo-
sitions submitted exclusively to a vote
OF the electors of such municipalities.
Poll Tax Receipts.
Section 2. Be it further enacted
that where registration is required al
such elections women who are entitled
to vote under the preceding section Of
this act shall register in the same man
ner as male voters and their names
shall be received n registered by
various boards Of registration at the
time n in the name required by
law for other voters and they shall be
liable to all penalties attached to the
violation of such laws.
Section 3. Be it further enacted
that where satisfactory evidence of the
payment Of poll taxes assessed against
them for a certain period as required
to be furnished at such election by male
voters, women who are entitled to vote
under the preceding sections of thi:
act In elections for electors of presi'
dent and vice-president of the United
States shall likewise furnish evidence
Of the payment of poll taxes assessed
against them in the same name re-
quired by law of other voters. q
Section 4. Be 1t further enacted
that this act take effect from and after
its passage, the public welfare requir'
ing It,"