The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-25
Welfare Workers in Arms Over
Repeal 1917 Majority Law.
Bill Signed by Allen Places
Responsibility" at Is.
DENUDE BRIDES OF PROPERTY
Permit Loan Agencies To Get
Clutches on Youngsters.
House to Mat on Constitutional
Amendments Tomorrow.

Kansas club women and welfare
workers are today up in arms. One
of their prize achievements of two
years ago-the enactment of the age
of majority law-has been wiped out
by the present legislature. Discovery
of this action was made today-near-
ly a week after the bill had passed
both houses and had been signed by
Governor Allen.
Senate Bill No. 80. by Senator Fer
rell has torn down the law of 1917
which placed the age of majority of
both males and females at 21' years.
Under the bill which has been passed
the law OF two years ago is virtually
repealed and the age of majority for
both sexes, following marriage, is
placed at IS years. Women in the
legislative lobbies are today enraged
over the action of the Kansas house
and senate. which they declare have
voted to denude the school girl brides
of their property rights before they
arrive at the age of mature judgment
Senator Ferrell's bill was introduced,
approved by q committee, passed by
both legislative bodies and was signed
by the governor before the women's
lobby discovered its presence. In fact
the new enactment will this week be-
come q law-as soon as it is published
benefits derived from the hard fight
of 1917 which resulted in passage of
the law are set aside in the repeal of
the former enactment
See Evil Motives.
Women in the lobbies today de-
clared that while the bill had proba-
bly, been introduced in good faith, the
| motives behind the measure were evil
and designing. They declared that
many young married women would be
deprived of their property rights un-
| der the new law and that sinister mo-
| tives of loan agencies prompted the
passage of the new law. 1t is possi-
| BILE that an effort may be made to
originate q committee bill which will
re-enact the law of 1917 and repeal
the Ferrell act Such action would re-
store the former law and hold the age
of majority of both sexes at 21 years.
Under the law as Just passed the
| following provision is made: THAT
| the period of minority extends in
males and females to the age of p
years; provided, that every legally
| married person shall be considered OF
| the age of majority in all matters re-
| lating to contracts, rights of property,
| liabilities, and the capacity to sue and
| be sued.''
| This bill, the women charge, enables
a girl bride TO dispose of her property
| before she has reached an age of ma
| ture Judgment 1t HheWlse places On
! her shoulders the burden and re-
| sponsibilities of debts assumed by
young married couples. Proba bly, nc
| bill which will pass the present leg
islative session can provoke such a
protest as is expected from the Ferrell
measure.
Mrs. Monroe Wants Repeal.
Mrs. Lila Day Monroe, who has
| represented a number of women's or
| ganiZations in the legislative lobby
| today visited Governor Allen and talk
ed with members of the Legislature
concerning a plan to bring about the
| repeal of the new law. Such actor
tho, can come only thru the passage
of the new bill
1.-The women feel that this new law
puts a premium upon the marriage o.
children who ought to be in school,
Mrs. Monroe said. There is already