, 1921-12-31
DISCRIMINATING AGAINST WOMEN

In furtherance of the removal of political, civil ana
legal disabilities and defining the status of woman un-
der the constitution a further amendment to the
fundamental law is necessary and viii doubtless be
presented to the present session to be submitted TO
the several states for adoption or rejection.
In analyzing the early Investigations made which
will later be embodied in a formal report, many
strange and peculiar conditions are disclosed in the
laws of the states investigated. Take the states Of
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. In these
four states it is learned that a husband owns his wifes
services, in all four states the authority of the hus-
hsud a. he head Of the family is absolute, whether
or no. Ar surports it; in all four states the father con-
.rols re Children, can put them to work when he
rit4,rs, coh,rol their education and every detail of
Tho opb.iaring, and alone enjoy their earnings. In
N tesr states the husband has the entire choice OF
IN siiree of the four states, Louisiana, Alabama and
Florida, married women do not have equal property
rights. in the same three states they do not have equal
right to contract or to do business; in two states,
Mississippi and Alabama, divorce laws discriminate
against woman; in Alabama and Florida inheritance
laws discriminate against women. Florida, Alabama
ard Mississippi deny women the right to serve on ju-
ries. Their right in Louisiana is limited. In Flor
ida and Alabama women are excluded from some pub
lie Offices.
In Florida women are under the dominion Of the
old English common law to a greater extent than per-
haps any other state in the Union. According to the
common law a man and his wife are one person and
that person is the husband. A married woman could
make no contract Of any kind" This is true In. Flor
ida today with a few exceptions.
Even the wife's separate property in Florida is con-
trolled by her husband; she may not sue him to Sc
cure an accounting Of what he has done with her own
money.
A married woman cannot become a responsible pub
lo merchant unless the court gives her permission.
The promissory note of a married woman Is void; she
is not able to enter into a legal partnership. A court
decision has ruled that a married woman does not have
the right to hire domestic servants.
A married woman working in a business distinct
from her husband may control her own earnings, but
il she works in her husbands business or at home, for
instance, keeping boerders, her earnings are her hus-
bands.
The father controls his children, the mother is the
sole guardian Of her illegitimate child. He may ap-
point guardians for his children born or unborn, by
deed or will, taking them entirely away from the
mother. A careful review of all important decisions in
suits between parents shows only four cases where the
father alone can collect damages for the death Of a
and suffering of the mother in such cases.
band.
where bonds are required since married women are
not. authorized to give bonds.
Women are not eligible to jury service.
Women are not admitted to the state university.
In Louisiana the Woman's Party campaign on the
special session Of the legislature just closed, resulted
in removing a number of important determinations
against women. Many remain, the remnants of the
old Enpoleonic code. upon which the statutes Of Lou
isiana, alone Of all the states, are based.
Husband and wife pool their property and earnings
n Louisiana during marriage but the husband spends
the money. lie may sell. rent, dispose or squander the