Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-17
Discovery OF Ancient Law
Precipitates Both Houses
OF British Parliament In a
Storm; Lords Consult Ex-
perience Then Talk Care
fully.
PAGE SIXTEEN

London, April 17.-Discovery OF
an ancient Saxon law, technically
known as 1.-The doctrine of coercion
under which =" wife is virtually the
property of her husband, has precipi-
tated a storm in both houses of the
British Parliament.
Lady Astor has formally introduce
ed a bill in the House OF Commons
to amend the offending statute and
viscount Ulsswater strongly pressed
for a similar in the House
OF Lords.
Parliament took note of the act
when a member of the Commons
pointed out that it had been resurrec-
ted to secure the acquittal recently of
the wealthy Mrs. Peel who was con-
cerned with her husband in betting
frauds. while the husband himself was
sent to prison.
The old law, viscount Ulsswater
explained to the Lords, was founded
on thu assumption hat a wife would
no dare to contradict her husband;
but If we want to maintain respect
for the law he said, lit must be
strictly in accordance with our lives
and III social relations. Whatever
the legal presumption may have
been in he older times. there car be
no such presumption today"
TT connotes an inferior and de-
grading status which women Of the
present day will never accept. The
whole tendency of modern thought
has been in the other direction - to
elevate the status of women and put
them on the same footing as men,"
The Viscount raised laughter when
he continued: IT appeal to the ripe
experience of any of your l%ordships.
Bachelors with no experience of
women are the only people who take
an opposite view" and he pointed out
that the doctrine did not prevail in
Scotland, presumably because of
Lady Macbeth" he said.
Supports Old Law.
Lord Buckmaster, d former Lord
High Chancellor, defended the exist
ing law. He said it was his firm con-
viction that the bulk of women today
acted under the direction OF their
husbands, and this, he held, was as
suredly true among the lower ranks
Of society. II avn not prepared to
destroy what had been established by
the wisdom of our ancestors, who
as we do today he declared.
Women nave got the vote but they
are just the same as before"
Here the present chancellor, Lord
Birkenhead, spoke up. LAS to hus-
bands controlling their wives" he
said. "every nan has his own ex-
perience in these matters and I am
not bold enough to make any such
claim"
Lord Aberdeen, a former lord lieu
tenant of Irelanf and former COVER
nor general Of Canada, reflectively OBJ
served that one of his ancestors
when chancellor Of Scotland, resigned
Office rather than carry out an &C,
which proposed. to make husbands re.
sponsible for their wives non-at.
tendance at church.
Lady Frances Balfour, president o.
the National Council of Women o.
Great Britain and Ireland, writing ir
the Times, calls attention to the fact
that the doctrine of coercion" is MOI
the only survival Of ancient English
laws affecting married women She
cites the law of c~overture," accord.
ing to which a man and his wife are
one person and the husband is thai
person. The wife's legal existence il
INCORPORATED and consolidated into
that of her husband"
Lady Frances pointed out that it j:
no more than 80 ear since the House
of Lords negatived a claim that {
husband had the right to imprison hi.
wife, which was based on this doc.
trine, which has, however, never beer
abolished in it's entirety.
At the same time, she proceeds. :
wtfe's position as her husband.