The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-12-29
TWO IMPORTANT
NEW AMENDMENTS


amendments have already been pro-
posed in the present session of
Congress. One x these, and the
most far-reaching in its effects, If
adopted, was introduced by Senator
Charles Curtis, of Kansas, and by
Representative r. Anthony in the
House, for the purpose of establish
ing equality of rights for women
under all laws. The amendment is
brief. 1t provides:
"Men and women shall have
equal rights throughout the United
States and every place subject to
It's jurisdiction. Congress shall
have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation"
Under the equal suffrage amend
ment women now have equal rights
with men so far as voting is con-
cerned. 1t required constitutional
amendment to establish that right
for the reason that states specified
the qualifications of voters. For the
same reason, a constitutional amend
ment will be necessary if women
are to have equal rights with men
in other respects. Property rights,
particularly in the matter of inheri-
tances, are determined by state
laws, and at present great many,
| if not majority, of the states,
accord wife lesser rights than are
accorded to her husband. In most
instances when a woman dies her
husband acquires much larger
right to her property than she ae-
quires in the case of his death. \
The difference in the matter of
property rights has been gradually
growing less as one state after an
other liberalizes its laws and recog-
nizes the injustice of former no.
tons of the rights of women, but
there are some states that are
still far behind the procession. The
adoption of the Curtis-Anthony
Amendment would wipe out all of
these determinations. With that
amendment in effect it would be UNI
constitutional for any state to enact
any law granting to one sex any
privilege or right not accorded in
equal degree to the other.
The other constitutional amend
ment referred to, was proposed by
Senator Norris of Nebraska. 1t
provides for the commencement of
the terms of President and Vice
President and members of Congress
At present those terms begin on the
fourth Of March. Under the Nor
ris amendment the terms of the
president and vice-presdent would
begin at noon on the third Monday
in January, and the terms of sena-
tors and Representatives at noon on
the first Monday in January. At
present the president does not take
his Office until four months after
Iht tittlioH' onutT the NOfFls
amendment he would take Office
about ten weeks after the election.
Although senators and congress-
men assume their offices at present
on the fourth of March, their
official service really does not be-
come effective until the following
December when the first regular
session convenes, unless the presi-
dent calls them into special session.
That means that in the regular
course of events a new congress
would not have an opportunity to
register its policies until thirteen
months after it had been voted into
power. The Norris amendment not
only provides that senator's and
congressman shall assume their Of
fices on the first Monday in January
following the election, but that
there shall be a session of Congress
beginning on the first Monday in
January. Under that amendment
change in the political complexion
of congress would become almost
Immediately effective. The new
congress would be in session two
weeks before the time for the new
president to assume his duties.
This difference is intended TO
provide congress an opportunity to
elect president IL the vote at the
general election failed to result in
| the choice of n president