Year: 1874

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, March 25.-The bill
revising the law in relation to husband and
wife, which has passed both houses of the
Legislature, and will undoubtedly become
a law, provides that a married woman may
in all cases sue and be sued, without join
ing her husband with her, to the same ex-
tent as if she were unmarried an attach
ment or Judgment may be enforced against
her as if she were single woman if sued
with her husband she may defend for her
own right if he neglects to defend, she
may defend for him also, and vice versa.
In short, she may enjoy all the luxuries of
a lawsuit on her own hook without the
consent or interference of the party who
used to be styled lord and master"
That phrase has lostits significance. When
married woman takes it into her head to
injure any one the husband will not be re-
sponsible unless he is party to it the
husband shall not be liable for the debts
of the wife, so when he gets bill for a
love of Dress, duck of a bonnet"
or perfectly splendid landaulet, he can
turn it over to his better half and let her
come down with the stamps. This provi-
sion is intended to check extravaganza on
the part of the ladies by compelling them


to share the hardships of paying bills.
Contracts and liabilities incurred by the


wife may be enforced against her the same


as if she were unmarried, but she cannot


enter into partnership business with any
other person without the husbands con-
sent, unless he be idiotic or insane, or is in
the Penltentiary, or has abandoned her,
when she can do as she please The wife


may receive, use and possess her own
earnings, and sue for the same free from
the interference of the husband or hi:
lcredltorS. One cannot sue or recover com


pensatiOn for services performed for The


other.


She can obtain, handle, manage, sell, ,anC


convey property independent of him. bu


they shall not convey property to each 9th


er without conveyance in writing to be re
corded in the same manner as chattle mort
cages. This is to prevent them from max


ing conveyances to defraud other partie
: outside the family. She may be sued fo
5 property unlawfully obtained before mar
} riage. If one abandons the other and leave
t the State for a year, or is imprisoned in tn
e Penitentiary, the court may authorize tn
half remaining to manage, control, and Sc


the property of the base deserter for tn
+ Vi tllt dIlu CouIIdCt
/ made for that purpose shall be binding o
l. both. One may confer power of attorne
q on the other in the same manner as othe
d persons. The expenses of the family an
f the education of the children shall b


chargeable upon the property of both {
f of either, and in relation thereto they ma
e be sued jointly or separately. Neither ca
: remove the other or their children frol
: their homestead without the consent {
it the other, unless the owner of the prope
a perty shall provide another homestead f
n the family. If he abandons her, she shs
Il have the custody of minor children, unle
g for some good reason the courts otherwi
.o direct. When one is insane for year, Il
al other may execute a conveyance or MOI
le gage of real estate for such insane perso


and thereby relinquish his or her right
courtesy, dover, or homestead in such re
estate.


m These are the main points of the /


which abolishes the 'tyrant man" a
d: places woman on perfect equality wi
6, aim when he marries her.