y from Montana, and a meeting was held in
the office of the _Woman's Exponent_, Mrs. Wells in the chair and
about twenty-five ladies present, all ardent suffragists. After due
deliberation a committee was appointed, Mrs. Richards, chairman, Mrs.
J. Fewson Smith, secretary, to work for suffrage in other States,
especially Arizona. Subsequently this committee organized properly,
adopted the name Utah Council of Women, and did all in their power to
raise means and carry on the proposed work, and dues were sent to the
national treasury.

In February, 1900, Mrs. Richards, president, and Mrs. Lucy A. Clark,
delegate, went to Washington and took part in the National Convention
and the celebration of Miss Anthony's eightieth birthday. On this
occasion the Utah Silk Commission presented to her a handsome black
silk dress pattern, which possessed an especial value from the fact
that the raising of the silk worms, the spinning of the thread and all
the work connected with its manufacture except the weaving was done by
women.

During this year the Council of Women worked assiduously to make a
creditable exhibit at the national suffrage bazar, Mrs. Mary T. Gilmer
having personal charge of it in New York City.

LAWS: Dower and curtesy are abolished. The law reserves for the widow
one-third of all the real property possessed by the husband free from
his debts, but the value of such portion of the homestead as is set
apart for her shall be deducted from this share. If either husband or
wife die without a will leaving only one child or the lawful issue of
one, the survivor takes one-half the real estate; if there are more
than one or issue of one living, then one-third. If there is issue the
survivor has one-half the personal estate. If none he or she is
entitled to all the real and personal estate if not over $5,000 in
value, exclusive of debts and expenses. Of all over that amount the
survivor receives one-half and the parents of the deceased the other
half in equal shares; if not living it goes to the brothers and
sisters and their heirs.

Also the widow or widower is entitled to one-half the community
property subject to community debts, and if there is no will, to the
other half provided there are no children living.

A homestead not exceeding $2,000 in value and $250 additional for each
minor child, together with all the personal property exempt from
execution, shall be wholly exempt from the payment of the debts of
deceden