orted by an unfriendly chairman of the
Judiciary Committee at a time when its author was not present, and was
lost without the courtesy of a discussion.

In 1900, petitions for Municipal Suffrage for Women Taxpayers were
presented to the Senate; a bill was introduced by H. C. Royce, and at
a hearing granted by the Judiciary Committee Henry B. Blackwell, L. F.
Wilbur, the Hon. W. A. Lord and Mrs. E. M. Denny gave arguments for
it. Adverse majority and favorable minority reports were presented by
the committee. By request of Messrs. Royce and Brown, the bill was
made a special order, when it was advocated by Messrs. Royce and
Leland; but a third reading was refused by 13 yeas, 15 nays. Later in
this session, a petition signed by the officers of the State W. S. A.,
asking that "women, who are taxpayers, be exempt from taxation, save
for school purposes," was presented to the Senate. This was, by the
presiding officer, referred to the Committee on the Insane.

The names of all members voting for suffrage bills have been preserved
by the State association. The names of the opponents pass into
oblivion with no regrets.

In 1900 a bill was presented, for the second time, by the Federation
of Clubs, providing for women on the boards of State institutions
where women or children are confined, but it was killed in committee.

In 1884 the law granting to married women the right to own and control
their separate property and the power to make contracts, was secured
through the efforts of the Hon. Henry C. Ide, now United States
Commissioner in the Philippines. Since 1888 their wages have belonged
to them.

Dower and curtesy were abolished by the Legislature of 1896. Where
there are no children the widow or the widower takes in the estate of
the deceased $2,000 and one-half of the remainder, the other half
going to the relatives of the deceased. If there are children, the
widow takes absolutely one-third of the husband's real estate
(homestead of the value of $500 included) and one-third of his
personal property after payment of debts; the widower takes one-third
of the wife's real estate absolutely, but does not share in her
personal property.

The Court of Chancery may authorize a wife to convey her separate
property without the signature of her husband. The husband can
mortgage or convey all his separate property without the wife's
signature, except her homestead right of $500.

The law equalizing the division of propert