In 1898 a bill to permit women to serve as notaries public was vetoed by the Governor as unconstitutional.
Dower and curtesy both obtain. The wife inherits a life interest in one-third of the real estate. If there are children she has one-third of the personal property absolutely; if none, onehalf. The husband inherits all of the wife's personal property whether there are children or not, and the entire real estate for life if there has been issue born alive. If this has not been the case he has no interest in the wife's separate real estate. The homestead, to the value of $2,000, is exempted for the wife.
By Act of 1900, a married woman may dispose as though unmarried of all property heretofore or hereafter acquired. She can
sell her personal property without her husband's uniting. He
has the same right. She can sell her land without his uniting, but unless he does so, if curtesy exist, he will be entitled to a life estate. Unless the wife unites with the husband in the sale of his real estate, she will be entitled to dower.
By the above Act a married woman may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, in the same manner and with the same consequences as if she were unmarried, whether the right or liability asserted by or against her accrued before or after the passage of the act. The husband is not responsible for any contract, liability or tort of the wife, whether the liability was incurred or the tort was committed before or after marriage.
There has been no decision as to the wages of a married woman since the above Act; but it is believed they would be held to belong to her absolutely, even if not engaged in business as a sole trader.
The father is the legal guardian of the minor children, and may appoint a guardian for such time as he pleases.
The husband is liable for necessaries for the support of the family, and can be sued therefor by any one who supplies them.
The "age of protection" for girls was raised from 12 to 14 years in 1896. The penalty is death or imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than five nor more than twenty years.
Suffrage: Women possess no form of suffrage.
Office Holding: No offices are filled by women except that there is one physician at the Western Insane Asylum and,
