Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 242, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1917 — WOMEN WIN IN WASHINGTON [ARTICLE]

WOMEN WIN IN WASHINGTON

Supreme Court Curtails Hubby’s Power to Dispose of Goods Without Wife’s Consent. No more Is the married man of Washington absolute head of the family. He shares that post with the wife of his heart so far as the disposal of community personal property is concerned. Man was demoted from his high estate and his authority curtailed by a recent decision of the stqte supreme court, which held that the “Mrs.” of the household has an equal share in the personal property and must be consulted before it can be transferred. The decision was rendered, says the Spokane Chronicle, in the case of a man named Steel, who was found guilty of alienating the affections of another man’s wife. Judgment was rendered against him and the question of using community property to satisfy the debt was brought before the tribunal. Chief Justice Ellis, with the concurrence of six associate judges, reversed former decisions which have been the basis of law on this point for 20 years or more In the state, and held that the community personal property is liable only for those debts contracted for the community and in the community interests. 4 Under former decisions the power of the husband over community property was absolute, except that he could not will away more than half, the other half going to the wife at his death. He could mortgage, sell or dissipate the family personality without the consent of his wife. The furniture could be sold over her head to pay the debts of a drunken husband. A judgment for a husband’s wrong conduct could be collected from her half of the personal property as well as his. Now the husband is no more than an agent, the court has held.