Pike County  Georgia News- The Fleming Bill 1895
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Lynn Cunningham  lcunnin1@bellsouth.net 

Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/pike.htm
Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm


The Pike County Journal.
Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia, Nov. 29, 1895

The Fleming Bill

The Georgia House of Representatives passed the bill introduced by
Fleming, of Richmond, to make the personal earnings of a married woman
her separate property and not liable for the debts of her husband. In
passing this the legislature did a good thing. It gives the women of
Georgia a protection they have long needed. There is no justice in
forcing a hard working, industrious woman to support and pay the debts
of a lazy trifling husband. If he is the right kind of a man and is
simply unfortunate she will help him all she can anyway, but if she does
not want to do this there should be not law to force her to. We are
surprised that the bill met with such a determined opposition in the
House. As Mr. Fleming eloquently said, "the chivalry which will cause a
man to lift his hat to a woman and then cause him to vote against her
interest is of very little account." It was argued against the bill that
it would give the same right to the negro women as to the white. This is
no argument at all. There is no sense or justice in making the personal
earnings of a thrifty, industrious colored woman the property of her
good for nothing husband who will not work or save. It was also argued
against it that the woman had ample protection now. The very fact that
there was no such law upon the statute books shows that this was not the
case.

The legislature did a wise thing in passing this bill. It was but right
and just that they should. Let us give to the women of the state every
right that they should have and which is just and surely this measure
comes under both heads. - LaGrange Graphic.

(Transcribed 11/16/02 Lynn Cunningham)