Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 29.djvu/223

 FIFTY-FCURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. OHS. 274, 275, 303. 1896. 193 Sec. 2. That when potatoes are sold by weight the lawful weight of Sm °¤’v¤’¤¤¢¤¤¤· a bushel of potatoes shall be sixty pounds, under a penalty of five dollars for each offense, to be recovered in the police court of the District of Columbia, in the name of the said District, in the same manner as other fines and penalties are recovered. ’ Approved, May 30, 1896. CHAP. 275.-·An Act Empowering and directing the Secretary of the Navy to May 30, 1896. furnish four pieces of condemned cannon to the city of Hastings, Michigan. —;··-———— Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy g¤¤¢*€¤:,¤¢>;1¤=~¤i;¤·>¤;; is hereby authorized to furnish to the city of Hastings, Michigan, for lng5D1H;.. ° °° use in completing the soldiers’ monument, four pieces of condemned cannon, if in his judgment it may be consistent with the interests of the _ public service: Provided, That the United States shall not be subjected mg to any expense on account of such donation. Approved, May 30, 1896. CHAP. 303.-An Act To amend the laws of the District of Columbia as to married June 1, 1896. women, to make parents the natural guardians of their minor children, and for www other pllI`pOS€S. Bs it enacted In] the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the property, real and Dljistriqt ¤fC¤1¤mbi¤. persoual, which any woman in the District of Columbia may own at the A§§{,i§'2.,w°§Q°f,g ,,, time of her marriage, and the rents, issues, profits, or proceeds thereof, Pgvgngagqumdgm and real, personal, or mixed property which shall come to her by descent, p.s-iaiueiiuéh.' devise, purchase, or bequest, or the gift of any person, shall be and remain her sole and separate property, notwithstanding her marriage, and shall not be subject to the disposal of her husband or liable for his debts, except that such property as shall come to her by gift of her hus- ems from immmi. band shall be subject to, and be liable for, the debts of the husband existing at the time of the gift. Sec. 2. That a married woman, while the marriage relation subsists, a02g;:;. •fm•“¤P<>¤·l· may bargain, sell, and convey her real and personal property, and enter` into any contract in reference to the same in the same manner, to the same extent, and with like effect as a married man may in relation to his real and personal property, and she may, by a promise in writing, expressly make her separate estate liable for necessaries purchased by her or furnished at her request for the family. Sec. 3. That any married woman may carry on any trade or business, ¤*¤l·*= ¤>*¤¤¤· •*·=· occupation or profession by herself, or jointly with others, and perform any labor or services on her sole and separate account, and the earnings of any married woman from her trade, business, profession, occupation, labor, or services shall be her sole and separate property, and may be used and invested by her in her own name. _ Sec. 4. A married woman may contract, and sue and be sued in her ctfgbi “’ °°““““- own name in all matters having relation to her sole and separate prop- ns. n. c., sw. 120. erty, in the same manner as if she were unmarried; and her husband ’·"·“'“°“°°"‘ shall be joined with her, when the cause of action is in favor of or against both her and her husband. Sec. 5. Neither the husband nor his property shall be bound by any m§,;*j*;_il¥jgB¤;*_f¤{;*;*;{° such contract, made by a married woman, nor liable for any recovery 1:. s. n. c., sec. ved against her in any such suit, but judgment may be enforced by execu- P·"· tion against her sole and separate estate in the same manner as if she were unmarried, but she shall be entitled to all the benefits of all exemptions to the heads of families or householders. sern 1.-ver. 29--13