egree of not more than twenty years'
imprisonment; for second degree, not more than ten. No minimum penalty
is named. Trials may be held privately, and it is the testimony of the
various protective associations of women that it is almost impossible
to secure convictions.

The laws contain many provisions for the benefit of female employes;
among them one that if any employer in New York City fail to pay wages
due up to $50, none of his property is exempt from execution and he
may be imprisoned without bail.

SUFFRAGE: In 1880 a law was enacted by the Legislature declaring that
"no person shall be deemed ineligible to serve as any school officer,
or to vote at any school meeting, by reason of sex, who has the other
qualifications now required by law."

It was the undoubted intention to give School Suffrage to all women by
this law, but at once Attorney-General Hamilton Ward rendered a
decision that it did not apply to cities but only to places where
separate "school meetings" were held, mainly country districts and
villages.

In 1881 another attempt was made by the Legislature to confer School
Suffrage on all women by striking out the word "male" in an old
statute of 1864, but as it failed to amend the very portion of the law
which referred to School Commissioners, this left the condition
unchanged.

In 1886 the Legislature tried it again by enlarging the qualifications
of voters, but as the words "school district" were used it did not
succeed in giving the suffrage to any women except those who already
possessed it.

In 1892 the Legislature once more came boldly to the rescue, and
undertook to enact that women should have a vote for _District_ School
Commissioners, which would bring under its provisions all the women of
the State. The Act read: "All persons without regard to sex, who are
eligible to the office of School Commissioner, and have the other
qualifications required by law, shall have the right to vote for
School Commissioner."

As the Act of 1880 had said specifically that "no person shall be
deemed ineligible to serve as any school officer by reason of sex,"
this seemed to settle the question. The Act further provided that "All
persons so entitled to vote for School Commissioner shall be
registered as provided by law for those who vote for county officers,
and whenever School Commissioners are to be elected it shall be the
duty of the county clerk to prepare a ballot to be used exclusively by
thos