Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-26
CONVICT LABOR.
Ron. II. L. CARTER'S PLANS

Meeting Of the senate COMMITTEE Last NtRh'
/ 90 Devils. Prsper Measures 70 carry Our ths
Parry Platform.
Mr.. Carter, Of Richmond. introduced
4 IN the House yesterday bill Ito
amend and re-enact section l6 OF chap
ter CCYI., and 70 repeal section G3 OF
chapter CCVI., Code Of 1873, in re-
lation to cOnvIcts.
Ii repeals first the law now IN force
allowing convicts to be taught mechanic
arts. C.. trades--and requires them
Ito be kept to the hardest labor suit
able to their sex or fitness -; and sec
ond II repeals the Law authorizing the
Governor 10 hire out conyictS for manu-.
featuring purposes.
The bill was referred.
Mr.. Carter also offered the follow
ing
For the purpose Of carrying out in
good faith the pledges made by both
political parties in the State, to adyo-
cate legislation that will carefully guard
against the conflict by convict-lsbor
with the honest laboring-men and me
chanics Of Virginia therefore, be 1t
Resolred, That the Governor be and
is hereby directed TO release, and de-
clare null and void, the contracts enter
ed into by Samuel G. Fairbanks, Larus
Brothers. Joseph Davis a Co., with the
Board OF Directors and Superintendent
Of the Virgiaia Penitentiary for the hire
Of cOnvicts confined in said Institution
for the purpose Of carrying on the
mandatory Of barrels, chewing tobac-
co, and shoes Referred.
MEETING OF THE SENATE COMMIT
TEE.
4 meeting of the Committee on Pub
lie Institutions and Education was held
last evening In the Senate chamber.
Every member Of the committee was
present-viz., Senator Loyensteln chair
man. and Senators Koiner, Wingheld,
Keezell, Warwick, Jones. Stubbs, Sta
pies, Rhea, Gaines, and Norton. There
were also in attendance on the commit
tee Senators Ellyson, Williams, ivy
man, Mcdonald, and Messrs. Fulker-
son, Oglesby, and Bolen, Alderman
Page. and a number Of gentlemen IN
terested in the hiring Of conyicts.
Mr.. Staples, to whom had been re-
ferred the validity of the present con-
tracts, submitted a report on the subject,
ID which he held that the Superlnten-
dent and directors had exceeded their
authority II hiring out couyicts for a
longer time than their term Of Office,
and recommended that the contracts be
abrogated, not only as matter right,
but because the platforms Of both par
ties require that the contract system
shall be abolished.
The report was passed by.
The committee then considered bill
introduced by Senator Staples - 70 pro-
vide for the working OF couvicts N tn,
construction Of railroads owned by mu-
nicipal corporations. and providing for
the hiring Of the same. The commit
tee was addressed by Senator Staples
IN favor OF the bill. Mr. Nicholas
Rufiin, Of Danyille, opposed the bill,
He recommended that bill be passed
allowing such counties as desire con
yicts for working on the public road
to have them, and the rest TO be d.
vided among the different railroads al
the rate OF a. cents per day.
/ Senator Williams opposed the genera
bill introduced by Mr.. Staples, and ad-
yocated a bill to hire to the Virginia
and kentucky railroad 300 conyicts al
75 cents per day, payable in the bond.
Of the company.
Colonel F. o. Ruftin addressed the
committee IN favor Of granting $50 con
victs TO aid II constructing a cutoff Il
James rlver to connect with Dutch Gap,
and thus shorten the distance between
Richmond and Newport News.
At 1890 the committee rose to meet
again rldsy night