Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-11
CONVICT-LAB0R BILL.
PROVISIONS OF THE RECENT ACT0F AS
sEMBLY IN THIS SUBJECT.
How Counties and Local Railroad Compa-
nies May Obtain COnvicts-Provisions
Of Existing Contracts, &C., &c.

proyement
Whereas the convicts in the State
penitentiary should be so employed as
to lessen the burdens of the taxpayer
and TO relieve the free workingman OF
unjust competition; and whereas good
county roads and local railroads. are
most potent factors in the development
of the resources Of State, and thereby
add more than any other means to her
taxable value now, therefore,
l. BE ii enacted by the General As
senbly Of Virginia, That the Governor
be, and he is hereby, authorized to fur
nish to the board of supervisors of any
county in the State, upon a requisition
approved by the judge Of the County
Court, convicts whose terms Of service
at ~tc,. time Of tie application for them
docs cot exceed five years to work on
the public roads Of the counties under
such regulations as the Board of Su-
peryisors may prescribe in conformity
with this act, and under such condi.
tions as to safekeeping as the Governor
and said boards of supervisors may
agree upon: Provided that if the su-
peryisors shall deem it best that the
convcts furnished be employed on any
turnpike OF macadamized roads in their
respective counties the said boards
may so employ them or arrange for
their employment on such roads with
the companies authorized to construct
such roads.
>. The said convicts shall be transport
ed from and returned to the penitentiary,
and shall be fed, guarded, and furnished
with medical attention at the expense
Of the counties while in their charge.
3. The said boards Of supervisors shall
have the power to employ such agents,
oyerseers, and guards as they may deem
necessary for the safekeepng and pro-
per management Of the conyicts in their
charge. and such agents, overseers, AMI
guards shall have the same authority to
compel labor, TO enforce obedience, and
to prevent escape as the agents or Of
ficeIs Of the same grade in the State
penitentary.
1. After providing for all demands
under the foregoing sections, the Gov
ernOr is hereby authorized to hire to
any railroad company in this State to
which counties are subscribers any con-
yicts which may remain in the peni-
Tertiary, or who may be employed in
any quarry or on any railroad to which
counties are not subscribers. whose
term Of service at time Of application
for them does not exceed ten years
Provided existing contracts can be law
fully cancelled.
). The said conyicts shall be fed,
clothed guarded, and furnished with |
medical attention and medicine by the /
State while at work for said companies, /
and the said companies shall pay the .
cost Of transporting said cOnyicts from |
and returning them to the penitentiary,
and shall furnish suitable quarters for
them while on their works. and in addi-
tioR 3 I'LL pay forty cents for each days
labor actually performed and the said
company shall pay, lii lawful money Of
the United States, into the Treasury Of
the State at the end of each quarter
sum sufficient to pay the expenses of
feeding, clothing, guarding, and medical
attention, paid by the State, as provided
for in this section, and the balances due
the State for the hire OF said conyicts
NAV be paid in the bonds Of the coun-
ties subscribed to said companies.
6. The railroads projected to run
through counties without railroads, and
through those having the least number
of miles of taxable railroad shall be
first supplied. After all demands
coming under the foregoing provisions
have been filed, the Governor may hire,
at his discretion, all remaining conyicts,
should there be any, to any contractor,
to be employed on any work Of internal
improvement in the State on the same
conditions, except that the State shall
receive as compensation therefor not
less than eighty cents in lawful money
for each days labor actually performed
I. All railroad companies or other
works Of internal improvements who
may avail themselves of the provisions
Of this act thereby agree to pay all
taxes, dues, and demands due to the
State that may hereafter be assessed
against them in lawful money Of the
nited States, and not in coupons.
:. All taxes levied on and collected
from the aforesaid railroads by the
counties whose bonds have been paid
TO the State, as hereinbefore provided,
shall be turned into the Treasury of
he State and placed to the credit Of the
interest and principal of the aforesaid
,ounty bonds.
.. ANY county or company that shall
obtain conyicts under this act shall be
responsible for their safekeeping, and
{ any convict shall escape whilst under
he control Of such county or company
inder this act, said county or company
hall pay to the State $50.
10. This act shall be in force from
Is passage.
THE AVAILABLE CONNICTS.
There are usually on the books of
be penltentary from 1000 to 1925
prisoners. Of these 500 men and
IS women are employed in the shoe
hop under contract with Josiah Davis
, Co. According to the view of some
his contract has more than five years =
o run. According to the view Of the :
legislative committee it expires in May, !
SS7, and the State can now call upon :
)ayis Il Co. to deliver up $50 of the =
hen they are now working. !,
In the tobacco-factory, under con- q
ract with Larus Il Brother, there are "
5 men and boys employed. This con- !,
act will not expire until some time =
ext year. +
The State receives on an average !
bout 40 cents per day for these pri- J.
)ners. !,
About l4S men are hired TO the :;
outh Atlantic and Ohio railroad, and "
re now al work near Bristol. The :
tate guards, feeds, clothes, and doc -
rs these convicts free Of expense to "
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