Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-14


Carter, Of Richmond.
F. J he following is the bill introduced
in the House Of Delegates by Hon.
Henry l.. Carter, OF Richmond. 1t is
now pending in the Committee on Asy-
lums and Prisons, and Mr.. Carter is
persistently urging favorable action
and hopes to get it in few days:
Whereas public policy requires that con-
vict labor should not be brought In compe-
tition with free labor. 10 is due 10 the work.
ingmen and mechanics Of the country that
convict labor be employed on county roads
and the Internal Improvements OF the
State, so as not To Interfere with full wages
OF the honest labOring men and tax
payers OF the state; that such labor should
/ be employed I'm manner which VIII NOT
Increase their buIdens; and 10 that end hll
cOnVicts should be employed In such man
ner as to increase the facilities OF the people
for the profitable operations OF property. To
giving emplOymenttoi to increased mum bers OF
its citizens and To the increasing Of the
taxable values OF the state. Humanity de
mnnds that the criminals now confined In
the prison should not he crowded into cells
TO the injury OF their health. or to Increase
the liability To disease, and the limits OF
the present building being insufficient for
the accom- mediation OF it's present inmates,
work should be provided outside to re-
lieve their condition; and whereas the
bounties Of the State have been uneVenly
distributed in lending It's aid on the con-
strnctiOn OF works OF Internal improve
ments, whilst the debt incurred Is n
burden on each and every county aud
town in the State, whether any adyant-
age Is derived from the consideration
OF the improvement or not the state
therefore. owes TO those sections who are
unproyided with modern methods OF NOV
Ing products some means to enable them to
do so, as investors cannot be tempted to
build their local roads without State.
county, or municipal co operation. And as
the State is inhibited by constitutional pro.
visions from becoming Interested I'm works
OF internal Improvement, and cannot,
therefore, give pecunlary aid. relieving
those unequally burdened communities, IL
should devote the services OF all able bodied
conyicts at It's disposal to the Improvement
Of county roads and the building OF local
railroads dependent upon county aid for
their construction: therefore
Be Il enacted JU The General .issenlbiy Of
Virginia, ], That the Governor Is Aereby en-
powered to deliver all able bodied conyicts
in the State penitentlary, those employed
upon other works than are here matter
specified, irrespective OF existing contracts.
TO any county in the State which may de-
sire TO employ said convicts for the i'm
proyement OF It's county roads or other pub
lie improvement in the county which do
not require skilled labor; said cOnvicts TO
be delivered TO the counties upon order for
warded to the Governor from the Board OF
Supervisors OF said county; and whilst un-
der the control OF said Board OF Supervisors
Of the county the State shall feed. clothe,
and guard them. and provide proper medl-
cal attendance and medicine at the expense
Oft the State; the county supervisors TO pro-
vide suitable and comfortable quarters for
said conyicts when not engaged at work on
roads or other public Improvements In said
counties.
q ConVicts furnished county supervisors,
as herein specified. shall be used III such
county for the purpose OF extending any
railroad through said county, orin perform
ing the common labor nece ssary In the
formation OF the r0ad-b bed OF any new rail-
road or railroads TO which the residents OF
said county by law may subscribe. The
cost OF the convlcts so furnished, together
v ith the cost Of feeding. clothing, guardisg,
m medical attendance, and medicine, and the
necessary transportation TO ana rom the
penitentlary, shall be paid by said railroad
or railroads using said conviets' the amount
TO be deducted from the subscription by the
cot,nty TO the capital stock OF said railroad.
8. Tie State shall receive from the
county not less than forty cents PER Jay TOT
each and every day worked by each convict
upon any rsilroad. as described In section
2 OF this act, payable in bonds OF the county
subscribed TO said railroad, or otherwise, as
NAY be determined by the Governor. 70
protect the intere 4 OF the state.
4. Requisition from county supervisors
upon the Governor for cOnvicts shall be
compiled with In the following order:
LIST Those counties without any intern Al
improyement: those counties having me
least number OF m lies of railroad taxable.
I'd Those counties which, in the opinion
OF the Governor, are next most Ia need OF
assjs.apce OF convicts In the Construction
OF county roads and road bed formation OF
5. All acts or parts Of c.cts that conflict
with this act are hereby repealed.
8. This act shall be In force from Its pas
sage,