The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-01-22
CONVICT BILL.
Regulating the Working Of COnvicts on the
Public Roads.

Regulating the Working Of Convicts on the
Public Roads.
The following is the bill of Representa-
tive Cough, relative to working convicls on
the public roads and bridges of the state:
Section BE it enacted by the legisla-
ture of the state of Texas, that hereafter
whenever the commissioners court of any
county in the state deem it advisable and
expedient for their county to have any part
of it, public roads or bridges constructed or
repaired by convict labor, such county
is hereby authorized through its
commissioners court to employ such
number of convcts as may now be confined
In the penitentlary of this state or may
hereafter he confined as may be deemed
necessary, not less than fifteen in number,
provided that only such cOnvicts shall be
worked on the public roads as are permit
ted under the rules governing the manage
ment of such convicts to be worked outside
the walls of the penltentiary.
Sec. 2, Whenever any county may de-
sire any conv!cts from the penitentiary to
work upon its public roads aud bridges the
commissioners court of the county shall
make an order declaring the number OF
ConyCts such county desires, PROVIDED
such number is not less than
| fifteen, and the court shall through
| the county judge of the county
| or some member of the commissioners
court, make application to the su lerlntend,
| ent of the penitenliary for the number CT
conyicts wanted, and if any particular race
or color is preferred the application shall so
state, and it shall further slate the time
when the COnvicts will be wanted, and no
cDnvicts should he let out to county Tor
shorter period thai six months.
Section 3. When an application shall
have been made to the superintendent OF
the penitentary as provided for IL the fore
going section, 1t shall be the duty of the SUI
perintendent to immediately notify the
person making the application for the con-
vcts if the class preferred can be furnished
at the time desired, and If so
/ the county shall immediately
make necessary arrangements to receive
| said conviCts at the time mentioned Ill the
application. Counties making applica-
! ii ons for Convicts shall have preference
over the application of any person. hrn''
| or CORPORAL on or association OF persons APP
| ply ng for ConviCts under contract Of any
cOnyicts that may be in the penitentiary
and liable under the rules of the peniten.
tiary management to be worked outside the
| walls, provided this act shall not in any
way prevent the carrying out of existing
contracts tor working convlcts.
Section 4. Counties employing convicts
shall pay all the necessary exrenses for
itentiary and returning them at the
expiration of the term anu all
expense necess nv for the safe keeping,
clothing, bedding, feeding and medicine,
| medical attention of the convicts, ana snail
not pay the state any wages for the use or
hire of said cOnvlcts exc pit as heretofore
| mentioned III this section. Inc superln-
tendent of the penitentiary shall appoint a
| sergeant with each lot of Conyicts sent out
who shall be the state agent under me su
per ntendent 10 see that the conyicts are
tie ned and worked in accordance with the
| iuIes and regulations of the penltentiary
| and the salary and board of such sergeant
| shall be paid by the county as part OF the
| expense for tie sale keeping of the con-
vets, provided that any county working
Couvicts shall not be required to pay such
! sergeant greater salary th9n that paid by
| The state for such service. The clothing
| and bedding for such cOnviCts shall be fur
| uished by the state TO the county having
them employed at actual COST but each
county may make lis own cont acts for
guards, board and other expenses Incident
10 the working of the Convcts.
See. 3 When cUlYICis are employed by
any county, they shall be work. upon the
pubic roads or bridges OF the county as dl-
ICCled by the commissioners court or under
their authority and IN tue manner pre-
SCrlhed 10y the rules and regulations OF the
penittnriiry management, except that
counties shall not be required to build any
houses or prisons for tine housing o. safe
keeping of the COnylcts, but may do so, and
| il the absence of houses the ConvIrts
| shall he furnished with good
and comfortable tents, and such number Of
guards shall he employed rs Will prevent
escape, and shall use such other means as
| will secure the safely of the COuviCts.
Section &. Counties desiring TO retain
Convcts for Il longer period than six months
may do so by notifying the superintendent
0 peuitrnlares of the lact at least lhlr y
daN before the expiration CT The term ioi
| which they may have the COW cts EN-
ployed. aud If at any time County M ~
not have the whole number Of conVicu
wanted aud there are convlCls III their owl
county who have not been delivered &
the peniltntiary and who are suita lie 10
ROAD work, the county may notify the
he sulerint ndt mt that IL will take suct
COnviUtS, wheIeupnn the superintendent
shall order such convicts o he turned owe
{" the county, to be Kept and worked in &C
cordance with the provisions of this act
and should any one or more of the cOnviCt'
employed urove intractaOe or un-afe To thu
| ,Ommunity tn retain them ut work. theI
the same may be returned to the peniten'
tiary and others furnished in their places
Seton I Whereas, There is no exis TIM
law authorizing the woI king of peni .n'iaI
couvicts on the public roads i'll this state
creates MI imperative public necessity re
quring tnst the rule requiring bills To bt
read on three several days be suspended
, and that tits act take effect from aud aftel
, It's passage.
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