The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-22
JANUARY.


simple reason that il is q halfway
measure. The whole system ia wrong,
ss we have often pointed out. The State
has no right to engage in business in
competition with its citizens, either as
employers or employees. The peniten-
tiary factories are 8 dishonor to Virginia
and they should be abolished, Mr.
Bryans's bill is the bill for US and we
hope that it will pass.
"As to fiogging, we repeat that the
whipping post outside the panlsensiary
is no worse than the whipping post
inside. Let us have both or none Tia.
is consistency."-Richmond State.
The convict labor question is @ diff
cult n for the Legislature to solve just
now. Tho financial condition OF the
State requires economy in the manage.
ment OF tho p~enitentiary, and, while
from recent revelations, it appears that
abuses are existing there hat plainly
need %remedying, 1t must be admitted,
that from an economical standpoint, the
institution is doing much better for the
State than it might under different ar
engagements. At present there ia a con,
tract with a shoe company, which gives
employment to about 700 convicts. and
another with a tobacco company, en-.
pioying about $50 hands from the peni-
Tertiary, which, together with the work
on the State farm near Richmond, re-
turn a net profit to the Commonwealth
OF about $50, 600 q year.
The complaint is justly made that
this cheap labor of the penitentiary en-
tiers directly into competition with citi-
zens' labor and Thai it is unjust to the
latter to lessen the returns from their
work by such means. On the other
hand 1t is urged that to keep the con-
victs In enforced idleness would entail
q loss to the State Of at least Si5O, 600
agar, which, in the present condition of
its finances, would be burdensome. How
TO do justice to workingmen and at the
same tine save the State from q direct
loss Ia the problem that the members
OF the legislature nov have tefore
them, and, among the plans presented
the most feasible ieems to be the en-
ployment of the convicts in improving
the highways. building bridges, in the
erection Of buildings and on all other
works that are for the benefit Of the
people at large.
In the matter of road improvements,
especially, there Ia . great deal of work
to be done in this State. With good
thoroughfares and strong and durable
bridges, instead OF the miserable make.
shifts now in use all over the
wealth, there would be an improve
ment in the condition Of the farmer
that would, In g short time, greatly
enhance the value of land, and add
largely to the taxable wealth OF the
State.
Good roads would bring immigrants,
improve trade and promote production.
Flouriehing villages would spring up
where conduc iors OF country crossroads
stores now X out Q miserable exist
ence, ana substantial school houses,
commodious places OF worship and
homes OF elegance and comfort would
be the rule in the rural districts where
they are now the exception.
The experience of all communities
Which have made the improvement of
highways, matters Of special concern
and energetic effort fully demonstrates
this, and with the State working the
convicts on it's public ~thoroughfsres,
and the citizens OF townships and
counties energetically engaged in I'm.
proving their highways, q rapid and
permanent change for the better would
soon be affected in all sections OF the
commonwealth.
The legislature will, no doubt, give
the matter OF employing convict labor o
good share OF attention. 1t is only
feared that IN a multiplicity of plans
and q diversity of opinions nothing of
material benefit will be evolved, but as
Shequestion Of good roads is one of
paramount Importance to the material
advancement OF the State, IL is hoped
by combining legislation as to the en-
ployment of convict labor with enact.
ments for improving the highways OF
the State that results of o tangible and
beneficial Character will accrue to the
general public.
THE Westminster Gazstte is disposed
en- no faCotf0uH at tina qxnanaa NJ tho