The record-union., 1896-05-13
SUPERVISORS CONVENTION.
Question of Employment of Convict
Labor Discussed.

SAN JOSE, May 12-The Supervisors
convention this morning occupied its
time in exchanging views on the en-
ployment of prison labor on highways.
The general opinion prevailed that in
building mountain roads, where it is
convenient to the house prisoners in
the branch jails, and where there are
enough prisoners to warrant the eX
pense of guards, they could be profita
bly, employed, but in valley roads and
other places where they antagonize free
labor their employment is to be depre
Gated.
The Legislature will be petitioned to
enact laws favoring convict labor on
road work if not injurious to free labor.
1t was voted to give moral support to
the jubilee festival at Monterey July
9TH, and that every county contribute
one stone for the ,Sloat monument.
In discussing the feeding of prison
ers, it was developed that the mini
mum cost is, at Sacramento, 10 cents,
and the maximum of 30 cents at Sam
MateO.
After recess resolutions were adopted
III favor of petitioning the Legislature
and requesting it to accept the grant of
! ,000, 900 acres of arid land of the pub
lie domain made by the last United
States Congress to California, and that
the money derived from its sale be used
il the betterment of the State high
ways; that the Legislature be asked to
enact a law regulating the width of all
tires of wheeled vehicles based upon
their carrying capacity; thanking the
Board of Public Highways for their
manifest interest in the convention, and
favoring the continuance of convict Ia
Dor in preparation of road material at
Folsom prison.
A resolution was adopted favoring the
appointment of a committee TO present
the resolutions passed by the conven-
ton to the next Legislature, and Chair
man Greeninger named Supervisors
Aver, Field, Holbrook, Henderson and
Church.
The following resolution introduced by
Woodward of Los Angeles was adopted:
Whereas, Under the existing statute
there is no remedy for the property hold
ers along the line of any road or ada
cent thereto TO make necessary improve
mentS to said roads as they in their
judgment may deem requisite for the
advancement of their interests; there
fore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
convention of Supervisors of the vari-
Gus counties of the State assembled in
the city Of San Jose on May II, 1896,
that the Legislature be petitioned to
enact a law providing that when a ma
jority of the property by petit
ton in due form requesting that they
be set aside into a special district, the
Board of Supervisors may, in their judg-
ment form such a district consisting of
all property abutting or contiguous to
or along the proposed line of road to
be opened, constructed or improved,
and said district shall include all prop
erty as may be directly benefited by
such improvement. The Board of
Supervisors shall proceed to levy a tax
not to exceed 81 on the 500 of assessed
valuation of all property in said dis
trict, in addition to all other taxes
levied, and said tax shall be collected at
the same time and in the same manner
as other taxes until said Improvement
is completed.
r. c. Irvine of the State Bureau of
Highways introduced the following
resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That we recommend to the
Legislature the passage of such laws as
will enable the various Boards Of Super
visors to classify the roads into three
classes, State highways, county thor
oughfares and district roads. State
roads to be built and maintained by the
State at large, county thoroughfares to
be built and maintained by tax on
all property in each county, and dis
trict roads to be built and maintained
by tax on property in said districts.
Los Angeles was chosen as the place
for holding the next annual convention.
The convention will adjourn sine die
at noon tomorrow, and the afternoon
will be devoted to drive of inspection
to the various county buildings and over
the roads in various directions.