The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-04
THREE SESSIONS
OF EACH E. !. BRANCH a ]
The Lawmakers Putin. Several Hours
ofHard Work.
MONEY BILL IN The HOUSE.
The Appropriation Act Was Consid-
cred at Lcnsth- Legislature Fa-5
vors Popular Vote for. Cni,od
States Senator.
The Lawmakers Putin Several Hours
MONEY BILL IN The HOUSE.
States Senator.

The Senate and tho House each held
three sessions yesterday. a great many
bills. some Of them Of much importance,
We're passed.
u7le Senate met at noon Senator
Fairfax, who has been confined TO mis-
room by indisposition for more than
week. was in his seat. He has had
severe attack OF the grip and has lost
twenty pounds of flesh.
Senator Lupton, from the joint special
committee that investigated the contract
between the Commonwealth and the
Davis Boot and Shoe Company. presented
the following report. which was ordered
60 be printed:
TO the General Assembly OF Virginia:
Your committee. appointed to invest-
gate the contract made between the
State and the Davis Shoe Company, bess
leave 10 make the following report:
We find that the Davis Shoe Com
pany and the State Of Virginia entered
into a contract for number OF Years
past, for the working of the conVicts an
the penitcntiary, and that a series OF
contracts for that purpose have been
made. the contracts covering the years
from 1850 10 1887 and from 1887 to 1893,
the contracts made III 1891, and 1897 being
submitted to us.
We find that a contract exists, made In
1899 tor the employing OF convicts'
which was to run until 1906.
We find that during the year 1898 a
contract was made the - day OF.
1Saa for the employment of convicts,
which was to begin in 1906 and 10 run
until 1913. under which contracts the
State was 10 receive for each CONVEX
employed under said contract the sum
of forty-two cents per diem
THE INVESTIGATION.
Your committee entered into an IN
vestgation To learn, if possibie. the rea-
son of this last contract being made so
far ahead of the expiration of the con-
tract existing at the time it was entered
into and your committee also desired to
find If this contract was advantageous
to the State, or il a better contract
could have been made.
The testimony shows that the SUI
perintendent of the penitentiary, with
the advice and consent Of the Governor.
has a right, under section 4l12 of the
CODE, to enter into contract for the en-
1,ioIment of convicts in the penltenuary
and it was under this authority mat
these contracts We're made.
The testimony further shows that the
Superintendent, in making this contract
acted under and by the consent OF the
Governor, ana also llldt tlltS 4op1i VI ~
rectors of the pcnitentiary We're called
into consultation and that said new con-
tract was approved by the entire Board,
they signifying their approval by sigh
ing the same.
IT appears from the testimony that the
Davis Shoe Company requested renewal
OF their contract, and it was at their
suggestion and instance that the matter
was taken up and the last contract made
for
were that it was the usual custom to
make new contracts from three to seven
wears before the expiration of the old
CONTRACTS. as was shown by the previous
contracts made. and that the permanent
character of the business engagements
required to be made by the Davis Shoe
Company made it desirable that they
should know. that their plans would
not be disturbed. in order that they
might make their engagements Win
safety.
VALUABLE PLANT
The State officials who testify. say,
also. that they entered into the contract
because they had been contracting with
the Davis Shoe Company for a long Pc
Rod OF time. and that their relations
had been entirely satisfactory. The
Davis Shoe Company, by reason of these
contracts. had placed in the penitentiary
manufacturing plant, and they thought
the contract made with them was for the
best interest of the State.
The testimony shows that no publicity
Was given TO the fact that new contract
was to be made for the employment of
coavicts in the penitentiary. and no eff
fort was made 10 find il better con-
tract could be made with persons or
shoe manufacturers other than the Davis
4 oft bn pf hi
rectors testified that he saw no recessi-
ty for this renewal so far ahead Of the
expiration OF the old contract, and that
he signed it reluctantly.
An examination OF the contract shows
that il reserves to the Davis Shoe Com
fany the right to rescind this contract up
on sixty day notice, and the forfeiture
Of 5000 while no such right IS reserved
TO the State. thus binding the State for
II period OF thirteen years. during which
period the State can take advantage Of
no better contract. while the said com
pary can reScind at any time, upon the
above forfeiture
Your committee endearored TO find the
value Of the plant of the Davis Shoe
Company now in the pentcntiary, but
beyond its taxable value shown by the
Commissioner of the Revenues books of
the city of Richmond, no valuation could
s be obtained.
A EXPERIMENTATION
Your committee would state that if it
Is the policy OF the State TO permit the
oonyicts to be employed in any branch
of manufacturing, and if 1t is evident that
such policy is permitted by the provisions
of section ZIP, the manufacture of boots
and shoes. as now conducted, appears to
interfere less with free labor in the State
than any other branch of industry which
can be successfully introduced. and
your committee would recommend that.
II said policy of employing convicts in
manufacturing is continued, law be
passed requiring the hiring of said con-.
victs by the Superintendent of the .peniten-
,tiary with due notice. and requiring pub
lcity TO be given 10 the fact that rev
contracts are 10 be made.
In conclusion, your committee beg leave
to say that they are Of the opinion that
the States officials who had charge Of
this contract acted as they thought best
for the States interest. and therefore,
these officials should not be subjected to
any adverse criticism on account of their
connection with the contract.
EDWARD LYLE
S. L. LUPToN.
J. w. GREGORY,
T. c. PITCHER,
E. C. FOLKtcS