Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-06
LABOR VEXES
Virginia Troubled as to EN-
pIoyment of Her Convicts.
ARE NOW MAKING SHOES
Public Sentiment Is Opposed to Re-
newal of Contract.
CHANGES IN ORGANIC LAW
Now Regarded as Probable That
Proposed Amendments to Consti-
tuition Will Be Defeated.
,ccial Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
| RICHMOND. Va, November S.
| The state is face to face with a con-
dition which is creating a. considerable
amount of interest. Within compare
lively short. time the contract now ex-
listing for the employment Of some 1900
men on shoes for concern with head
quarters in another state will expire.
| The laws require that all men serving
five years or under shall be available
| for road work.
| Because Of the lack of ample money
this provision of the law has not been
en- forced, and there are many men who
are today employed in the shops. The
directors Of the prison have begun con-
sideration of what shall be done with
the men in the prison. There is a grow
ing sentiment that the convicts shall
not be allowed to compete with honest
labor in making shoes for the people
at 40 cents a day. or at any price, ana
there is a demand that the men snail
be put to work on the highways Tor the
| benefit Of the people of the state. and
for the especial benefit Of the farmers.
At the same time there are men who
are under life sentence, and some In
for anywhere from fifteen to forty
years, and it is held unsafe to allow
these to have even chance to work on
the highways. Just how many or these
there are is not known at this time 1t
is known that II the contract Is renewed
the makers of shoes will have to pay
nearly double what has been the rate
per day for the men.
Complaint of Railroads.
The state corporation commission is
wrestling with two problems which af-
feet the public. One is the demand OF
the railroads of the state that shippers
Of stoves shall crate every stove that is
offered for Shipments proposition which
the stove men are resisting with might
and main The manufacturers say that
il they are forced to do this 1t will re-
suit In an advance in the cost of stoves,
which will have to be borne by the pur-
chasers. The railroads hold that by rea-
son Of the excessive claims for damages
due to breakage they are losing money
when they handle stoves.
Then it is pointed out that Grated
stoves-the sheet-iron sort-are invariably
lama ged more in transportation than the
cast-iron product. The commission has
ascertained that all the railroads in the
south are engaged in the same demand
and that the commissions Of other states
are dealing with the matter. The case
will be heard here November o.
The other case in which the railroad
is defendant is that made by the Trav-
elers' Association of Virginia against the
Norfolk and Western. 1t Is alleged that
at Lynchburg the road has sought to
create a monopoly by favoring one bag
gage transfer company to the exclusion
of others. that excessive rates are de-
manded and paid to the favored COM
pany. which enjoys. unusual privileges.
The travelling men are backing the fight,
and the case has been submitted to the
state corporation commission for deci-
sion. The railroad contended that the
commission had no jurisdiction in the
case. but the members Of that body held
otherwise The case has been fully pre-
scented and is now in the hands of the
commission.