The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-01
'LESNER PLAN FOR
STATE CONVICTS
Ii Norfolk Senator's Idea Is En-
dorsed, Neither Thacher Co. Nor
Misunderstanding CO. Would
Be Allowed to Utilize a
Single Convict.
r 1 c HIM ND. yA-snecia1

- II VI " y ~, NA.-SDecial-
SonVicts in the State penitentiarv
VIII be worked on the roads excent
such number as may be necessary n
make clothing, utensils and all other
drucles that may be used in anv and
al state Institutions Of whatever char
$500, II a Dill offered in the Senate
| IO1ay meets favorable consideration
Inc bill was presented by Senator
Lesner, of Norfolk
Chuer no circumstances are the con-
Vlcts 10 enter into any sort of com
peution with free labor, except insofar
for ' tha may De necessary to provide
LOT the wants of State Institutions
NO goods are to be sold to any pri-
Ndte parties at any price The outDat
IS restricted to the State institutions.
senator Lesner would put all other
S con on the public highways, the
OH making appropriation therefor
from the funds of the State.
The bill provides:
L. Ihat no contract shall be hereaf-
ter made for the hiring to private
persons or corporations Of any of the
convicts in the State penitentiarv-
nothing, however, herein Contained
snail be construed as interfering with
the existing contract
z. The board of directors of the
State penitentiary shall, as soon as
may De, after the expiration of the
eNstlnS contract with the Thacher
Boot and Shoe Company, establish
within the State penitentiary a man
utacturtng plant for such articles as
In their discretion it shall be proper
10 economically make-of clothing.
utensils, etc.-for the use of the public
institutions OF the State and the in
mates thereof
3: 1t shall be the duty of the su-
perlntendent Of each Of the public in
sututlons OF the State, on or before
the first of September of each wear.
frnNn
peniteniary with a list Of the proba-
Ole amount Of clothing utensils. etc.
as viii probably be needed by the re-
spective institutions for the ensuing
year. Each public institution shall
pay to the proper official of the pen
itenuary the market price for such
goods as shall be received. II shaI,
be unlawful for the penitentiarv AN.
thorities TO sell or otherwise dispose
OF any article SO manufactured other
wise than as herein provided.
4. 1t is hereby declared To he N,
established policy OF the State that
such conNicts as are not necessarily
used In manufacturing and for other
proper purposes within the peniten.
tiary shall be used for the imnrove-
ment OF the public roads OF the stat
as Tar as possible. and the act ap-
proved March 8. 1906. known az the
AaSSlter-WltherS act. except in SO ia,
as the same may be in conflict with
~"S PRIV iSioH neTeln contained. shall
govern in such matters
>. The sum OF fifty thousand (S5O
VVO.OO) dollars is hereby appropriated
out OF any money in the treasury Tor
the purpose OF eQuipping the peni-
,entiarN with the necessary appliances
for IT uufacfurinv
8. The additional sum OF three hun
dred thousand ($300. 00Ol dollars is here
py appropriated out OF the money In
the treasury for the year 1919 for m,
purpose OF carrying the provisions OF
inns act into effect; such appropriations
shall De IN lieu of all other appropria-
uons provided for. for the purpose OF
alolng IN the construction and improve
ment OF the public roads
Z. The superintendent OF the peni-
tehtiary shall have charge OF an road
work. subject. however, to the existing
statutes concerning the duties OF the
Highway Commissioner
y. IN lieu OF the provision in the exist
ing statutes providing for the paving
out OF the state treasury TO the coun-
Ties or the state for road work the
superintendent of the penitentfarN.
snail furnish each county With the
equivalent amount in the Ia Dor of CON
vlctS, said amount TO be computed al
the actual cost Of keeping and main
tanning such convict force
y Except as herein provided the
government OF the penitentiary and the
WORKING OF conNicts upon the public
road shall be as provided Tor by EXIST
ing statutes.