The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-28
WOOD WILL Make
PRISONERS WORK
Law Ample to Put Jailbiris on
Public Highways at
Once.
Fifteen HUNDRED ARE IDLE
Roanoke Opposes Higher Tele-
phone Rates-Agricultural
Specimens.
Fifteen HUNDRED ARE IDLE

Under the State law. jail prisoners
may be placed IN the county roads. so
il appears. In a letter written yester-
dav to Major j. B. Wood. Superintend-
emit of the Penitentiary, Governor
Mann quotes from the statute. leaving
its execution to Major Wood.
IT is provided. he says, that upon
written application OF the Superinteno-
ent of the Penitentiary, the judge u
the Circuit Court OF any county or the
Judge Of the Corporation Court OF any
city shall in term or vacation. uh1esS
such prisoner shows good cause 10 inc
contrary, order any male person con-
fined in Jail over the age OF siAteeh
years, convicted OF misdemeanor OF
any otfense deemed infamous in Ia"
or for failure to pay a rne or penaES
or for any violation OF an ordinance
If any city or town. to work on INC
State convict road force. provided that
prisoners convicted OF violation OF
CITY or town ordinances snail be liable
primarily to work in the chain gangs
or public works within such cities or
towns, at the request Of the proper
authorities"
Heavy Cost to State.
This letter is the result OF the con-
ference held between state omc!als
Thursday afternoon. At that time the
following facts were. according TO the
letter to Major Wood. presented:
That the criminal expenses last
year in the counties were $ls1,2l9.I2. OF
which over one-third. or $66.Sls.so. was
for board OF prisoners. the criminal
expenses in our cities during the same
period were $l37,soa.o7. OF which over
one half. or $7S.l772o. was for board
fa~ ne -
counties and five cities ~rim'nal sx
penses were s25 a month and under; in
twenty eight counties and four cities,
$50 a month and under: in twenty coun-
ties and one city, 800 a month and
under; in nine counties and nine cities.
over 800 a month each. Criminal ex-
penses were largest in the counties OF
Alexandria, Allegheny. Elizabeth city.
Henrico. Nansemond. Norfolk, Warwick
and Wise and in the cities OF Aexan-
dria. Clifton Forge. Danviile, Lynch
burg. Newport News Norfo Dix. Peters
burg. Portsmouth, Richmond. Roanoke
and SUFFOLK. You stated to the confer
ence that the greatest number OF JAIL
prisoners you had at any one time on
the road force was 500, while in the
county and city jails IN August 81
last there were 1888 prisoners. with
no report from Bristol and Danville
and exclusive OF the men on the road
force"
These facts, continues the Governar.
show that the State is supporting in
idleness not less than 1900 prisoners.
many Of whom ought to be working
on the roads, land all OF whom" he
says would be benefited morally and
physically by work in the open air. and
II made to work for the State might
conclude that it would be better TO
keep the law and work for themselves
and their families. The State High
way Commissioner has continuous
need for more men"
While the jailers are not required
to report the prisoners T. the Super
intendent Of the Penitentiary. il Is be-
lieved they would do SO II the matter
is taken UP with these Officers and
with the judges. so that report may
be made on the LIST and 18th OF each
month and the prisoners taken away
at once for use on road forces.