The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-25
OBJECTIONS NET
BY NEW MEASURE
Farmers Who Want Lime
Grinding Have Substi-
tute Measure.
ITS INTENT is CHANGED
Made to Appear as Bill Tor En-
ploymcnt of Desperate
Convicts

PlcS iiiSiiL Ct desperate
Convicts.
So many changes have been made in
the title and the general character of
the measure known as the lime grinding
bill. that II is prcba bic that few people
outside OF the General Assembly know
what IL now contains. The original
bill. with half dozen patrons. was
amended by the House Committee on
Finance, and is now on the calendar. II
| is being fought by those who intro
, duced IL. because il is regarded as Of
doubtful ronatitutionality. and because
1t is being champicned by some OF the
opponents of limo grinding. 1t Is but
fair 10 say that some members who viii
vote for a lime grinding bill prefer tho
committees amended dill.
To meet constitutional objections the
substitute whose passage IS now sought
las been changed SO as 10 mako It APP
pear that It's purpose Is inc employment
OF long-terin and desperate conyicts in
stead of the grinding OF limestone TO
be sold to farmers. In reply. the OPP
pcnents smile at the thought of en-
pioying long-tcrm and desperate con-
victs in handling costly machinery and
dynamite.
The situation IS mixed. but ic seems
J the substitute which foliowg will go
through the House with perhaps aome
I MINOR anienGnentS:
a bill to provide for tie working OF
certain long-term or desperate con
victs BY the Penitenticry Board. the
| Governor, the Commissioner of ArrI-
culture and the Secretary Of the State
1 Board Of Charities and Corrections, for
the manufacturing Of ground Limestone
and oyster shells. and incidentally for
Inc disposition Of the same and the by
products suitable for road construction.
to the citizens OF the State
Whereas. it is the policy of the state
to work as many OF tn: convicts con
fined in the penitentiary as possible
for tho building and maintenance OF
roads. and when on account of char
ncter or disposition II shall be expedi-
cnt SO TO work them. to provide suit
nble employment in quarries whera theI.
can DE guarded, and thair product sold
therefore
l. BE IT enacted by the General AS
sembly of Virginia. That the word
board whenever II shall appear In
this act shall be construed to mean the
Penitentiary Board, the Governor. Com
missioner OF Agriculture and secretary
! OF state Board of Charities ana Cor
rections.
:. That whenever the board shall be
OF opinion that 1t Is wise and expedient
10 DO So as many of the long-tern or
desperate convicts as can be proiitnbly
employed within the limits OF the an
pFoprlatlon made In this bill shall be
PUT 10 work in quarrying. getting out
ana grinding limestone and oyster
smells and 70 enable them to do so the
board heretofore constituted NAV ac-
/ oeiro by Gift, purchase or lease suit
apie limestone lands or quarries and
suitable deposits OF oyster shells con
:tHicht TO transportation BY rail o.,
"attr and shall cause the same to be
{ manufactured, so that tho product shan
pass through scivc Of not less than
ten meshes to the inrhs unless the pur
cHaser snail specifically contract for a
/ coarser product And said board Is AL
SO authorized to acquire land CON
shient TO the quarry Cor the erection
OF suitable buildings for tho conyicts
and other employees
D. The said board is now and be,ah
/ authorized to purchase and install NJ
cessary and suitable engines boIIer.
machinery and appliances, having re-
sara 10 durability and efficiency for
! .ne quarryins OF the stone and handling
( or the shells, for tbs crushing or M,
stone and shells and for LOADING ria
ground product upon cars boats wap
ohs or other vehicles for TRANSFORMATIONS
| ana snail see to II that competent and
reliable men are placed in charge NJ
SAID machinery. and whenever prac.ic
: able convicts shall be used for all tho
!
4. The said board in ordo .,
/ carry on its work shall disnosa n,
the ground limestone and shells
/ ana in the disposition thereor
and OF the by-products, shall have
! regard 10 the rights and interests
! thereof and of by-products, shall have
! iesaId 10 the rights and interests of
a. vac cii@ens OF the State and shall
] not sell TO any one purchaser more
! IMAM carload during any one wear a.
i there are any other applications tharn.
| LOT ana shall as far as possible hay.
! regard In making said sales To the
several sections OF the State, and II
sthii not be sold TO, any person except
! Tor his own use, but two or moro -
| sons in the same locality NAV toratha-
| order carload TO be distribuind ~
/ destination. a.
o. inc said ground limestone and
! GROUND oyster shells SO produced by
convict labor shall DO sold for ,as3
ana at a price which shall repav ,bn
! ior inc maintenance, guarding
/ ana service OF the convicts. for ~, ~,
! terest on the amount Invested a.,
/ machinery and for the wear ana ta,,.
ana up-keep of said machinery. And
! mo eald board shal! disrose OF am.
! oy -product OF quarry or from ovstnr
smells Tor road or other purposes for q
falr price TO any Gf the citizens or
ms Sla'e on the same terms and In
ths same manner. except as 10 oman.
NY. as ths crushed product 10 sold.
. The board shall keep accurate a.
| counts OF all money received and dig
ourSed and list of parties TO whom,
! tnS crushed limestone. crushed oystar
! smells ana by products shall be soils
and shall also keep an accurate oc'
I count OF the expense Of ngintensnno
| and guarding the convicts. ana tos
I amount due the State on account OF
! their services.
. All money received by tho board
! snaii be deposited in one or more OF
t.he oSnks having the right to receive
State money. TO the credit OF the bc,,rd
and shall be drawn hy cheek s,ensd hv
ths president Of the board ana show
ing by itemtzed statement ATTACHED tho
! purpose OF the CLAIM. which 1t sottIes
On the fret car, % -.