The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-20
INSIDE WORK FOR
BAD men ONLY.
N
House Passes Convict Labor
Bill AS Worked Out by
Committee
CHILD AND FEMALE
LABOR LAWS FAVORED
Dreamer and Byrd Bills Are
Ordered to Engrossment.
No Veto Power on
Amendments

Yesterday was full OF events Of the
Arst Importance In the General AZ
Sembly Of Virginia. In the House
tho Throckmorton bills requ<n1ng that
M convfcts, save those wUo are too
dangerous for such use, shall be en-
plOyed upon the public roads OF the
6tatc and that the remainder shall
be employed on such contracts and
III such manner ~ the supertnteE-
dent OF the penitentiary and the peni-
tAntiary board may decide upon. with
the confirmation and approval OF the
Governor - Virginia and the se..re-
tAfy OF the State Board Of Charities
and coTrsctiops
These U1cacurss were the product
Of the work Of tho joint COMMITTEES on
Rpad1 and ara now before the Senate,
II which they were introduced by
SENATOR Lesner. They. hays been set
a@ = special and continuing order for
Thursday by the Senate. The bill
carrying into effect the work Of the
joint committee. known ~ House bill
No. az. was passed by a vote OF
sS to ~. Efforts made by Mr..
Cr&Amer. Of Richmond. to have the
vote reconsidered we're OF no avail.
Features of the Law.
The features OF the new law are
- follows:
II shall be lawful for the court in
tn discretion instead Of sentencing
the prisoner to the penitentiary. and
In ieu thereof. to sentence him to
hard labor on the public roads and
other public works for = period Of
time equal TO the term Of confinement
IN the peNtsnttary fixed by law: that
On and AFTER May !, 1914 fwhen the
Present shoe company contract ex-
pafeS1. all male prisoners confined In
tho penitentiary shall be subject TO
work on thu State convict road
Force or, other public works. but such
f1Myicts ~ the superintendent OF
80 penitenttaFy. - account OF ply
s1l cSN4ls$eA. charactss pr dispss-
Aau deeSn Il unsafe to b. pat
- tlls conyfet te40 Cofce Or ether
nn1lic works naAy ~ hired out to
employed by the peaiteutfary board In
wHfk for the state a tho pentfen
ttxfy or NJ tho 6tate farm; provided.
tlsat the number Of convIcta 70 hired,
&xElusive OF women. shall not exceed
nye hundred: provided. further. that
fhA present contract shall not be- re-
tfEwed. nor shall any contract for
the hire OF eonvtets In the peniten-
ttary be made II 1t DO found practi-
cable 70 work them without q con-
tract. and. in case contract be en-
tered into for the hire Of convictr,
the s1mc may be for a period not in
s9cess OF Ave years and the super
ihtcndent shall execute the contract
on the part OF the State, but only
with the, consent and approval OF
tho board Of directors Of the pcni-
teutiafy. the Governor Of virginia.
and the secretary Of the state Board
Is Charities and Corrections. or a
majority. OF them. the board Of direc-
tses to be counted as one: and. pro-
vided, further. that the tasks pro-
v1dcd for under such contract shall
- liked By the superintendent OF the
pAnitentiary.
Refuses 70 Take Other Action.
After the House had voted to adopt
tho measure. Of which the above In a
condemnation. Mr.. Creamer endeavor-
"a to have his bill passed which for
6tds the board Of directors Of the
state penitentiary from making any
c0ntract Tor the hire Of the convicts
without the specific authorizations IT
the General Assembly. II was held
by members discussing It that in the
hills Just passed the House had fixed
the method OF employing the convicta.
and that the passage Of the Dreamer
bill would serve merely to confuse
snf woua6 aprobebty undo the otascr
I4616ta1ton. and might serve Is keep
the convtcts absolutely In idiencss
from May !. 1913, 10 the meeting Of
the General Assembly In January.
1914. BY = vote Of s. to 2: tho
CtNamer measure was defeated.
~ Projects W0uAon and Chtldrca.
= Favorable action was taken by the
House on the Creau1cr bill regulating
~ hou<s 81 laAeE m factories anA
nnaanfAGt1rtng establishments where
x&paAles snd children are employed ~
y n No y ihaect ~ 4h0 LII Al.
u prohibit the employment OF fe-
mAleo or childrSn under fourteen
ypars o. IAge from being worked more
tkAm ten hourS' out Of the twenty four.
10 aunandmAnt to the present lar be-
ing made 70 Include Operatives IN
1anndFlos, .WoSk-shons and nsercAntiie-
ee1ahinhmeuts. Amendmsnts were
a1Teed to BY the paxrpn aud adopted
" the House - that thu provisions Of
the measure win not amply TO mer-
CxnetIa AbliShu1ents IN towns Of 1ess
than 800 Inhabitants Or In country
6i1tr3c1e, Or In canneries operated
xYpm fully To November I.
Tho meaaure was almedsa the long
11Are on the females In the large mer.
on&il4 stahjish1nent1. An effort made
- permit long. hours on Saturday
611ed. the Houss agreeing with Mr..
I'D. TO KEEP open late saturday nights
Try ahnnld axrAnSA To hAxe fhnAe
Wko worked late u come late on duty.
AMER The t1Sloae amondments had
ZEN dinuQacax ~ the measure was
o2a2 On to ~ en9re1Dsnent.
sss. 0SU1 Oe1eU C1n6bo06.
{ he wAxme1tsd iecussloa Of the davis