The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-26
PROHIBIT HIRING
. OF ALL CONvICTS
Lesner Bill Proposes That They
Be Used Entirely in Public
Employment.

Tho convict labor situation took 4
new turn yesterday with the introduce
ton by Senator Lesner, OF Norfolk. OF
bin which, IL made law, Wall prohibit
tho hiring of tho State convicts to any
private person. firm or corporation. ~
bill Incorporating the ideas Of the
anticontract faction In the Senate has
been expected daily, and Senator Les
ners bill IS taken to express In dehnite
form the stand that Will be taken by
this portion OF tho upper house wnen
the matter comes up FOR final adjust
mcnt.
The measure puts all ablebodicd con-
Victs that can BIO spared from the peni-
tehliary on the roads OF the State
leaving behind only those men too vi
cious for this service and the women.
For these the DILL provides there shall
be supplied suitable employment of
such nature as to make it compete
as little as possible with free labor.
Moreover, 1t provides that this labor
shall be- employed in supplying the
needs of the various institutions main
tanned by the state. and that under
no circumstances shall tho product Of
THIS labor be sold to private parties.
AhroEatcs Contract system.
Tie opening clause of the bill pro
Hides that no contract shall hereafter
be made for the hiring to private per-
sons or corporations of any Of the con-
victs in the State Penitentiary." but
adds the condition that nothing in the
bill shall BIO construed as Interfering
with the present contract.
Tho board of directors o. the peui-
tentiory," Il continues. shall. as soon
as may be after the expiration of the
eSIgfiDu 81 ,,.tt IT,
Boot and Shoe Company, establish
within the penitentiary a manufacture
ng plant for such articles as in their
discretion It shall be economical to
make-of clothing, utensils. etc.-for
the use of the public institutions Of tho
State and the Inmates thereof"
To aid In making this plan practi-
cable. the bill provides for periodical
statements: TO be rendered TO the super.
rntendcnt OF the penitcntiary by the
superintendcnts OF tho State institu-
lions. setting forth the amount OF
clothing, utensils. etc, the respective
Institutions Will need for the ensuing
year. These articles, the proposed law
requires, shall be paid for by the insti-
,utions at the market price The bill
makes 1t unlawful for the pcnitent!ary
authorities to sell or otherwise dispose
of any article so manufactured" and
approprlates $4,000 out of any money
in the treasury for the purpose OF
equipping the penitentiary with the
necessary appliances for manufactur-
ing.
Surplus Labor for Ronds.
The bill declares further that the
established policy OF the State shall be
that such convicts as are not neccssa-
rily used in manufacturing or other
purposes within the penitentiary shall
be used for the Improvement OF the
public roads Of tho State. and that tho
Lassiter-Withers act shall govern In
tho disposition OF such road la Dor ex-
cept in so far as it's provisions may
conflict with the law thus enacted
The sum of 100000 is appropriated
by the bill for the year 1913 to carry
out Its provisions touching the con-
struction and Improvement OF the pub
lie roads. This appropriation, 1t pro-
vides, shall be In lieu of all other ap-
propriations for this purpose.