The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-29
CONVICT LABOR
NEXT PROBLEM
Committees Begin Joint Sessions
Tonight to Consider
Entire Subject.
OTHER PENDING HEARINGS
Legislative Rcdistricting. Prohi-
bi,ion and Wonans College
Arc on List.

Contract convict labor Will. for the
xxi rew days occupy the attention
Or the Senate and House Committees
on Roads ana Internal Navigation,
which will Sit Jointly. beginning at S
o'clock tonight IN the Senate cham
hcr. 10 consider the whole PROPOSE
lion az road building and the employ
,ncnt of prisoners. The hearings will
attract considerable attention. and are
!Ikely TO tee rather prolonged
The existing contract between the
state and the Thatcher Company viii
expire on May I. 1913. Under its pro-
visions all the available prisoners in
the penit.nuarE not drafted for road
building are given employment in tho
shoe SHOPS. For this service the state
receives IS cents for the labor OF each
man. and IS cents for that of each wo-
man, furnishing their board and all
necessarles OF life. and tho building
used by the manufacturing company.
Cuu Get More Money.
More than year ago the board OF
directors of the pcnttcntiary determine
al that This contract should not he
renewed since the prices paid are now
generally regarded as very inado-
uuate. The general cost OF labor since
the contract was made has largely in
creased in all lines. The board fur
Ihor decided that II would not act as
TO making Il new contract with any
concern. but would lay tho whole mat
ter before the General Assembly and
await It's instructions. 4 bill Is now
pending on the House calendar, with
James j. Dreamer. OF Richmond. as it's
Patron, 10 forbid this board making
t1ly contract without The consent OF
tho Legislature, and this may or may
not prccipitatc the tssuc of prison
labor whcn.it comes up on its second
reading within day or two.
In response to invitations for bids.
Tho only proposal received was fro?l
HE Reliance Company, OF Chicago. a
large employer Of prison labor. which
desires 10 manufacture shirts and
oreralls. It's proposal is to pay 60
cents per day for 500 men. and ial-
cents for all the women who can be
secured. In addition it has details in
its hid which are regarded as con-
y"yiHs more favorable conditions than
those which now prevail
Consider Rrdist rictIng.
sitting also Jointly. the senate and
House Comm tees on Privileges and
Elections Will this AFTERNOON al
o'clock begin consideration OF the bill
offered by ,Iohn w. Chalklcy. of Wise.
for the rc,iistrictins of the lines Of
representation IN the State Senate ana
House of delegates. The Wise county
'il"' ~ wv t'|lNnHlS tlSc!almCd any
arbitrary intentions. but merely want
ei Il basis 20 work on. and so figured
out populations OF counties ana cities
Tor himself and evolved a plan. lie
does not expect 4 to go through as 1t
stands. but is ready to accept amend
ncniS agreed upon by local dclcga-
tons.
Under whatever plan Is adopted. II
rs probable that Richmond will have
Si% members Of tho House because n
us Increased population 1t should
also have more than two Senators. INT
v hardly entitled to three Tho Chalk
icy mn would give Richmond and Hon
TIC" together three members Of the
upper House. In that event the city
would dominate. but it Is suppospcd
~ would as rule give the county
one southwest counties gain largely
hE me new superintendent to the loss
y! "!dci counties in the custcrn par,
nj the State, which are stationary -
POPULATION.
The Jordan prohibition enabling nc,
comes NJ again tomorrow morning
Ht !" O'Clock aId- this time the oppo-
sitlon, VIII be hehld. fr5m. The at,,rmn +.
i've mas consumed ave ana onr.haIt
h"urs, so it is improbable tina, III,
iearinS can be finished tomorrow A,
CLOCK tomorrow afternoon aboII,
ran OF tho members OF the Lcpis,o
!ure w!il go 10 Newport News 70 ~.
,aiid me annual dinner of ,thc Cham.
Der of Commerce.
decision viii probably be roacbe,
rs 10 ne proposed woman's COLLEGE
pE Inc SENATE committee ,o.y,orro,,
morning The long argument 4. ~.
'eFcd To have ended