The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-17

SAYS GAN Return |
MONEY TO STATE
MAJOR WOOD MAKES SOME sUG1
GEsTIoxs CONCERNING LABOR
OF CONvIcTs,
WORK MEN ON ROADS
OLD CONTRACT HE DDeAARES TO
HAVE BEEN MIsrAixn-n0LT
REVOLUTION AaEsDED
AND PASSED.
WORK MEN ON ROADS

- &&48 ~ <AxSGS= CIV oo0Sz08sd
perlntendent Of the state penits ntiary.
who declared he was opposed 70 81
renewal OF the present PRISON contract
with the Thatcher shoe Company, tn1
senate committee on pubn csnstitu-,
tons amended yesterday the holt
resolution and recommended It to-
the senate. II now reads:
Resolved by the Senate, the House
concurrtng: That the present contract
Tor hire OF convtcts should not ho
renewed.
Resolved further: THAT the COM
mtttees on roads OF both the Senate
and House OF Delegates shall meet
at once Jointly and commence tho
considefAuon Of the message OF the
Governor recommending that 40 far
as practicable convicts be put on the
roads Of the Commonwealth
|. Major Wood was called before the
committee 70 explain thu feasibility
OF putting all available convicts on
the public roads and tho disposal Of
the vicious and Of women prisoners.
He said although be opposed the prcs-
stata was not paid enough Tor the
labor he thought contract employ
Ing about 500 mon and the women
would b Advantageous. There were
q least 500 men. he said. who could
not be easily put On the roads. Many
Of thsm are dangerous and Il would
require too many guards.
The Chicago contract offers IS cents
for 500 men and III the women In .hs
prison. Tho old contract has paid
to the atats IN round auuahs*s - rs
nay about Si06. 900. using 900 less
men. who could DO put on the roads
The aynount saved in maintenance
NJ ina nrisnn with hetwccn 500 and
7oA a. * 500 r.rrs ~ouid IA 40
aoH IA c4nsr .svsrr. you'd b. about
$50 nac IN. ernsnsr ~ the men ON
ths rc.A. .,ns,H ~ sltrhtly iarrer than
- 49, - ~ ,sr,tcr,,.rv
" n,s r.r-.~ss. . M.~..e
w ss., 49, ia .o,.
'o. "oo1 $500 IN.
sf1ct Wa : MsssaMe r. Ma. s..r
. TOT Nn year. non n -.
insteao, &c saso. tue eeaee 1917 W. :,
ne drswine 20 ee"" uas io'
pfison saOoI.
Ing on the roans ~ n1tesh canpa'
About l.svo ere m p,,vU ..s anu la la
are many tAiihirds. With an aooi-
tionAl e3&.o00 Major Wood saia ns
could start ten more camps with the
500 men that would not DC noeoeo on
the Chicago contract Camps cost
about $500 zach 70 equip.
III We give You altokether Szao.-
600 - An aid FUND" sskcd Mr.. Fclkes.
.you could start the extra camps and
pay money back 10 the State. couldn't
| you?"
Il think I could" was the rer'y.
Objection was made by members OF
The comm,ttee TO such an arrangement
hAca use. they said. II county aid Was
abolishcd ali counties would want the
road ennxs and Il would be almost
i'm uossibie TO dixtrteuts the camps
! succeesfully, Mr.. Wood explained the
ease With which camp can be NOV
ed fro none county to another and
planted He said railroads had never
CHARGED anything to carry outfits and
that iump could be made In less than
three days. Many counties hire the
convtcts from the state and sell their
seryices to the contractors. On this
deal they make so cents on each man
which IN paid to the contractor for
h.s work.
says Work VIII Maintain Itself.
with an appropriation 10 get START
ed and 70 equip and furnish ten adj