The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-12
AGAINST CONVICT LABOR
AND EVIL OF TIPPING

| operated to keep up the large record
of hotel fires were: Lack of building
inspectors or inspection laws. or a
Of the authority under the law to give
building inspectors power to order
conditions changed: defective electric
wiring; defective heating apparatus
and storage rooms, into-wrfch were
! dumped all n of things inciud-
ing old mattresses, thus creating a
fertile field for a blaze.
Notwithstanding the fact that new
ireproof hotels are being built every
where. the paramount fact is that
hotel perils are increasing. Defective
hotels are growing more defective
every day he said. The interest OF
public authorities in hotel safety has
been confined chiefly to the means OF
exit. The elimination and improve
ment of conditions without which the
necessity of exit might not occur
seems to be lost sight of under pres
ent methods"
Lack OF Law Enforcement.
The trouble with the hotels, Mr..
Erich pointed out. was the lack OF
rigid enforcement of laws regulating
them. I'VE have lots of laws" he
said, but every State should have
inspectors clothed with authority to
make them worth while" He recon-
mended that there be continued activ-
ity in legislation along the lines laid
down in the bill which was recently
passed by the State of Nebraska This
bill was ideal in the regulation of
hotels. he said, and he recommended
that copies of 1t be obtained and dis
tributed among all of the members of
all of the States.
Virginia was heartily cheered by the
delegates when the announcement was
made in the report of f. b, Smith,
of Shreveport, La, national chairman
| Of the committee on good roads and
public utilities. that the State had
abandoned Its contract with the shoe
company n was putting It's convicts
to work on the public roads and in
lime-grinding plants. Chairman
Smiths report advocated strongly the
use of as much convict labor on pub
lie works as possible.
Convict Labor On Roads.
Better work on roads can be OBJ:
tanned by convict labor than by con-
tract labor he said. Experiences has
shown that road work has been con-
Quoted at about one-half the cost
! where convict labor was employed IN
stead OF contract labor. and hat there
is a corresponding decrease in the
time required to complete the work
when convict labor is employed"
To obtain the best possible method
and system of building good roads
! Mr.. Smith urged that a State high
way department be instituted in every
State, such as N,ists in Virginia.
The speaker showed how good roads
increase the value of property ad-
tacent to them and are an advantage
In every way in building up the coun-
try.
Good roads are worth my price
so long as their construction is IN
competent hands and their financsnr
is conducted in an economical man
ner." ne said.
He said that the federal govern
ment should create departments ~
highway Improvement which woulS
affiliate with State departments Ct
similar nature. He Showed how
Georgia and California had led the
way in the matter Of the Improvement
10. their public roads and urged thnt
all States follow their example Fc
said that Of all States in the Unie-
these two had the greatest mileage g
Tribute IN the Press.
Burrell III. Marsh. chairman of thf
rofiouat rrunrntffMA nn4A A-shrsn -