The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-26
Acknowledgement Rules
Judges Must Send
Them on Demand.
AUDITOR WILL NOT
PAY THEIR BOARD
Thousands of Men Kept in Idle.
ness in Jails to Be Put TO
Work on Highways-State
Officials Join Forces to Sc
cure This Reform, Long
Urged in Virginia.

Acting under ruling rendered yes
terday by the Attorney G General. the
officers of the state will proceed at
once with the task of taking the thou
sands of jail prisoners in Virginia from
their abodes OF idleness insanitary
surroundings and vice, and put them
to work upon the publ highways.
out from the jails of the state will
come those who have sought easy
berths there. the confirmed criminals
who do not mind Il prison term. and
the young who. serving time for a
hrst ofense. are consortne with men
old in crime.
Hundreds will come from the Rich
mond and Norfolk jails. while from the
smaller institutions they will be gath
cred together by the score. becoming
regular members of the State convict
road force Financial Industrial and
humanitarian considerations have com
bined TO bring about this result
Major James b. Wood, Superinten-
dent of the Penitentiary. will al once
call upon the judges of the Circuit and
Corporation Courts for the delivery
TO him Of all prisoners serving terms
for violation Of State laws. Under the
ruling made yesterday by Attorney
General Williams, the judges must.
upon demand. instruct the jailers to
turn over the prisoners for he finds
TO such plan is mandatory.
Won't Fay Their hoard.
10 ciinch matters. State Auditor G.
Lee Moore announced Yesterday that.
with the ruling behind him, he will
hereafter refuse to pay accounts for
board of prisoners in jails who have
been convicted of violation of State
laws, after demand for their delivery
mas been made upon the judge of the
court by the State prison superinten.
dent
This decision does not apply TO per
sons convicted OF viola ton OF city or
town ordinances, nor TO prisoners less
than sixteen years old. Those between
the age OF sixteen and twenty NAV
or may not be worried on the roads.
TINS being matter of discretion with
the judge.
Further. the Acknowledgement rules
that cities and towns have no right 10
retain on their chaineangs prisoners
convicted Of violation of State lax
after requisition has been made on
them Tor the delivery OF the parties for
work on the roads. In such cases. they
must give the jailbirds up TO the State
TO be used on the highways. along win
penitentiary convicts
Many Forces at Work
Auoltor Moore began an acitation
ior this end nearly n year ago II
Eaiied h!m to pay out $4,000 n wear
TO Keep set Of prisoners idle in tho
city and county jaiis. The drain IN
me treasury was tremendous He will
sun nave to pay the Superintendent
OF The Fenitentiary for the upkeen of
,he men nut they will be doing useful
,ha, ~ work to pay for it. When
theN hnd out they have to work for a
living while prisoners the number of
prisoners is likely TO decrease They
VIII be called for and put on The roods
as last as local demands are made for
them These demands are constant
j.
state Board of Charities and corra|
IONS wanted the men put in better
surroundings. from physical and moral
CONSIDERATIONS. State Highway Com
missioner Wilson wanted the roads
bullt All these forces have been work
ing together Now. il seems me- 80
cilnched matters. having secured mo
ruling they desired from the Attorney
General.
Auditor Moore. Secretary ua.,,,
dent Wood collaborated Mondav ;n ,
letter TO the Acknowledgement RIO
reply Was made yesterday The letter
after announcing that it was MOI do
sire" 10 use ~ this time prisoners who
nave violated city or town ordinances
asked tho questions which arc incor'
norated in the following response he
Judge Williams: ~
RuIfnS OF httorney-General
neplying to your favor of March %.
'No " submit answers the
inquiries submitted by YOU as folIows.
our hrst inquiry is as follows:
is IL not mandatory upon the Judge
or every Circuit. Corporation or Uust
ihss Court OF this Commonwealth. upon
demand of the Superintendent Of the
penitentiary. TO require the TALLER OF
Inc county or city. to deliver to the
superintendent Of the Penitentiarv
upon his order. to work upon the Stale
convict road force, all prisoners con
fined in his Jail for violation of State
law, or for failure to pay any fine or
penalty imposed upon such prisoner
tor violation of State law. except such
OF said prisoners who show to the
Judge good cause why they should not
be delivered to the Superintendent of
the Fenitcntiary. and except such pris-
oners under the age OF sixteen years
and except such prisoners over the age
or sixteen and under the age of TWEEN
ty-one years. it being discretionary
with the court or Judge to deliver the
prisoners between these ages
In response TO this inquiry I would
state that by the provision Of the stat
ute. Section of Chapter 81, Acts 1908,
IL is provided as follows:
Upon the written request Of the
superintendent of the penitentiary the
Judge of the Circuit Court of any
county. or the judge of the Corporation
or Hastings Court OF any city. shall
in term or vacation, unless such pris-