New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-09
THIRTEEN STATES USE
CONNECTS ON ROADS
New York Has Yet to Adopt
This Method of Adding to
Public Welfare.

Thirteen states passed laws during the
present year allowing the use OF convicts
| in the construction and repair of high
ways. according TO a compilation by DR..
E. Stage Within. assistant in social legis-
lation In Columbia University and chair
man OF the executive committee OF the
National Committee on Prison Labor.
They are Arkansas, Delaware. Florida,
| Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine. New
| Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Yer
mont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. AS
many other states had previously passed
similar legislation. few of the forty-eight
states have failed TO see the wisdom OF
using prisoners TO build and maintain
| public roads.
West Virginia and Iowa are the two
states whose laws regarding the working
Of convicts on highways stand out most
prominently. So anxious was the Gov
ernor Of the former to secure an effective
law that ne came to New York and. with
the assistance OF representatives of the
National Committee on Prison Labor, OF
the road department of Columbia Uni
| versity and of the Legislative Drafting
Bureau. worked out bills making compul-
sorry the employment of convicts on the
roads.
The West Virginia law authorizes the
| county courts to make appropriations out
4 a.,ps Tee
that the court shall sentence any male
person over sixteen TO road work. instead
Of TO the county Jail; persons charged
with misdemeanors unable to furnish bail
shall work on the roads, and, IL acquit-
ted when tried, shall be paid 10 cents a
day for each days work they perform;
justices Of the peace shall sentence TO
work on the roads persons convicted OF
crime whom otherwise they would send
to the county Jail.
Another feature Of the West Virginia
law Is the establishment OF state road
bureau to supervise any plans proposed by
a county for using prison labor in road
building The plans approved, the county
shall apply to the Board Of Control FOR
the number of prisoners required ana
shall state the length of time they shall
be needed
The board shall, so far as possible, give
equal service to each of the counties. and
| shall determine which prisoners may be
| assigned to such work. The warden 10 10
proytde suitable and movable quarters,
| which shall be built, where possible. by
convict labor. The convicts shall remain
under direct control of the warden, their
| hain
vision of the road bureau.
In Iowa, the Board OF Control or the
state institutions, with the advice OF tho
warden of any penal institution may per
nit able bodied male prisoners TO WORK
on the roads. The law specifically states
| such labor shall not be leased 10 com
tractors A prisoner opposed TO such
work, or whose character and disposition
make IL probable that he would atteihp'
escape or be unruly, is not to be "orheo
on the highways
| Although the prisoners are under the
jurisdiction OF the warden while puioihs
- ranair,ng roads, their work Is super
rJsnd nv the State Highway commas
atonar prisoners employed on the hlgh-
80 % Iowa receive such part or their
| .I,,o. above the cost OF their Keep as
80 hnard deems equitable, the earnings
.,,her being funded or given to the'r oe-
pendent families. ,r,sor
Before Iowa passed her present prison
,aws George w. Cosson. Attorney
General of Iowa and member Aanoe G OF s"e
s,|.s1o, committee on Prison Law
tborough Investigation vi NV
inau y, his own and other states am
| pa .o,ncad the contract syslohi'
str0ne, ,,,tch the prisoners were employed
u III, ,n that time. Mr. cOsson drew UP ' So
up 70 Tin tmS, and is of the opinion it will 90
roao o, O 20 drive the contract system out Oh
the state.