Evening star., 1953-12-07
Virginia Council
Urges Minimum
Road Gangs
Non-Competitive Use
: Of Convict Labor Is
Aim Of Advisory Unit
BY the Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. Dec. T.
The Virginia Advisory Legisla.
tive Council recommended to-
day that the State cut it's con-
vict road force to minimum size
and employ convict labor pri-
marily for non-competitive pur-
poses.
The recommendation was the
result of year-long study by a
council committee which investi-
gated State competition with
private labor and industry.
The VALC also suggested that
the State would do well to get
out of the agricultural lime
crushing business altogether and
should give up the operation Of
printing plants at the University
of Virginia and Virginia Tech
unless needed for training pur-
poses.
In addition, the VALC's report
proposed that the State abandon
stone quarries and rock-crushing
plants in areas near established
commercial sources able to pro-
vide rock and gravel for road
work and similar construction.
Backs Brick Production.
On the other hand, the VALC
said prison production of brick
and concrete masonry blocks
seems reasonable under present
legal restrictions. The report
noted no objections to the use Of
convict labor in the production
of furniture, clothing, shoes or
knitted. woolen or cotton goods.
Although the report covered
State competition in all areas.
six of its seven specific recon-
mendations dealt with the con-
vict road force and its employ
ment by the State Highway
Department.
Here, the VALC proposed:
l. That the Highway Depart
ment and the State auditor put
into effect a system of cost ac-
counting that will let the General
Assembly know the comparative
costs Of building and maintain
ing highways by contract, con-
vict labor and departmental
forces.
2. That construction costs Of
all permanent camps for the
convict road force be paid out
of appropriations to the State
Welfare and Institutions Depart
ment "and not from funds
segregated by law for the con-
struction, reconstruction and
maintenance of highways"
8. That enabling legislation be
adopted to permit the use OF
convict labor for reforestration
projects. erosion control and
water conservation. either on
public or private lands. along
with the construction of public
recreation areas.
Step Up Farming.
4. That the Welfare and In
stitutions Department step up
farming activities in it's penal
and correctional institutions to
achieve maximum self suff1-
cheney.
5. That the size of the convict
road force be materially re-
duced" when prison labor is
I shifted to the non-competitive
activities recommended.
6. That the highway depart
ment be required 10 paw only the
actual cost of operating the con-
vict road force including rouse
hold, farming and other opera
tions at the camps.
z. That the General Assembly
adopt a Joint resolution oppos-
ing competition by State agen-
cies with private labor and in
dustry without commensurate
compensating benefits to the
State"
The VALC report made it
plain that members wanted con-
victs employed in useful actiyi-
ties so they would help gay the
cost of imprisonment and would
learn skills to help them find
work after their release.
At the same time, the report
noted, the product of convict la
Dor is almost certain to compete
with private industry to some ex-
tent, directly or indirectly.
The committee which made the
STUDY was headed by State Sena-
tor Mosby Perrow of Lynchburg.