VIRGINIA'S CONVICTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3597, 14 November 1905, Page 4

VIRGINIA'S CONVICTS.

To Be Employed la Construction of State Koad«, The hill to be introduced in tbe Virginia legislature, for the employment of convicts on the roads of the state, provides that all able-bodied male prisoners, sentenced to jail or penitentiary for more than 90 days, shall be subject to work on the roads. Those sentenced to county jails shall work upon the roads of such comities, unless there is no immediate need of them, in which case they may be hired to other counties, but only for road work. The convicts not required for services in the penitentiary are to be distributed among the counties, on application, and none are to be hired out for any purpose but road work. .Not less than five, nor more than 25, are to be assigned to any one county, every assignment to be made for a year, unless shorter time is requested, and then for not less than 90 days. If the number of convicts is not sufficient to fill the applications, they are to be supplied ratably. Convicts, in respect to their work, are to be under the control of the county authorities in which they work;’but, as prisoners, they are to “remain in the custody of the state authorities as if they remained in the penitentiary,” and transportation expenses, guarding, feeding, clothing and medical attendance are to be paid by the state, the counties to provide suitable shelter. Each county is to adopt and put in operation a scheme or plan for working its roads by such prisoners in its jail as are available, together with those which may be secured from the state, and “every county shall annually levy a road tax of not less than 15 cents, nor more than 30 cents, on every SIOO-of the value of the property, real and personal, assessed for taxes in the county, the proceeds to be applied to road improvement in said county.” — L. A. W. Bulletin.