VIRGINIA’S CONVICTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3615, 30 January 1906, Page 4

VIRGINIA’S CONVICTS.

To lie Employed Iw ibe Construction at State ttontls. The bill to be introduced in the Virginia legislature, for the employment 7 convicts on the roads of the state, n -i.dea that all able-bodied male pns- • t. sentenced to jail cr penitentiary . c than 00 days, shall be subjec- . ork ''ii the roads. Those sentenced county jails shall work upon the ads of such counties, unless there is > immediate need of them, in which ase 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 >ut road work. Not less than five, nor ■norc than 25, are to be assigned to any me county, every assignment to be made for a year, unless shorter time is requested, and then for not less than ;»0 days. If the number of convicts is not sufficient to fill the applications, they are to bo supplied ratably. Convicts, in respect to their work, are to be under the control of the county authorities in which they work; but, as nvisoners, they arc to “remain in the custody of the state authorities as if they remained in the penitentiary,” and transportation expenses, guarding, ceding, clothing and medical attendcnce arc to be paid by the state, the ,■ nmtios to provide suitable Each county is to adopt and put ir operation a scheme or plan for working ’ls roads by such prisoners in its ;i.v as are available, together with thor which may be secured from the state and “every county shall annually lev;, •! road tax of not less than 15 cents, no ■ore than 30 cents, on every SIOO <■ ;he value of the property, real and p< ronal, assessed for taxes in the count; the proceeds to be applied to road irr. provem ent in said county.”—L. A. W. Bulletin.