CONVICT LABOR FOR ROAD WORK. 199 



including maintenance of equipment and all material required for the work done in 

 the county. If all con\'icts are not disposed of under the preceding provisions, the 

 prison commission is hereby authorized to place convicts in counties desiring to use 

 them in excess of theii" quota. If after the counties have been provided with convicts 

 there shall stm remain any convicts not otherwise disposed of, then the privilege 

 confen-ed upon counties herein shall be extended to municipalities, which may hire 

 con^'icts from the prison commission at the price of $100 per capita per annum. 



Any countj^ may pui'chase or rent, and maintain a farm and cultivate same with 

 con\ict labor in connection with working its convicts on its public roads and bridges, 

 all products and supplies arising therefrom to be used for the support of the convicts, 

 for the improvement of its public roads and bridges, and in support of county institu- 

 tions. All convicts and all convict camps shall be under the direct supervision of 

 the prison commission, which shall prescribe rules and regulations for governing the 

 same, subject to the approval of the governor, and shall require the observance and 

 maintenance of sanitary rules and appliances. The net proceeds from the disposition 

 of conA-icts to municipalities or otherwise shall be used at its option by the prison 

 commission in working convicts upon the public roads or works of counties not elect- 

 ing to utilize their allotment of convicts; and in case said commission shall elect 

 not to work the roads in any one or more of said counties, then the pro rata of said 

 funds for said counties shall be paid into their respective treasuries to be used for 

 road pm'poses only. The prison commission may pm'chase or lease for five years one 

 or more tracts of land conveniently located for working the convicts thereon ; and the 

 State fami shall be used as far as possible for making supplies of all kinds for main- 

 taining the convicts, either in farm products or manufacturing articles for the use of 

 the convicts and State sanitarium and other State institutions. If the prison com- 

 mission has on hand convicts not provided for under the foregoing sections of this act, 

 they may be placed upon said farms to work. Not to exceed four supervisors may be 

 employed by said prison conunission, to visit the various counties, to inspect the con- 

 victs and their work, and to perform such other duties as may be required of them. If 

 practicable, civil engineers shall be selected for these positions. The commission shall 

 also appoint such wardens and guards as may be necessary. (Ex. sess. 1908, act No. 4. ) 



Counties. — The authorities of any two or more counties having charge of the county 

 pubHc works may act jointly and cooperate in establishing, improving, and main- 

 taining a system of intercounty public roads, and may jointly create a chain gang from 

 the con\icts of such counties sentenced for misdemeanors or felonies. Such chain 

 gang shall be put to work on such system of roads under such rules and regulations as 

 said authorities may prescribe. The cost of such work shall be paid by the counties 

 in such proportions as the authorities thereof shall determine. (Pohtical Code of 1911, 

 Title VI, sees. 428-431.) 



The commissioners of roads and revenues, or the ordinary, as the case may be, shall 

 repair the public roads as follows: By chain gang organized from misdemeanor con- 

 victs of the county, or of any other county from which such convicts may be obtained 

 without cost; by free labor and those who do not pay the commutation tax; or by 

 contract; or by a combination of such methods. Such authorities may purchase and 



Ero\ide any machinery, tools, stockades, and other such equipment necessary in 

 andling and working the chain gang. (Political Code of 1911, sees. 697-698.) 



Idaho. 



Stale. — Subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the State 

 board of prison commissioners, the State highway commission may make requisition 

 upon the warden of the State penitentiary for such number of the convicts confined 

 therein as in his judgment are physically able to work upon any of the highways to be 

 constructed by said State highway commission. Such convicts shall be worked 

 under the general direction and supervision of the State highway commission, subject 

 to such rules, regulations, and safeguards as may be prescribed by said board of prison 

 commLssioners. The State highway comrrdssion shall cause to be paid out of the 

 State highway fund $5 per month to each convict so worked, and also the expense of 

 transporting, guarding, and subsistence of each convict while away from the State 

 penitentary, ios.s the estimated average cost to the State of his subsiHtence had he 

 remained at the penitentiary. fActs ]9J:5, eh. 179, as amended, acts 1915, ch. 64.) 



CourUuH. — The county corninisHioners of the several counties may employ inmates 

 of the county jail on ymblic roads or other c:ounty work under such regulations as they 

 mav pre-xribe. A person serving a sentence in the county jail who has a good record 

 and performs the tasks assigned him in an orderly inaiuHir, shall, on rf^comraendatlon 

 of the sheriff and prosecuting att<irney, be allowed five days oif of each month of his 

 sentence, by the probate judge. (Acts 1915, chs. 77 and 130.) 



