CONVICT LABOR FOR ROAD WORK. 199 
including maintenance of equipment and all material required for the work done in 
the county. If all convicts are not disposed of under the preceding provisions, the 
prison commission ishereby authorized to place convicts in counties desiring to use 
them in excess of their quota. If after the counties have been provided with convicts 
there shall still remain any convicts not otherwise disposed of, then the privilege 
conferred upon counties herein shall be extended to municipalities, which may hire 
convicts from the prison commission at the price of $100 per capita per annum. 
Any county^ may purchase or rent, and maintain a farm and cultivate same with 
convict 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 convicts 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 purposes only. The prison commission may purchase or lease for five years one 
or more tracts of land conveniently located for working the convicts thereon ; and the 
State farm 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 commission, to visit the various counties, toinspect 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 
public works may act jointly and cooperate in establishing, improving, and main- 
taining a system of inter county public roads, and may jointly create a chain gang from 
the convicts 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. (Political 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 
provide any machinery, tools, stockades, and other such equipment necessary in 
handling and working the chain gang. (Political Code of 1911, sees. 697-698.) 
Idaho. 
State. — 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 
commissioners. The State highway commission 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, less the estimated average cost to the State of his subsistence had he 
remained at the penitentiary. (Acts 1913, ch. 179, as amended, acts 1915, ch. 64.) 
Counties. — The county commissioners of the several counties may employ inmates 
of the county jail on public roads or other county work under such regulations as they 
may prescribe. A person serving a sentence in the county jail who has a good record 
and performs the tasks assigned him in an orderly manner, shall, on recommendation 
of the sheriff and prosecuting attorney, be allowed five days off of each month of his 
sentence, by the probate judge. (Acts 1915, chs. 77 and 130.) 
