Chap. 20.—An ACT to amend chapters 18 and 213 of the Code of Vir-
ginia, edition of 1860, in revard to the Penitentiary,

Passed Mareh 15, 1867.
1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
section twelve of chapter. eighteen, Code of Virginia, edition

of eighteen hundred and sixty, be amended and re-enacted
so as to read as follows:
Ҥ 12. There shall be annually appointed by the governor,
on the first Monday in January, or as soon thereafter as may
be, three persons as directors of the penitentiary, and also a
surgeon of the penitentiary and public guard, who shall be
qualitied to act as soon as they have taken oaths prescribed
by law and delivered a certificate thereof, or a transcript, as
directed by the sixth section of the thirteenth chapter. Their
term of office shall be until the first Monday in January fol-
lowing, and afterwards until their successors shall be quali-
tied. Vacancies occurring in either of said offices, may be
filled by the governor from time to time.”

2. Be it jurther enacted, That sections twenty-one and
fifty-five, of chapter two hundred and thirteen of the Code
of Virginia, edition of eighteen hundred and sixty, be amended
and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Ҥ21. He shall, at the discretion and under the direction
of the governor, employ them at Richmond, or within twenty
miles thereof, In Improving, repairing or working on the pub-
lic buildings, grounds and property, or In executing work
under contract with individuals or companies, or in cultivat-
ing rented grounds for the use of the penitentiary.”

Ҥ5h, On the requisition of the board, the general agent
shall purchase all materials and other things required for such
work, or for the convicts, or for the penitentiary. He may
issue his draft upon the auditor of public accounts for the
amount of all purchases and expenditures made by him upon
the requisition of the superintendent for the use of the peni-
tentiary, and the correctness of which shall be certified by
the superintendent, countersigned by the governor: provided,
that the total amounts of such drafts shall not exceed the
sum of tive thousand dollars in any one quarter. He shall
pay into the treasury, to the credit of the commonwealth,
whatever balance may be found due by bim on each quarterly
settlement of his accounts with the board of directors, within
the period of twenty days after the expiration of each quar-
ter, and in default thereof, the same may be recorded i in the
same manner as if it were due from a sheriff for taxes.”

3. Be it further enacted, That the said chapter two bun-
dred and thirteen, of the Code of eighteen hundred and
sixty, be further amended by adding thereto the two follow-
Ine sections : ‘

“$60. The superintendent, by and with the advice and
consent of the gevernor, may enter into contracts for the
employment of convicts in the penitentiary, not otherwise
employed, and as far as practicable, confine such convict labor
to manufacturing purposes. Additional shops may be erected
by the contractors, in the penitentiary grounds, for the em-
ployment of the convicts so hired: provided that the state
shall not incur any expense thereby.

Ҥ 61. The superintendent, with the consent and advice of
the governor, may establish a system of tasking the convicts
in the different wards in the penitentiary, where it can be
done, and allow such as earn overstint a reasonable compen-
sation therefor; which said allowance shall be placed to the
credit of the convict, and paid to him when he is discharged
from prison; or if the convict requests that a portion or all
of it be paid to bis dependent family or near relatives, the
superintendent may do so at any time during his imprison-
ment. The amount to be allowed for overstint shall be fixed
by the board of directors and the superintendent.”

4. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with’ this
act are hereby repealed.

©. This act shall be in force from its passage.

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