Chap. 232.—An ACT to authorize the use of convicts confined in the penitentiary
in digging the foundation of the proposed additions to the State capitol, and in
digging the foundation of the heat, light, and power plant proposed for the
State capitol and other buildings, and in grading or moving property incident
to either of said undertakings, and to require the board of directors of the
penitentiary to furnish, under guard, such convicts as are called for by the
capitol building committee.

Approved March 15, 1904.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall be
lawful to use the labor of State convicts in digging the foundation of the
proposed enlargement of the State capitol and of the proposed heat, light,
and power plant for the State capitol and other buildings, and in grading
or moving property incident to either of said undertakings. It shall be
lawful fér the committee designated to supervise the said building opera-
tion to call upon the board of directors of the penitentiary for such num-
ber of convicts as may be necessary for digging the foundation of the said
public improvements and the grading incident thereto, not exceeding
fifty convicts. It shall be the duty of the said board of directors to send,
under proper guard, to the capitol square each day the number of con-
victs required by said committee until the said foundation, grading, and
so forth, are completed. The said convicts to be used in the manner
herein specified and to be returned each day under said guard to the peni-
tentiary. Nothing contained in this act shall be construed or hold to au-
thorize the use or employment of convicts if such use or employment will
in any way interfere with existing contracts.

2. Inasmuch as an emergency exists, by reason of the fact that the
building operations herein referred to are to be begun soon after the ad-
journment of this session of the general assembly, this act shall be in force

from its passage.