Chap. 123.—An ACT Amending section 24 of chapter 196 of the Code |

of 1878, providing for Organizing Chain-gangs.
Approved March 2%, 1874.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the twenty-
fourth section of chapter one hundred and ninety-six of the
Code of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, be amended
and re-enacted so as-to read as follows:

Ҥ 24. The common council of all cities and towns in thi:
state, containing a population of over five thousand inhabi-
tants, and the trustees or other proper authorities of other
incorporated towns of less than five thousand inhabitants.
and the board of supervisors of each county, or if they shall
not act, the judge of the county or corporation court of such
county or corporation, are hereby authorized and empowered
to establish chain-gangs, to be composed of persons herein-
after described, in their respective cities, counties and towns.
for the purpose and object of working on the streets, roads
and public property of such cities, counties and towus; and
all male persons above the age of sixteen years, who may be
convicted of misdemeanor, or of any offence deemed infa-
mous in law, and sentenced to confinement in jail as a pun-
ishment, or part punishment for such offence, or who may be
imprisoned for failure to pay any fine or penalty which may
have been imposed upon or assessed against such person
upon such conviction, may be required to work in such
chain-gang: provided, that any county which has not estab-
lished a chain-gang of its own, may, by its supervisors or
judge, contract to hire such convicted persons as are liable
to work in a chain-gang to the authorities of any adjoining
county, or city or town of that or of an adjoining county,
which has a chain-gang, such persons to be subject to the
rules and regulations established for the government of the
chain-gang in which they sball be employed.”

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