CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAIN GANG.
Sec. 312. Establishment.
A chain gang shall be established in this city, and shall be under
the direction and control of the Mayor, under such rules as may
be prescribed by the Council.
Sec. 313. Who liable thereto.
Any male person over the age of 16 years convicted of a misdemeanor,
or of any offense, and sentenced to confinement in
jail as a punishment, or part punishment, for such offense, or who
is imprisoned for failure to pay any fine or penalty imposed upon
or assessed against him, upon such conviction, or for any violation
of an ordinance of this city, which violation of said ordinance
is punishable by confinement in jail or fine, shall be required to
work in such chain gang, at the discretion of the Mayor, when
convicted of the violation aforesaid.
Sec. 314. Manager.
The Mayor shall appoint a competent and efficient person,
to be known as manager of the chain gang. His compensation
shall be $2 per day for every day he shall report for duty
and is assigned work.
Sec. 315. Assistant manager.
The Mayor shall, when necessary, appoint a competent and efficient
person to be known as assistant manager of the chain gang
and his compensation shall be $1.50 per day for every day he
shall report for duty and is assigned work.
Sec. 316. Their duties and authority.
The manager, and assistant manager, of the chain gang, are
hereby vested with all the powers and responsibilities of policemen,
and shall be under the control of the Mayor, and may be
suspended or removed from office peremptorily by the Mayor
without formal proceedings, for any cause, deemed sufficient
by him.
Sec. 317. Mayor's duty.
The Mayor shall direct such chain gang to be worked at such
time and place as the City Engineer may designate, or as necessity
may require; but such chain gang shall not be worked at any
time unless it be composed of four or more prisoners, unless when
worked with hired labor.
Sec. 318. Rules and regulations.
The following rules shall govern the Mayor and other officers
in the dischare of their duties relating to the chain gang:
1. The manager of the chain gang shall take out such prisoners
as may from time to time be delivered to him by the City
Sergeant and shall require them to perform such labor as may
previously have been designated by the City Engineer. The manager
shall treat such prisoners humanely, using at the same time,
however, all such measures as may be necessary to secure diligent
service on the part of the prisoners and to prevent their escape.
2. The assistant manager of the chain gang shall assist the
manager in such manner as may be designated by him.
3. Each prisoner who is assigned to said chain gang shall obey
each and every proper order of the manager or assistant manager;
he shall perform such work as required of him by the officers in
charge of said force; and shall work each day the force is out
unless excused by sickness.
4. The manager shall not punish an offending prisoner on any
street or other public place; but shall return him to the city jail,
there to be dealt with as provided by rule 7; and the manager
may call upon the City Sergeant or jailer for such assistance as
he may require in dealing with an obstreperous prisoner.
5. When a prisoner claims to be sick the City Sergeant shall
promptly notify the physician of the jail, who shall visit such
prisoner during the day in which he is so notified; if in his opinion
the prisoner is unfit for work, he shall so certify to the Sergeant,
and shall continue to visit the prisoner daily so long as he
may require medical attention.
6. Prisoners shall be allowed a credit upon their term of imprisonment
for good conduct and diligence of one hour for each day
they shall work on the chain gang.
7. Should any prisoner or person assigned to work on said
chain gang disobey any of the above rules and regulations, and
decline to obey any proper order of the officers in charge of said
chain gang he shall be punished by said officers in charge, so that
the same be not less than 15 nor more than 39 stripes or lashes in
any one day.
