The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-11-24
The Penitentiary Lease.

The Penitentiary has long been en-
elephant" on the hands of the State
which it has been difficult to know
what to do with. Since its establish
ment we believe there are only one
or two years it has been self-sustaiE-
ing, and the balance of the time II has
been a heavy burden upon the State
to keep it up. AS the best means Of
relieving the State ofthis very heavy
burden, the present Board of Inspcc-
tors, acting with the approval OF
Governor BROWN, who has given the
question his careful consideration,
and the Chairmen of the Committee
on the Penitentiary for both Houses,
have made contract with Col. R0-
BERT F. LooNEY, of Memphis and
Major THOMAS O'CoNNER of Knox
vile, whereby the Penitentiary il
leased TO them for the term of fivc
years, FOR which they pay the State
a bonus of $4,000 per annum, and
assume all contracts entered into by
the Inspectors, which are still in
force, and take off of the hands of the
state not only the entire institution.
hut also the men and material Of every
description. The State, however, re
tains the warden, surgeon snu chap
lcs xl-hn mill have
power only in the disciplining and
sanitary control.
Fer the material and stock on hand
The contractors pay fifteen thousand
dollars cash, forty-five thousand dol
lars on the first of next March, and
fifteen thousand dollars on the first
ofnext June, and the remainder the
first of January, 1873.
For the prompt payment of the
bonus and fulfillment ofthe lease, the
contractors give bonds in the sum of
one hundred thousand dollars.
Notwithstanding as the law stands,
The Inspectors have ample power 10
make such a contract, the matter was
promptly submitted TO the Legisla-
ture for its approval, and was satisfied
by almost the unanimous vote of both
Houses.
We regard this as a good arrange
ment for the State. 1t is made with
responsible parties who enter upon il
in good faith. They are backed hy
All the means necessary to carry out
what they have undertaken. From
= question of doubt as to whether it
will be q burden or a source of reven-
lie TO the site, the State has the
-uarantee OF $4,000 per annum for
he term five years. We congratu-
late the State upon the consumma-
lion of so excellent an arrangement;
and in the name of our taxpayers we
hank the officials who perfected the
arrangement.
We do not believe the States could
in { illt-'lCf All NtltlSS ttll~4tf-ttTt- =
better arrangement. Thepriceagrecd
upon Is IA If and liberal, and with the
certainty Of $50, 900 per sHnum, guar
luted, is far better than for the State
o take the chances on what has
heretofore so uniformly proven a fail
urc and an oppressive burden upon
pUr treasury. The high character o.
he gentlemen leases is a guaranty 10
al who know them that the interests
oithe State will, in all respects, be
FULLY guarded and protected. Col
I.OoXEY is a gentleman too well
known to be introduced TO a Tennes-
see audience or to need any assurance
he will meet satisfactorily all re-
quirments from the State. Maj.
O'CoNNER Is a gentleman Of pre-
eminent business capacity. He has
the ability to grasp and manage sue
cessfully any business requiring en-
ergy, honesty and brains. In these
respects ToNO'CoNNER is not ranked
BY any man within the borders OF the
STATE.