Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-04-11
coNvlcr LABOR
Proposition Of the PenItentlary Iessses 10
tile Governor.

Proposition Of the PenItentIary Iessees "a
tile Governor.
The Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad
Company, through its president, Mr..
j. Z. Warner, sent communication
to Gov. Bate yesterday evening, the
subject oi which is given below: The
company states that the death rate in
the branch prisons is largely due to
the sickly condition OF prisoners when
sent to the penitentiary from the jails +;
that the work of prisoners is light and
is less onerous than that done by free
labor; that the leasing of convict labor
has not caused the company to lessen
the number of free laborers or the re-
duction of wages; that the company
has not attempted to influence legisla-
tion, and that the company's invest
ments have not been profitable.
The communication further states
that the company has afforded every
facility for an investigation and has
been exonerated from suspicion by the
evidence, but realizing that there is
much dissatisfaction in the state with
the present lease system, and that
many citizens would like To see the
| prisoners in the entire control OF the
state, and as the policy of renting con-
victs indiscrimlnately, well and sick,
men, women and children, does not
work out the best results TO be rcaliz-
ed from penal convictions and to "a
large extent abandons the idea OF re-
form, the company, therefore, suggests
that the terms OF the contract be
changed as to relieve the company
from all care of and connection with
the prisons and prisoners. The COM
munication closes as follows
This company will agree to accept
and employ each day at a price por
man to be agreed upon, as many able
bodied men rs the state authorities
deem proper to work. And in case
this or any similar plan should be
adopted, this company will make sat
ishctory arrangements with any COM
mttee, or any officers OF the state, des-
ignated and authorized for the pur-
pose, to convey the title or the use OF
Is prisons to the state.
Such plan, it is believed, would
,meet all the requirements OF the dif-
ferent shades of public sentiment upon
this subject, afford full opportunity for
the correction of all the real or imag-
mary abuses OF the lease system, and
for the exercise of the universal and
hu name desire for the reform and ed
ucatiun us well as the punishment of
criminals, and at the same time pre-
vent the penitentiary from becoming
source of expense to the state and a
burden upon honest home industry,
but it would continue 10 be source
of revenue and cease To be one of po-
ltical agitation.
Ii it should be deemed best abandon
the lease system entirely, this com
pany will not be an obstacle or imped-
inent i'm the way of such change or
abandonment, but will meet the state
authorities to arrange the details oil
rescissiOn or cancellation OF the exist
ing contract on terms OF fairness and
liberality.
A Resolution Offered in the Senate for It's
Cancellation.
The following resolution was intro
duced in the Senate by Mr.. Kercheval,
Saturday, which was laid over under
the rules:
Whereas, the penitentiary lease sys-
tenn is degrading, inhuman and in dis
cord with all the better feelings of
human nature, besides being in direct
competition with the honest free labor
of the State, over and above what is
sufficient to make the institution self
sustaining, such system is therefore
wrong and should bo abolished; and
Whereas, the Tennessee Coal, Iron
& Railroad Company per james 9.
Warner, has communicated the fact
to his excellency tile Governor, that
said Tennessee Col, Iron Il Railroad
Company, as the lessees of the peni-
tentiary, are willing 10, and do offer a
rescision and cancellation of the con-
tract of said lease; and,
Whereas, the very limited time now
intervening before the final adjourn
ment of the General Assembly, will
not allow OF the due and proper con-
sideration of the proposition OF said
Tennessee Coal, Iron Il Railroad Com
pany to rescind or act ON said lease
contract; therefore, be il
Resolved by the General Assembly
Of the State Of Tennessee, that il is the
sense of this body that the proposition
of the Tennessee Coal, Iron 4 Railroad
Company, ms lessee, deserve our most
earnest consideration, and should be
acted upon with a view Of its
rescission and to this end, that the
Governor be, aud is hereby respectful
ly urged to convene General Assem-
bly, OF the State in extraordinary ses-
sion, Immediately after the adjourn
ment sine die, for the purpose OF CON
sidering and taking action upon the
proposition of said Tennessee Coal,
Iron & Railroad Company, lessees Of
the State penitentiary.