The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-25
CONTINUANCE OF THE LEASE.
The Board OF Inspectors Decide TO Re-
turn the Convicts TO the Mines.

NASHVILLE, TENN, Aug. 24-The Ten
nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company
yesterday filed its answer as lessee to the
notice served by the board Of prison In
spectors indicating purpose on the part Of
the board to declare the lease Of convicts
forfeited because of insufficient bond and
certain alleged defaults on the part of the
lessee The lessee says 1t will make its boud
good, and in view of the order of the board
recently issued requiring it to remove con-
viots from the main prison, who
were brought in on account Of the
troubles, it agrees to do so provided the state
will agree and consent not to determine the
alleged grounds of forfeiture, but will sub
NIT them to the determination Of the courts,
suit having already been brought substau-
TALLY covering all the grounds OF complaint
arising out of the troubles Of last year at
Brioeville. If this agreement is made with
out prejudice TO the rights Of either state or
the lessee, the lessee says sit will
accept and work said convicts at
said branch prisons, or such others
as they may determine on, and
will pay promptly to the state all future in
stallments accruing on the lease after re-
tanning for the time being the items above
specified TO be retained, all questions being
reserved as to the ultimate liability of the
lessee or of the state, for any and all of said
items, as well as in regard to the expenses
OF lodging and feeding the convicts so sent
back to the main prison as above stated 1t
being expressly agreed and understood that
neither the state nor the lessee shall be
prejudiced or affected on any Of these
questions, or on any question growing out Of
the lease contracted by this proposition or its
acceptance. With this understanding the
company In response to your notice as to
the removal Of the convicts respectfully
ask that the convicts who were at Tracy
City be returned to: Tracy City, and the
convicts who were at Inman be returned to
Inman. and the oonviots who were at Oliver
Springs be returned to Oliver Springs. If
you prefer that the convicts shall not be
worked tn our mines, and think
it to the interest and advantage
of the state that the lease we now have may
be terminated 1t may be done. The com
pany will agree to immediate cancellation
upon the fairest and most equitable terms.
If, however, it is the states desire TO have
the lease executed, you will please direct
the return of the convicts as hereinbefore
Indicated"
The board and representatives of the
lessee and attorneys and the adjutant gen.
eral representing the governor, met and
discussed the proposition Of the lessee. The
board of prison inspectors met to-day and
decided to return the convicts to the mines
at once.
The officers of the Tennessee Coal, Iron
and Railroad Company and the board Of
prison inspectors met 6gain to-day to con-
sider the answer of the lessees to the. orders
recently made by the inspectors. After
consultation the board issued statement
in substance as follows: That the board has
no power to entertain a voluntary proposi>
tion for cancellation of the lease con-
tract; that reserving all legal questions
for adjudication by the courts and for the
purpose of carrying out the lease contract
under the existing law, the board accepts
the proposition OF the lessee and hereby
orders that the convicts be returned to the
branch prisons, from which they were
moved, at the earliest possible moment
This means that the state will guard and
protect the lessees against violence from the
mob and that the mines will soon be opened
and the convicts put to work.