The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-07-29
BROWN LEASE BROKEN.
FOUR HUNDRED CONVICTS NOW
THROWN ON THE STATE.
Mr.. Brown Won't Pay the Fine ana Is
somewhat Severe in His Comments on
the Governor.

somewhat Severe In His Comments on
the Governor.
The state of Georgia has four hundred
or more able bodied convicts to let to
the the highest bidder. Gov. Atkinson
has issued an order cancelling the lease
contract of Penitentiary Company No. 1,
and had all the convicts held by that
company in the Dade county mines, at
Chickamauga and in 9artow county
transferred to the camps of the Chatta-
hoochee Brick Company. These con-
victs are now all on the states hands.
What will be done with them Is uncer-
tain, though the governor will, in all
probability offer to release them to 9th
parties or distribute them among the
several camps of the state. Pending
such disposition they will have to be
supported by the state out of the con-
tingent fund. Under the present con-
tract, company No. is entitled to three
hundred able bodied convicts, but the
concern has been using good deal
more, there being now in custody five
hundred or more with the extra men who
have been obtained from the other two
companies. These other companies can
not be compelled to take all the donvicts
though they might tiud it good invest
ment to take them off the states hands.
Julius L. Brown is president of COM
pany No. 1. The immediate cause of the
trouble which has ended In the re7okal
OF The lease contract is the fine imposed
by Gov. Atkinson on account of i'll treas-
ment of the men in the Dade mines.
President Brown refused to pay the fine,
declaring that he preferred the cancella-
ton of the lease, as the convicts are
drag on his bands.
Mr.. Brown has shown a shade of feel
ing over the governors action. In dis
cussing it he styled it a 'piece of execu-
| tive blackmail," and said he would never
pay the fine, although the other compan-
MES who were fined on account of the
treatment their convicts received
have delivered their checks to the
governor to the amount of $751; rs.
II would be only too glad to have Gov.
Atkinson cancel our lease and take these
conyicts off our hands," said Mr.. Brown.
''There is no money in them any longer,
and We would be glad to get rid of them.
have no idea of paying this fine, and
will let the governor do what he pleases
about it.
ut costs us from $4,000 to $4,000 a
month to keep the convicts," said Mr..
Brown, who questions Gov. Atkinson's
right to fine him. "The has governor
So, 900 in his contingent fund. He can
keep them for about twenty days. The
governor is trying to make a grand stand
play out of this matter.
"During the past few years the Geor-
gia Mining and Manufacturing Company
has lost a million dollars on its convicts.
There has not been a time in the last sev-
en- years that l would not have paid the
state $4,000 to annul the contract.
"Why doesn't the governor collect the
fine, if he has any right to do 50; its
very GEAR that he had the right to i'm
pose it, or he had not. If he did have
it, why is it necessary for him to COM
at us in another way. The business is
nothing but piece of executive black
MALL
In cancelling the lease it is understood
that Gov. Atkinson will put his action on
the ground that Mr.. Brown, the presi
dent of the company is not, fit person
to have control of the convicts.