The Monticellonian., 1901-08-23
ARKANSAS STA|E NENS
Board of Penitentiary Commission CTS Vote to Annul Lease
 of ConvictS.
GOVERNOR DAVIS OFFERED RESOLUTION
which Met tho Approval of Secretary of state Crockett and Auditor Monroe Lssssss WIl Appeal to the Courts other Happenings of Interest
Convict Lease AnnuIIed.

By a vote of 3 to ?. the state board 18th instant annulled the ten-year contract, entered into during Gov. Jones administration, for the hire of 300 convicts to the Arkansas Brick Manufacturing Company for a term of ten years. The principal stock holder of the above company Is Mr. W. W. Dickinson. At several previous meetings of the board Gov. Davis had endeaYored to have the contract an nulled. taking the position that the board making the contract exceeded yicts for term of years beyond it's tenure of office, thereby binding flu. ture managers of the penitentiary to a policy they might deem disadYant- ageOus Heretofore the board stood two for annulment and three against. those voting in favor of the state ear rying out the old boards agreement being Commissioner hill, Attorney General Murphy and Auditor Monroe. At tue meeting on the 18th Gov Davis offered the following. which was adopted Gov Davis. Secretary of State Crockett and Auditor Monroe voting for the resolution:
 Whereas, the state of Arkansas on the 3lst day of July, 1899, by its financial agent. J. C. Massey. and Su. perintendent E. T. Mcconnell and the pententiary board, made contract with the Arkansas Brick and Manu. featuring Company as assignee Of the Arkansas Chair Factory. whereby the state agreed to furnish to said brick company two brick buildings one 50 by 200 feet and two stories high. and one 10 by 70 feet and one story high covered with iron also to furnish boilers. POO horsepower capacity. and to place said machinery in position and to furnish free q charge all the necessary force to operate said ma chinefy5 the boilers and engines to be paid for in one. two and three years at actual cost and per cent in terest. The state also agrees 10 fur nsh as many as 300 able-bodied men to said brick company al the cost of 50 cents per day. the state to guard Clothe and feed and furnish medical attention to said conYicts said con tract to last for a period of ten years
 Believing that said contract is un. just to the state and made without le- al made for a term of years beyond tha life of the board making it, and amounts to lease of the state con yicts, which is prohibited by law. and believing that 1t is to the best interest Of the state and the management of the penitentiary that the same be an nulled and set aside, therefore,
 Be 1t resolved by the penitentiary board, that said contract so entered into between the state of Arkansas and the said Arkansas Brick and Man ufactHring Company be and the same Is hereby annulled. cancelled and held for naught, the cancellation of said contract to take effect October l5. 1901, and on and after said October L.. 1901, the state refuses to further comply With the terms of said contract and the superintendent of the penitentiary Is hereby ordered on and after said date to withdraw from said Brick and Manufacturing Company all convicts Tn their employ and turn them back into the walls of the penitentiary sub lect to the further o=ders of this board"