Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-03-30
PRESIDENTIAL PARDo, is.
Examples of Ciemeney Denied--LIL "'a
tions of the Function.


Examples of Clemeney Denied-LIL fita
tions of the Function.
The most frequent forms OF crims
OF which pardons are asked are
counterfeiting and stealing from tho
mails, says d Washington letter to
tho Boston Transcript Appeals in
such cases, however, usually fail.
Mr.. Cleveland's Endorsement on an
application recently made jall-bird
convicted OF making false money
reads simply: Denied Counter
feiting must be suppressed" On the
papers submitted in behalf OF q man
sentenced for stealing letters from
the mails the Endorsement again
reads: Denied. Olfenses OF this
kind are far too common. and the
public good, in my opinion. demands
severity. Using the post for fraudu-
lent purposes il fault seldom par
doned. A mail robbers recent petit
tion for re lease from prison is indors-
ed VITA the words: Denied. Such
crimes are becoming alarmingly
frequent. In another case unfavor-
ably decided the endorsements reads:
Shooting at revenue officers must
be discouraged.
There are now about 800 individu-
ais, sentenced for violations ofthe laws
of the [ nited States, scattered about
in forty odd penitentiaries in various
parts of the country. The govern
ment sadly needs more p isons. 1t
owns at present only five penal
establishments-two penitentiarles in
| Washington state and Utah. and jail5
at Washington city. Port 3mouth. Ark.
and Sitka. Alaska. Besides these it
rents few jails in Indian territory
and Oklahoma territory. The insti-
tutions mentioned being insufficient,
Uncle Sam is Obliged to make use of
those belonging to the states. A
bill was passed. by the last congress
establishing three Federal prisons
Big enough TO accommodate 1909
guests, but the necessary clause
appropriating money 10 build them
was omitted from the law by accI-
| dent.
The pardoning power of the presi-
dent is above congress, which
cause it is a part OF the constitution
Mr. Cleveland can remit fines and
penalties imposed under the revenue
laws. at the same time he cannot
cause the amount OF flie to be re-
turned after it has been paid into
the treasury. He may, and often
does, mitigate sentences of court
martial, but he cannot change the
manner o. the punishment prescribed.
For example, he could not compel an
officer of the army or navy 10 pay a
fine instead OF undergoing suspon-
sion from rank. He can pardon an
offender before he is sentenced. or
even before convictions but that is
not often done
Eli uctte has its place in the
matter OF pardons. On one occasion
General Arthur referred an appli-
cation 10 his secretary OF war The
latter appealed for counsel to
Attorney General Brewster But Mr.
Brewster refused to give il, because
TO do so would DO merely to advise
the secretary "a to whata Twice he
should give to the president. Cover.
nors OF territ1ries can grant reprieves
but they can oaly pardon with the
approval OF the chiei executive A
| governing decision in the depart
ment Of justice is to the effect that
any district attorney may assure a
pardon TO acounterfeiter who betrays
his accomplices and gives up his
plates or molds, together with all
initiated paper or coin in his posses
sion. In Massachusetts, picturesque
custom holds. one convict being re-
leased from prison by the governor
Of the state every Thanksgiving day.
One OF the most notable pardons
granted by Mr.. Cleveland during his
former term was that to Cyril T.
Benedict. who had charge of the
Adams express company's Office in the
treasury here. He stole several
thousand dollars. He was prosecuted,
sentenced. and served one year in
prison. Then he was released, at
tho solicitation of the company
whom he had robbed. The latter
has since employed him in another
capacity. The fact that respectable
employment ava Is a convict on his
release has some weight in obtaining
his pardon.