People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-03-23
PRESIDENTIAL PARpONs.
EXAMPLES Of Clemency Denisd-LImlta-
tions OF the Function.


EXAMPLES Of Clemency Denied-LImlta-
tions of the Function.
Tbs most frequent forms OF crime
OF which pardons are asked are
countsrfeitlng and stealing from the
mails, says a Washington letter to
the 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 a man
sentenced for stealing letters from
the mails the Endorsement again
reads: Denied 0ffenses of this
kind are far too common, and the
public good, in my opinion. demands
SEVERITY" Using the post for fraudu-
lent purposes is fault seldom par
doned. A mail robbers recent petit
ton for release from prison is indors-
ed with the words denied. Such
crimes are becoming alarmingly
frequent :" In another case unfavor-
ably decided the Endorsement reads:
Shooting at revenue officers must
be discouraged
There are now about 800 individu-
ais, sentenced for violations OF the laws
OF the United States. scattered about.
in forty odd penitentiaries in various
parts of the country. The govern
ment sadly needs more prisons. It
owns at present only five penal
establishments-two penitentiarles in
Washington state and Utah, and iails
at Washington city, Portsmouth, Ark,
hnd Sitka, Alaska. Besides these it
rents a few iails in Indian territory
a0d Oklahoma territory. The insti-
tutions mentioned being insufficient.
Uncle Sam 10 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 1000
guests, but the necessary clause
appropriating money to build them
was omitted from the law by accl-
dent
The pardoning power of the presi-
dent is above congress, which
cannot curtail it in any manner, be-
cause it is 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 a fine 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 OF the punishment prescribed.
For example, he could not compel an
officer of the army or navy to pay a
fine instead OF undergoing suspen-
sion from rank. He can pardon an
offender before he is sentenced, or
even before conviction; but that is
not often done.
Etiquette has its place in the
matter OF pardons On one occasion
General Arthur referred an appli-
cation to his secretary OF war. The
latter appealed for counsel to
Attorney General Brewster. But Mr..
Brewster refused to give it, because
to do so would be merely to advise
the secretary as to whatadvice he
should give to the president. Cover
nors OF territories can grant reprieves
but they can only pardon with the
approval OF the chief executive. A
governing decision in the depart
ment OF justice is to the effect that
any district attorney may assure a
pardon to couhterfeiter 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 I.
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
the solicitation OF the company
whom he had robbed. The latter
has since employed him in another
capacity The fact that respectable
employment awaits a convict on hia
release has some weight in obtaining
his pardon.