Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-19

Austin. Jan. Ex-senator Greer,
discussing his bill TO abolish the board
OF pardons, made rather salty tank.
lie said II the chief executive could
spend his time In doing the things that
had been done in the very recent past,
he had the time 10 do those things
which The constitution and his oath OF
office required that he should do. He
did not believe he said, In passing laws
to relieve the governor of the work
that was properly his, and therefore
he was In favor Of abolishins this
board Of pardons.
Senator Steele replied In u very feel
ing way. He had had occasion lac sud,
TO apply to the governor for pardon
for n young man who was serving a
term la the pcnitentlary, and who the
district attorney. the district judge and
other officers having full knowledge OF
the case, said should be pardoned. Two
years had elapsed and that case had
not yet boon reached. Men had been
sent to the penitentiary for iive years,
and, though deserving to be- pardoned.
had been compelled TO serve out their
terms because the governor could not
roach their cases.
senator Dickson said he voted for the
bill creating the board OF purdons and
was ready now to vote TO abolish II.
He had applied for pardon for the
ed into the matter he found AN applica-
ton for the pardon of the same man
that had been filed several years ago
and had not been reached yet.
senator Horen said when the bill to
create the board of pardona WAS before
the senate II was stated that there
were 1900 applications for pardons on
file. A few weeks ago he went before
the bonrd to try 10 get pardon for a
man from his district, and he found
that there were 1000 applications on
file.
Senator Smith said he had opposed
tile creation OF the board OF pardons,
and he would be glad to know that he
had been wrong In that opposition.
But after two years OF trial of the
board OF pardOns he found that he was
right He said II was claimed that ap-
plieauons were considered IN their rSisu-
lar order, and yet every senator knew
that applications had been made since
the creation OF this board, directly to
the governor, and he had Issued par
dons, regardless OF the board. In capt.
tai cases, should the governor wait for
the action of the board upon cases In
regular order and until the law had
been executed and the mon dead? If
he didn't reed the assistance of a
board of pardOns In the gravegt cases.
where life is involved. why should he
have Il IN other cases?
Senator Alice ssid he had favored
the action OF the board of pardons two
years ago. and had seen no reason to
change his mind He argued the ques-
tlon OF the constitutionnlily Of the law
creating the board, which he de1iared
was beyond doubt. The board was
merely advisory, and the governor
asked Its assistance only wner ne
needed II. He thought the governor
should have this assistance when nee
essary. There was nothing In the bill
creating the board that would keep
applications from being made directly
to the governor or prohibit him fyoia
acting without the advice ~ the Spnrd.
Senator Agnsw said Il the executive
should put In his wt1ls time consider
Ing applications for pard1ns ana should
dispose of six every day. including
Sundays, II would take him a year
TO get through the work now piled up
before him.
Senator Smith wanted to know hsw