The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-26

y. .seasercy, JOHN f. Rogers. ire
.sa governor Of the asasa os WASH
ss~xe has taken offeial coFaizanee %
q. s.-s snss The newspapers OF the state
heen. asA are. sharply erfrt&isirg
=. a.. ii. alleged haiti Of ignoring. or
-...ng a. Of ls;ls weight. recommend
-. nass ~ him by the board OF par
- = eonuented upon in the Post-In-
k-a.sr.ser Of sunday. August q. He fs
5000 himself with All opinion from
~ .ttorrsy gsessrafs office TO The effect
-, ~. 6sief executive 81 rot bound 10
49, ar sf3nsl recommendation unless
= saaII 9 desire,
1.s1.ssr ate ~ Angus. - J. II. PsiietGer,
=. rryaaors private secretary, writes
-. pnssrrseiiigencsr. Incsosiug a copy Of
II osss0n. asking that Il be published
s- arar that people may be fully Ia
1-re6 before passing Judgment IN the
S.rts, and that Justice may be done slse
.~rrar." Mr. Psii.tier says that the
~sssor makes fl clear mat. although this
Swsrr5r ia rot bound 10 follow the recon-
-s1assonn Of the board. evertheiess the
sss..s has not, as a matter o. fact. par
1exd any one whose pardon was not
reorFnensed- In number Of Instances.
- sss. the governor has refused TO grant
s-rkx.s recommended BY The board.
h VII b remembered that the most
snnt1ng criticism referred 10 by the Post
ndatxencsr was from the sAasla syalia
6n1ps which took tia governor 20 task
~ nsusing a pardon 10 Eaos Bley. in
saae case an Immediate pardon vas
ksunassn5eS: whie ia TIE oase Of James
usss notorious criminal whose Seattle
heara II h alleged, amply justified Judge
Hassat3s Sentence OF iri'rty-gfx years a.
i9ed laaSor. fail pardon was granted. al
rseugh ne board Of parsogs had only
spns 50 far ~ TO recommend a commuta-
fDE % SIX years.
The opinion OF the attorney general re-
Aarsd to in My. Pelletier,s letter rs dated
Angus. q. he day before tie fsos,-Intei.
ktnesr's Article was printed, and appears
= have ben requested by the executive
= August H. a slight hint that possibly
euv Roger has for some ,ima been aware
at his curse Of action In connection
sssh the bard OF pardons had aroused, or
M Ikes TO arouse, unfayorabl& cfiti-
~ ~ opinion is signed by Assistant
Attorney Seferal Vance. Its text Is as
Aiows:
Il have ne honor TO acknowledge receipt
= four aVof OF the liih inst. snQn!rlng
10 th executive bound TO follow the
Ncsn''ne aatlo'ls made by the state board
4 pasaos?
E'uslcr OF this state places the power
8 parah In the hands OF the governor In
ee fNWlng language; THE par3oning
fser hal be vested in the governor un-
- @h rag citations ard restrictions as
nay : prescribed by law Estate Con
ututls article Ill, section 81
Ina nesatsnce to the constitutional man.
G;e. n act was passed br the leglsla; ure
Z M which created board of paTdoos.
mis- - provides In effect thsf al apf,I
uiso1 for pardon shall be submitted Ia
~ Bard before being acted upon By the
tgs5or Tor lis approval. rcieetion or
W. advice thsgeon as II may deem
rssf IL Is further provided that after
q saniuation OF evidence and recon-
BaaA uons In support OF applications,
nj board shall make recommendations
~ governor,
Is wen settled principle that the
Par 70 resai!3te an executive function
tssnet mean the poxer 70 snnul such
fassln. Where the pagdonius power is
sfss The legislature may not remove
As9ower 20 sythnna; other than that
Htzk ral hy The constitution Under the
rzss OF insulation or restriction, nov l3s
Yer attempted To 90 So by our statute
Afeu vii! noiicef from the language
fs1ta above, Il Is Advice that the beard
. give 70 the governor ana recommsu-
49, khef are 20 us&Ea. they are nG.
WsNefed. or attempted 20 he eTnpo X
~ 10 pardon or 10 anything Dgs RECON-
w. II the Recommendation bg the
o. s-fe conclusive unnn tie governor
Vacf IN subsequently, assigning pax.son
Nsy Or ministerial ana nos executive,
- IS The power would be vested IN the
Na OF i'ardosss ard flot 81 the governor
- statement of this proposition IL its
Ws Fef&taficu THE legislature in pass
- Eie act was fully within igs province.
Ut Nsfa4n fHfs efrfst. ~ - ~
esasi,ation. ana the establishment ~ ;Se
- ooaro VAS 2 regulation and restriction
- Nas not al attempt % 3ftest the gov
II " % hss constitutional power
al .aeTe!are advise yam thai the sxecE-
e : Egf legally bound 70 follow ne
ssezFfs