Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-25
GOVERNOR SIGNS
GRIFFITH'S BILL
PROVIDES FOR A BOARD OF
PARD0NS
New Measure viii Be of Great Value
to Prisoners and viii Parole
Many Now lncar-
eerated

After a desperate fight of many
months against overwhelming odds
Col. Griffith J. Griffith, Los Angeles
millionaire philosopher, has at last tri-
umphed in his efforts to secure suit
able conditions for the pardon of state
prisoners and his bill was signed by
Governor Gillett just before midnight
Saturday.
A telegram congratulating Col. Grif
fifth arrived in Los Angeles late yes
terday afternoon acquainting him with
the fact of the signing of the bill and
making him exceedingly happy
Col. Griffith recently finished a two
years term in San Quentin penitentiary
for shooting his wife. Three years ago
q Col. Griffith shot his wife in the face.
He took his medicine like man and
was one of the most model and manly
prisoners ever within the grim old
walls of San Quentin. He came out
Of that prison different kind of man
the kind of man that makes model
citizen. His donation of Griffith park
Is now one Of the city's best possess
sions.
Col. Griffith, however, knew what the
prisoners needed better than any out
slider ever could. His entire leisure
time in jail had been spent i'm framing
up a parole bill, wonder of it's kind,
treating with those who are dead to
the world
1t took a two months fight against
some of the cleverest legislators in the
country to win the bill.
Following is the bill which may re-
suit In the paroling of 500 good men
from the state prisons within the next
year:
An Act creating a board to be known
as the board Of pardons. paroles and
relief" whose duties shall be to hear
and pass upon all applications for
pardons combinations and paroles
and to have the oversight, guidance
and procuring employment of persons
who have been convicted of crime and
been discharged by reason of COM
pletlon of term of imprisonment or
other lawful termination thereof in
the state of California;; defining the
duty and power of such board and
authorizing the employment of
agents, clerks and other employees,
and for other purposes connected
with the duty of the commission, and
appropriating money for the use and
control of said board, it's agents,
clerks and employees.
The people of the state of California,
represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
Section l. There is hereby created
and established a board, to be known
as the board of pardons, paroles and
relief" which board shall be composed
of four persons whose terms of office
shall be eight years, the membership
thereof to be created in the first in
stance by the appointment of one per-
son for the term of eight years and one
for the term of six years, and one for
the term of four years and one for the
term of two years. Thereafter as terms
of the appointees respectively shall ex-
pire their successors shall be appointed
respectively for the terms of eight
years. The members of the board shall
be appointed by the governor. Pro-
vided, further, that the president of the
state board Of prison directors shall
eX-officio be a member of said board
with the right to vote on all matters
OF pardons, communications and paroles.
The members of such board shall serve
and devote all the time required for the
discharge of their duty without any
compensation whatever for time or eX-
penses of themselves except when
travelling to and from the different
state institutions necessary to be vis-
tied as board of pardons, commuta-
tions or paroles. The governor shall
appoint one of their number president
of the board, and the board shall ap-
point one of its agents. clerks or en-
ployes as secretary of the board and
keep records of all it's proceedings. All
reuuisitions for information, money and
other purposes shall be signed by the
president of the board.
To Employ Agents
Sec. O. The board shall have author
ity to employ one or more agents,
clerks and other employees to carry out
it's purposes and the provisions of this
act.
Sec. g. Unless otherwise directed by
the governor of the state, the board
shall hear and pass upon all applica-
tions for pardons, combinations and
paroles and make report of their con-
clusions to the governor of the state;
and all duties heretofore performed by
the state board of prison directors with
respect to pardons, combinations and
paroles shall hereafter be performed
by this board and the recommenda-
tions, orders and acts of this board
with respect to such matters shall be
entitled to and receive the considera-
tion heretofore given such matters
when acted upon by said board of
prison directors, and said state board
of prison directors shall not be author
lied to take any action in respect to
the matters herein provided to be cared
for by this board.
Upon the granting of a parole to any
prisoner, the warden shall provide him
with suitable clothing ten dollars in
money and shall procure transportation
for him to his place of employment
or to the county seat of the county to
which he is paroled.
Sec. 4. Hereafter, all applications
for pardons. combinations or parole
shall be presented to this board and
all such applications shall be presented
in writing signed by the applicant If
he or she be able to write and if not
able to write then their application
may be signed by some other person
authorized to do so by the applicant.
This board shall have the power to
make all suitable rules for the recep-
ton and presentation of such applica-
tions and all officers and employees in
charge of state priaons, reformatories
PATENTS AND PATENT RIGHTS