The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-02-28
NO USE FOR IT
Governor BIease Says He Will Hereafter
Ignore Pardon Board.
he ASSIGNS NO REASON

Simply Says He Has Withdrawn All
Papers in Hands Of Members and
Will Refer No More to Them
The onnce is Not Abolished by
1 Law. ..5
The Columbia Record says report.
ers who asked Governor Blease, Fri.
day, what was the status Of the
State board Of pardons, were told:
well, L have recalled the papers
that were in their hands and DO not
Intend to refer any; more cases 20
them" Which means the practical
abolishment of the board, If the gov.
ernor stands by his expressed inten-
ton; yet the law requires thJi; he
board shall met regularly, on the
| first Wednesday, in each quarter, and
so it will continue to meet, its mem
bers drawing 81 per diem and their
mileage, although their occupation
be gone. The governor has not the;
power to abolish the board, nor is it
within the discretion Of the board
TO neglect the attending Of the reg.
illar meetings merely because the
governor has ceased to refer to it
any matters for consideration.
The board is composed of Messrs.
l ~ re- Tron nn1a 1
Rest, c.. A. Savage Of WATERFORD and
Washington A.. Clark, Sr., OF Colum-
i bia, Mr.. Cleveland being chairman
and, Mr.. Clark secretary. Mr.. Saw
ages term expires next month, Mr. 1
lCleveland's about a year hence and
SIR. Clark's two years hence.
\ Mr.. Clark said that he had not
been advised of the governors in,
tention not to refer any more cases
to the board, but that if the gov
ernor did pursue this course, the
board would have no choice but to
4 met regularly, on the first Wednes-{
day In each quarter, notifying the
lIgovernor that 1t was in session,
lawaiting his pleasure, and, II he laid
no business before it, adjourn; and
so on. until the general assem- bly,:
should see fit to repeal the act Gre
atiny the commission, or the board
should go out Of existence by expira--
4 stion OF the. terms Of its members.
4 The-pay;of the board; :Mr. Clark said. !
4 is limited to ST. per day for mem
bers while the board is sitting, and
the usual mileage to- and from their
homes on official business.
! The act creating the board pro-
vides that within. 80 days from the
appointment, said board shall meet
in the city of Columbia, and organ
lie, and at once notify the governor
of their readiness to consider any
petitions he may see fit to lay efore
them. They shall keep a comple .
record of all their proceedings, and
hold same subject to the orders.
from. the governor, or tn, general
| assembly
! 1t shall be the duty Of said board
to consider any and all petitions for:
pardons or Communication of sentence
which may be referred to them by
the governor, and to make their rec
ommendation to the governor regard
ing same; provided the governor may
or may not adopt such recommends
ton, but in case he does not, he shall
submit his reasons to the general as
sembly; provided, further, that the
governor may act on any petition
without reference to said board.
Said board shall hold regular
meetings at least four times each
year, beginning on the first Wednes-.
): days Of January, April, July and
October, respectively, and as many
extra meetings as the governor may,
through the secretary, order.
The mem bers of said board shall
), receive as compensation for their SER
vices the sum OF four (s4) dollars
for each day they shall be in session,
: not to exceed 20 days, and 10 cents
: per mile, one way, for the most di-
rect route to and from sucl: meeti!g;
. said sum to be paid by the State
treasurer, on warrant of the comp
; troller general =
; Said board shall have authority 10
{ preserve order at its meetings, and
to punish any disrespect, or con-
tempt committed in it's presence. A
majority o. said hoard shall consti-
, tute quorum for the transaction OF
| business, and a majority shall rule
in all it's deliberations. The mem
, bers of said board shall hold no other
public Office than that of notary puo-
lic."