The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1912-06-07
PLAN TO ABOLISH
DEATH SENTENCE
PETITION BEING CIRCULATED ~
PLACE INITIATIVE MEASURE
On NOVEMBER RALlor-CER.
TAIN LIMITATIONS MADE

III PORTLAND. June An tnitia-
tive bill for the abolition OF capital
punishment In Oregon has been
framed and is being placed in circu-
lation for signatures, so the question
may 20 on the ballot at the November
election. This question has been
brought prominently before the pub
lie mind because OF the close struggle
over the death penalty at the last
session OF the legislature and the ad-
vocacy by Governor West OF life i'm
prisonment as a penalty for murder
In the first degree.
The bill prepared is n short one. II
places one restriction on the pardon
Ing power OF the governor. from
which It's advocates argue that Il
passage will mean rare use OF the
pardoning power after man has
been sentenced TO life imprisonment.
This Limitation Is to require that no
leommutation, seprleyc or pardon
shall be given except upon the rec
ommendation OF the Judge before
whom the prisoner was convicted. or
the judges successor In once.
This virtually provides two con-
sideratlons OF the case OF an appli.
cant for pardon. II places responsi.
bility nrst on the Judge who tried the
case or his successor In once. and II
Is eontended that the Judge viii re-
fuse To recommend pardon unless
newly discovered evidence or some
equally good cause Il presented upon
which the release Of the defendant
may he justified.
Conviction will be easier TO obtain.
II is argued. II the Jurors know that
the penalty will be life Imprisonment,
because multitudes OF men hesitate
to impose the death penalty In even
the most aggravated cases
These arguments. and others In
support OF the abolition OF hanging. /
are given In pamphlet Issued by the
League TO Abolish Capital Punish
ment, OF which X. J. Hendricks OF
Salem Is chairman. The league will .
hasten the circulation OF the petitions
so the 5000 names required may be
obtained In time. They mus, be had
by July ith.
To insure success by quick clrcula-
ton OF the petitions a small fund viii
be necessary. and those Interested In
the work OF the league are invited to
send contributions to the secretary.
Percy v. cotter. box 372. Salem. Ore.
The Ohio constitutional convention. /
In preparing the new constitution OF
the state. has provided for the aboli-
ton OF capital punishment. and a
campaign with the same object In
view is under way In California,
where the question may soon be sub
mitted under the initiative.
The bill prepared is as follows:
Section !. That Section 1903 Of
Lords Oregon Laws be and the same
Ii hereby amended to read as fol-
lows:
Section 1908. Every person con-
yicted OF murder In the first degree
shall be punished by Imprisonment at
hard labor during the natural life OF
such person In the Oregon state PEN
ltentiary at Salem, or In such other
az may hereafter be desig-
mated by law; provided. however, that
this act shall not apply to crimes
or convictions had prior to
this enactment becoming effective. II
ju' the laws n force and effect 1T the
lime Of the commission OF said crime
,hsll apply l., and govern the penal.
lies provided therein shall be Imposed
"a accordance Herewith.
Section 2. That section l714 Of
Lords Oregon Laws be and the same
8 hereby amended to read AZ follows:
Section 1714. The governor has
'ower to grant reprieves. commuta-
Ions and pardons. after convictions.
or all crimes; and to remit, after
Judgment therefor, all penalties and
orfeitures, upon such conditions and
With such restrictions and limitations
Is he may deem proper. subject to the
equations prescribed In this chap
er; provided. however, that no re-
rieve, Communication or pardon. after
onviction for murder In the FIRST de-