New Britain herald., 1914-05-08
PARDONS IN DISPUTE
 IN MASSACHUSETTS,
Governor Favors Pdoe, Council
 Grants Full Pardon.

Boston. Mass, May Ex-Governor Walsh and his executive council or rather some members of that body who for month or more have been having a good natured but none the less serious dispute over the procedure on pardons, will have to reach llna' understanding at once.
 The issue came to a head this Week when the council voted compete pardon for Carmine Sarne charged with manslaughter and now prisoner at Charlestown. while the governor simply recommended the commutat1on of sentence and the release of the man on parole.
 As a result of what the governor be- lieves was an illegal act on the part or the council the man will not be re- leased.
 Governor Walsh says he had no idea the council believed it was Overstep- rng it's rights in this matter in grant, ing broader pardon than he had suggested, but he had no other option in the matter but to hold matters up.
 II am determined" said the gover- nor, "as far as lilies in my power to sy systematize this matter of granting rardons. From my experience as lieu- tenant governor I must confess l learned enough of the old haphazard methods which formerly prevailed and On taking office as chief executive determined to do all in my power to correct that situation.
 'I don't want anyone to feel that pardons are secured as the result or pull or influence or pressure and one of my desires is to save the councillors themselves from the trouble which reinstatement of the old system would bring about.
 Meanwhile the law must be ob- served and the law centers in me the authority to decide what kind of par- dons shall be issued. The council can confirm or reject my suggestions on that point, but it cannot create or de- termine the type of pardon of itself"
 As to the Parole Board.
 Back of all this is a feeling on the part of some of the members of the council that the parole board has be- come too important in the matter Of pardons and that 1t has encroached upon the prerogatives of the council. The case of Carmine Sarne was sent to the parole board and it reported that the sentence should be commuted ill part and the man released on parole and the governor this week sent that verdict to the council. But the coun- l. cii voted to pardon the man. " F. 'The confusion is right here,' said l the governor. No one is attempting Fin any way to curtai1 thezpowers of the council with regard to pardons, but as governor I have the right to con- suit with any person I may desire on sthe twisdonn-efs granting a. pardon: I have. elected to consult rr.the parole board. But the power of the parole board exists only to the extent that confer it, and my habit of sending l the parole board reports to the council has not been with any idea of asking the council to carry out the suggestions of the board, for that would be ridi-
 culous, but rather to inform the coun- eli as to the basis on which I have reached my conclusions"
 As matters stand the governor will not sign the pardon paper of Sarne | though he believes the man should be at liberty.
 Lieutenant Governor Barry says the council will also stand pat. "The parole board has exceeded it's power il, this matter said MT. Barry, "and as the council felt the n1ah should be at liberty 1t voted full pardon Carmine Sarne, who ran a restaur- ant on Fleet street, shot and killed Salvatore Rizzo five years ago. He was sentenced on a manslaughter charge in November, 1910, to serve serve from eight to twelve years. During his years in prison his conduct has been excellent.
 He has a wife and child who need his support and one of thestriking ex- hibits produced before the council was letter from the widow of Rizzo, in which she assented to the pardon.