The Sentinel=record., 1917-06-01

This takes a powerful arm of the state government out of politics and insures promotion on the basis of merit
 "The governor appoints some few officials but se.dom to high post, and in practically all the states his most important nominations require the approval of the state senate by ma 1orty vote. Patronage, in which the president of the United States finds one of his most desirable and most disagreeable functions. is in the case of state governor of slight value, because the state offices are not nu- merous, and the more important and lucrative are lied by the direct cleo tion of the people. Within the five months [ have served as governor exceptional cases arising from death and disability have enabled me to ap- point two state senators, two repre- sentatives, one chancellor, two sher- ifs, two county judges, two clerks, one treasurer, two assessors and two surveyors, in addition to two peniten tiary commissioners, one member of the board of charities and inherit ances, tax attorney. a labor commis sioner a fire marshal, insurance at torney, and members of boards O. trustees where terms had expired.
 The governor has the right of re- quirng information for the executive officials, but has no control over them and is usually bound to communicate to the legislature his views concern ing the conditions of the commCn wealth, which is set forth in his in- augural address. He may also recom- mend measures to the general as sembly through special messages, but is not allowed to frame and present bills. In few states he is directed to present estimates, and by recent constitutional amendment passed in Maryland, he is empowered to ,dt with the auditor and treasurer and frame a budget for the legislature thirty days prior to it's converting. and the legislature cannot appropriate more than the amounts which this budget board recommends but can de. crease items.
 'I think that this would be wise policy for Arkansa.r to adopt. as means of insuring greater financial efficiency in the administration of pubic affairs. The governor has in all the states but four a veto upon bills passed by the legislature. and Is usually given five days in which to approve Or disapproye bills while the legis ature is in session, and twenty days after the adjournment of the legislature. His veto may be overridden by majority vote of all the members elected in both houses. ln Arkansas the number required to pass a bill ever the governors veto being eighteen in the senate. and in the house. The use of his veto is. in ordinary times. a gov ernor's most serious duty, and chiefly by his discharge of 1t is he judged.
 '1During the last sixty-day session of the general assembly | vetoed seven Is, one affecting the press, Cf general nature, and six local bills and none of these bills passed over my veto.
 Closely correlated in power and importance to the veto power is the power, and it is this which taxes d governors nerves and desire to administer justice with d firm and even hand. Since | have been gover nor 1 have had nearly three hundred petitions for pardon and have grant ed fourteen in five months. As matter of efficiency, I have adopted a custom established by ex4Governor Donagahy of setting aside the first Monday in each month for the forma hearing and presentation of pardon petitions, and on last pardon day, as 1t is called, sixty-seven petitions were of which one was granted In the interval between pardon days l allow special hearing on the pardons which have been applied for and just night before last sat up until one o'clock in the morning hearing a par. don petition for Calhoun county.
  Whi justice should be tempered with mercy and while there are many cases where the technicalities of the law should be swept aside by some thing more than the statute of off clals, yet l am convinced that it Is the solemn duty of the governor to enforce the majesty of the law after there has been conviction by jury of ones peers and the case has been affirmed by our able supreme court, and this shall be my policy during my administration ercept fin cases where the spirit of the law and the pecu far circumstances of the case should take precedence over the let ter of the law.
 By prOclamations the governor may remit fines and forfeitures and restore citizenship. l have already issued four or five proclamations re. storing citizenship, and feel that this is but fair and just to the unfortu- nate prisoner who has served d peni- tentiary sentence. The governor is l1g