The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-19
SiHouettes Of . SStdfe Capital

It would be interesting toa ascertain. if possible, just, what. percentage of visitors to Alabama's iscapitol come here to seek sclemency flor some friend who has been convicted of crime and retired to the seclusion of the state penitentiary. Certain 1t is that ap nri- alysis of the motives of tue. ycallers who are to be seen in capitol corri- dors would wait in the governors ante. room and besiege members of the par don board, would reveal tiints a very considerable per centage of them are seeking to secure the release of n prisoner of tie state.
 With records showing that paroles and pardons were granted during the past year at the rate of more than one per day and with the number granted constituting but a portion of the total number of cases in which clemency is sought. some idea can be obtained of the wholesale manner in which the pardoning power in Alabama is being appealed to. As n result probably of the greatly increased number of pa- roles granted, there appears to be a growing tendency over Alabama to re- gard the pard0niRg power as a sort of super-supreme court, where criminals who have been tried in court of i,ts4 tice,, on the law and the eviderice in the ease, and convicted, may obtain consideration in which both the law and the evidence may be disreeardetl. and a decision reached based on senti- mentality and the wishes of influential citizens and political bosses in various subdivisions of the state. Sa
 There are cases of convicted persons who appeal to the pardoniug power immediately upon having their, sen tences affirmed by the supreme court without serving a day in the peniten- tiary, thus indicating the light in which the pardoning power is viewed. In, fact, it is quite evident, from what transpires in efforts to free conyicts in Alabama that the criminal of. today has changed vastly from the obsolete kind described in the old-fashioned best sellers. ,,l ..'- :.
 Once, it seems. it was necessary, for the criminal to endure penal servitude to pay for the commission of his crime, in order to become spiritually reborn to truly repent. Not so today the modern Alabama criminal apparently repents the moment the crime is com
 
 ptiaHs7 of the decensed: T'm sorry | made you crs,' or something of that substance, and regards himself as sadly mistreated when forced to endure the ..htardships of Kilby prisons for even a few years 4s', sT.:.y s'A.+ss . It is known that appeals for 7cla- Esniency, ,:-aHd to Influence flten- bers of the. pardon board to favorable action in such cases, consume quite considerable time of these officials which might otherwise be spent in other duties. -s "
 Another fact in connection with the pardoning of convicts on which many Alabamans have been ignorant, is the fact that in this state the pardon board acts in an- advisory capacity only. If It recommends clemency, a favorable predicate is laid for the governor ex- tending clemency if;he so desires ;l if it refuses, even by unanimous vote to recommend clemency, the governor scan be guided by the recommendation or he can and sometimes does override < its action and take whatever action he de. sires regardless of the, board. ~ 1T
 A bill was introduced into the last legislature proposing to make it neces- sary for pardons to be recommended by the pardon board before they could be, granted, but it never came to a vote, prior consideration being given to such important measures as raising the incomes of petty county officials of k sfasiss oE. tiat county, abolishing one of. flee and substituting in lieu thereof tue same office with another name and larger salary or. other of the many complex features which go to comprise