Governor Angus Wilson McLean spent the week-end at his home in Lumberton with his family, arriving Saturday evening and leaving for Raleigh about 3:40 yesterday afternoon in spite of the rain, which came down all day practically without intermission, making travel by automobile over the sort of highway between Lumberton and Fayetteville a slippery proposition. Mrs. McLean’s condition continues to improve, and she expects to join the Governor at the executive mansion in Raleigh with the children early in February.
Governor McLean finds the business of governing very little different from his usual walk and conversation. He has fallen into harness without any special thrills and without finding much difference in the day’s work.
Except, maybe in the matter of being pestered for pardons. Friday, for instance, when he was in the midst of trying to get into the inwards of the State’s financial affairs, he had to stop and consider the merits of some pardon applications. One was application for a man, one Miles O’Neal, a bootlegger of Wake serving18 months, for time off to attend the funeral of his brother-in-law. It was granted, from Friday 8 p.m. to Sunday 6 p.m. Governor McLean extended clemency also to Dock Wallin of Madison county, serving 23 months for violating the liquor laws, and Justin Efird of Stanley, convicted of criminal assault on his daughter, both for good and sufficient reason. In the latter case jurymen and judge are now convinced of the man’s innocence.
But the Governor is convinced that it is necessary to regulate this pardon business differently if he is to find time for anything else. It would take up half or two-thirds of his time. Hence in his message to the General Assembly Wednesday of this week he will ask for a pardon attorney whose business it will be to relieve the Governor of the duty of examining into the merits of pardon applications, presenting them to the Governor ready for action, with all the facts sifted.
Governor McLean never looked better in his life nor more physically and mentally fit to tackle any job. He will be in closer touch with his home town as Governor than he was during his residence in Washington as a member of the War Finance corporation and as assistant secretary of the treasury.
“Appropriations for maintenance of State institutions should be increased not less than 10 per cent nor more than 20 per cent,” Governor McLean says. He has indicated that it will be necessary to increase the revenue from 40 to 50 per cent in order to adhere to his declared purpose of making revenue equal appropriations.
From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Monday, January 19, 1925. To see a photo of Mrs. Angus Wilton McLean, go to:
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84026483/1925-01-19/ed-1/seq-1/
No comments:
Post a Comment