A - board of clemency and review
would be created, composed of three
members, versed in the law, ap
pointed by the President and con
firmed tiy the Senate. It shall re
view, revise, modify or annul all
courtmartlal determinations since
April 6, 1917, in which the crime
charged was equivalent to felony un
der the federal law.
Senator Cham.berlain explained he
had personally prepared the measure
without assistance because of his
deep conviction that it was necessary
to establish justice. He asked that
the bill be read to the Senate, and
then said: i
"I am advised that the total of the
sentences imposed by courtsmartial
during the world war passed upon
American soldiers was about 28,000
years. A clemency board has been
appointed by the Secretary of War
without any real authority except to
make recommendations for reduc
tion of sentences. This board has
recommended a reduction of sen
tences which brings the total down
to about 6,700 years that American
soldiers must serve in prison. The
stigma of conviction is not removed
by action of the clemency board, and
under the construction placed upon
the law by the distinguished Secre
tary of "War and some of his military
advisers there is practically no re
visory power over these sentences
where the courtmartial had jurisdic
tion and the proceedings have been
regular.
"The purposes of the bill which I I
have introduced cannot be more
briefly stated than they are in the
bill itself.
