As president of the audiencia the governor exercised two important powers. One authorized him to divide the audiencia into salas and to designate oidores to try cases within the tribunal, to inspect the provinces, to take residencias, or to attend to semi-administrative matters, such as have been noted in the preceding chapter. [420] The other was the power to decide whether a contention was of judicial, governmental, military, or ecclesiastical character, and to assign it to the proper department or tribunal. [421] This power was significant because it made the governor the supreme arbiter between all conflicting authorities in the colony. Frequently he decided disputes between the audiencia and the ecclesiastical courts, between the audiencia and the consulado, or between the oidores and the oficiales reales in matters relative to the jurisdiction of these tribunals over questions at issue. While the magistrates were allowed to proceed practically without interference in affairs of justice, the governor was instructed to keep himself informed concerning the judicial work of the audiencia. [422] While forbidden to alter the judgments of the tribunal or to tamper with its sentences, [423] he could excuse or remit fines with the consent of the oidores. The governor could commute sentences in criminal cases. The final pardoning power rested with the king and it was exercised upon the recommendation of the governor or the prelates [424] and the Council of the Indies. There were exceptional occasions, however, on which the governor assumed the responsibility of pardoning criminals. After the creation of the office of regent in the audiencias of the colonies, in 1776, the governor's position as president of the audiencia became purely nominal, the regent actually officiating as chief justice, though the president was still legally required to affix his signature to all judicial decisions of the tribunal. The frequent and extended absences of the governor from the capital and the multiplicity of his administrative duties prevented him from attending to these matters with requisite promptness, and injustice consequently resulted from the requirement. Many complaints were made from 1776 onward against this condition of affairs, with the result that a modification in the existing law was made on October 24, 1803, making valid the signature of the regent to all decisions of the audiencia, when the governor was absent from the colony on expeditions of conquest or tours of inspection. [425] At all other times the governor, as president, affixed his signature to all legal acts and autos, although he did not participate in their decisions. The law remained thus until 1861, when the governorship was separated from the presidency, the acuerdo was abolished, and the regent was made president of the audiencia with authority to sign all judicial decisions. [426]