The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-16

which occupied the largest share Of
attention and the time OF the board
was the contest from Alexandria, In
which Superintendent w r Hodges
was the target.
J. E. Clements. opposing the reap
pointment of Mr. Hodges read the
charges In brief, they are that he
was employed under contract to
serve for the fixed salary OF $1,000 q
year Later the three districts ap-
propriated s2eo each. making his sal
AIRY $500 year; one specification
charged him with official misconduct.
Mr.. Clements also charged that Mr..
Hodges had concealed the facts from
the public. preventing the appropria-
tons from becoming known. to this
detriment OF the public school SER
vice. The indictment" charged that
he knowingly, surreptitiousIy and will
fully accepted and appropriated the
school funds and was therefore guilty
Of official misconduct.
Imported Teachers.
Mr. Clements went on to say that
Mr.. Hodges had refused to recognize
the teachers. residents of Virginia, In
selecting the teachers for public
schools only seven out of forty one
white teachers being residents of yir-
ginia. thirty four of the teachers COM
ing from the District of Columbia.
This Was also designated as Official
misconduct.
Mr.. Clements then read charge
that made IL appear that Hodges had
acquired a school warrant, presented
the same TO third party and had
him endorse the same and eashed II Ia
a bank at Roslyn.
in a matter OF purchase OF a lot
In Arifnafnn district
school. It was said that the board had
purchased three acres of land for 81
SEQ. aud that there was a deed OF
trust on the same tract. and for three
years the board had been paving In
terest the land which the board
was supposed to own.
In defense Of Mr.. Hodges. Mr.. w.
M. Moncure went into some detail in
refutation of the charges Mr.. Glenn
ents. who lis vigorously opposing Mr..
Hodges, was deposed four years ago
az county superintendent and was a
citizen of Pittsylvania at the time OF
his appointment
Mr.. Moncure took up the charges
seriatim. and said he was pleased to
answer them and to disprove them
by the superintendent and others who
were in attendance.
Mr.. Moncure and Mr. Clements be-
tault iHFblNeu Al flttfS COttQQuy.
The board had to insist on orderly
procedure.
Taking up the charges that the
proceedings OF the school board were
secret, Mr.. Moncure said that the pro-
ceedings were matters OF public record
and could have been seen at any time.
He declared that Mr.. Hodges had been
sent into the district. had increased
the attendance more than 100 per
cent, and had made an excellent SUI
perintendent.
Cashing Warrants.
Taking UP the charge OF cashing
school warrants. MIR. Moncure said
that was true. The teacher, 4 COLI
ored woman. had asked him to ret
the money, as she wanted to catch =
train. He had asked a reliable BUSH
ness man to endorse the warrant and
get the money. The man did 30 and
got the money and gave the face
value of the warrant to the teacher.
As to the title Of the land bought
for school purposes. Mr.. Moncure said
that the county OF Alexandria had
what was called an attorney for the
Commonwealth. and II was his duty
to examine the title to such property.
having been especially retained by the
board for that purpose. The ofiicer
had failed to put the deed on record,
but for what reason he did not know.