Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-13
HODGES IS HEAD
OF PRISON BOARD
Governor Dismisses ]. II. Will
I kinson and Appoints Peters
burg Man as Member.
I WANTS FULl-TlME SURGEON
Executive Expresses Dissatis.
faction Over Medical Treat
ment of Convicts.
WANTS FULl-TIME SURGEON

Colonel Leroy Hodges. aid to Gov
crnor Davis. was elected chairman Of
the board OF directors Of the state
Pcni,ent:a-y yesterday afternoon.
upon reorganization OF that body.
following the dismissal b. tho Gov
erno- of one OF It's members, !. H..
Wilkinson. o! Richmond.
Simultaneous: with the dismissal
OF Mr.. Wilkinson on SATURDAY,. the
Governor directed the Secretary of the
Commonwealth to issue a commission
20 Colonel Hodges as the suspended
mans successor on tho board
Mr. Wilkinson said last niyht. when
he was asked for statement tha,
he has no; had time ye; 10 tornu-
ate reply To the Governors I'M
piled criticism. He intimatcd that
ne might say something Later.
Dissatisfaction with medical atrcn-
ton the conv!cts are receiving was
Iivcn b. Governor Davis AZ the rca
son for his summary action, this nc
ing the first time in many years ;ha;
such a drastic step has been taken.
Dr. Herbert Mann, surgeon at the in
si!tution, IL not required TO devote his
entire time to the duties % hts Office.
y bill introduced n: the last session OF
the Legislature, making a full-iI,n.
surgeon mandatory. failed OF passarc.
II is within the discretion CT the
board. however, IL 1t deems !, ncccs-
sary. TO bring about this change.
May Demand FuII-TIme .urscon.
Ds Mann resolves 81, 500 n yea. for
his services. Cnder the appropriate
t!ons bill for the years 1890 and 1921.
the board may grant the surgeon a
salary not exceeding s30GC II is
Thought probable that the new board.
though Colonel Hodges last night
declined 20 make statemcn; to tbat
effect. will make the office q full-tim.
! one and increase the salary 10 the
limi; under the law. pr Mann would
/. in that evept, it is believed. resign
the position.
The board Will go over the matter
OF caring for convic;s." Colonel
Hodges said after the meeting ..s-
terday. with the vicw of placing tho
peniientiary. tho State Farm and the
various camps on d modern business
basis There is no idea on the pa ri
"i me board 10 go after anybody. In
cur work we expect the cooperation
Of Major James B. Wood. the super
intendent: OF DR.. Herbert Mann and
all other officials.
Governor I>sues Statement
The Governor. in statement issued
yesterday. sa id:
I'm order to secure tho requisite
medical attention for the convicts in
the pen!tcntiary and State Farm. |
have suspended J. II. Wilkinson as a
member of the board OF directors of
the pcr::cn'iary. and Colonel Leroy
Hodges. OF Petersburg. has been ap-
pointed TO Eil tho vacancy.
The status Of convicts is peculiarly
4 dependent one, and their health is
10 be viewed. not only from the
higher and humanitarian standpoint.
| hut also as an economic question on
the part of the state. y failure 20
fully appreciate this fact proves not
only menace TO society from the
standpoint of health by the returning
convicts, but causes a distinct loss
! to the state: healthy man at the
pcnitcntiary is able TO perform Il
full days work, while one who is
| i'll becomes charge upon The Com
monwcalth.
Il am in accord with tho Board
Of Charities and Corrections and
Messrs. WcisiEcr and Brockwcll. Of
the board of directors Of the pcnitcn-
tiary. in their attitude to these de-
pendent convicts."