Evening star., 1934-12-04
NEW PENAL HEAD
ACTION SCHEDULED
Public Welfare Board to
Consider Barnard's Sue
cessor Today.

Appointment of a new general su-
perintenient of District penal insti-
tutions was scheduled for action this
afternoon by members of the Board
of Public Welfare, who have been
searching for months for a qualified
successor to Capt. M. M. Barnard,
who is to be retired for age.
According to insistent reports, the
two leading candidates appeared this
morning to be Col. William L. Peak,
superintendent Of the District Re-
formatory at Lorton, and Joseph w.
Sanford, a native Of Washington,
who now is head of the Federal Re-
formatory at Chillicothe, Ohio.
Early Recommendation Seen.
1t appeared that q recommended
ton from the Board Of Public We'll
fare would be made before the Com
missioners at an early date, if not
| Immediately following todays meet
| ing of the Welfare Board.
The subject now is in the hands
of the Committee on Penal Institu-
tions of the Welfare Board. which
| was to meet this afternoon prior to
the meeting of the full board. Mem
bers of this committee are Judge
Michael M Doyle, DR.. Worth B.
Daniels and Mrs. Spencer Gordon.
The latter was recently named a
member of the Welfare Board
Judge Doyle said this morning 1t
was probable his committee would
make a recommendation to the We'll
fare Board today.
Members of the committee declined
| today to indicate who they would rec
ommend. but questioned about re-
ports that Sanford stood in a ia
vorable position, both Judge Doyle
and DR.. Daniels agreed that Sanford
was an excellent penal official.
1t Is known also that Col. Peak
has been given strong backing for
the position.
Search for the best available man
as Barnard's successor was started
| last April. Many penal authorities
have been questioned as to likely can
didates for the post. 1t is said more
| than two dozen persons are listed as
possible candidates. Elwood Street,
| director of Public Welfare. today
voiced commendation for both San
| ford and Col. Peak. He took occa-
| sion to deny reports that he was at
odds with the Board of Public Wei
fare over the candidacy OF Col. Peak.
Sanford Born Here.
Sanford, who was born in the Dis
| trict and attended schools here
served for a number OF years as chief
probation officer of the District Juve-
nile Court. While on the staff Of the
| Bureau of Efficiency some years ago
he made a study of penal institu-
tions. it was said. He was also as
signed to take charge of disciplinary
barracks at Fort Eustis, Va.
Col. Peak served for many years
as head of the District Jail before
being promoted to superintendent at
Lorton as the successor of Supt. A. c
| TaWes, who resigned.
| Street said the board did not wish
/ to recommend a penal director inter-
ested in the job only for the salary.
The basic salary Is $4,000 year.
Street said the board wanted a pro-
gressive administration for the Dis
trict's penal institutions which would
carry forward the work of Capt. Barn.
ard, who is given primary credit for
development of the honor system on
which the reformatory is operated.
There are names of other candidates
on the list for consideration In addi-
ton to Col. Peak and Sanford, but
officials today declined to make the
names public.