The Times News

POU SUCCESSOR TO BE CHOSEN

Some One With State Prison System Will Get $6000 a Year Job

The Times-News Bureau

Sir Walter Hotel

RALEIGH, April 14. - Some one already connected with the prison division of the state highway and public works commission is expected to be appointed by the commission to succeed Geo. Ross Pou as head of the prison system rather than some outsider with no previous experience in prison work, it was learned authoritatively here today. It is not expected, however, that this new head of the prison division will receive as much salary as Pou received or that he will have any authority over anything except prison matters. Pou's salary was $6000 a year, without the "perquisites" which he had formerly received while superintendent of the state prison, before it was merged with the highway commission prison system. It is not expected that his successor will get much more than half that amount.

The man first in line for appointment as the new head of the prison division is regarded as being J. B. Roach, who has been next in authority to Pou since last July when he succeeded Sam Scott as deputy warden in charge of all prison camps and prison units and who was acting head of the prison system while Pou was ill for several months.

However, the name of Deputy Warden L. G. Whitley, now deputy warden in charge of prison discipline and welfare and ranking next to Roach, is also being mentioned as a possibility for the new post. For Whitley has been connected with the prisons of the state for some 14 years, having been state prison inspector for the state board of health and board of public welfare before actually becoming a part of the prison administration. He thus has a much fuller background of experience than Roach, who has been with the prison department for only about three years.

The name of Chester I. Bell, who was auditor of the state prison for some six years while Pou was superintendent and who is now head of the auditing division of the consolidated prison system, is also being mentioned as a possible candidate for the new post, as is Charles Creech of Smithfield, and Oscar Pitts of Hickory, both district supervisors of prison camps. There has also been some speculation to the effect that H. K. Witherspoon, who was for a good many years assistant to the chairman of the highway commission until Pou was made executive director, might be restored to his old job and placed in charge of the prison division. But the fact that all of Witherspoon's experience has been in the highway rather than the prison end of the commission, is inclined to make most observers leave him out of the present picture.

As a result, most of those familiar with the situation here are inclined to believe that the new job as head of the prison division is more likely to be given to either Roach, Whitley or Pitts, with most of them picking Roach.

The entire membership of the highway and public works commission will meet here tomorrow to pass on the bids opened here today and to act on the resignation of Pou. It is thought likely that the selection of a man to fill the vacancy caused by Pou's resignation will be discussed and some think it may be filled immediately.

There has been some pressure brought to bear on Governor J. C. B. Ehringhaus and the members of the highway commission in opposition to filling the vacancy. Both the governor and Chairman E. B. Jeffress of the commission are convinced that it is absolutely essential to have a director of prisons in order to assure the proper operation of the prison division. Chairman Jeffress pointed out today that the job of supervising and directing nearly 8000 prisoners in 87 different prison camps and units, with a yearly turnover of approximately 15,000 prisoners a year, is a man-sized job and one that requires the full time of a capable, well trained man.

So there is no doubt that the vacancy caused by Pou's resignation will be filled—and probably as soon as possible.