The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-08
Governor Announces Four Important Appoint
 mentS.
CLARK OF PRATT CITY
 PHYSICIAN INSPECTOR
Change in State Offices Ef-
 fective October IS.
New President of Convict Board Has Had Much Experience in the work and New Auditor Has
 Held the once Before.

State Auditor Thomas L. Sowell was yesterday appointed Judge of the Walker County Law and Equity Court and President J. M. Carmichael of the State Board of Convict Inspectors, was made his successor by Governor Jelks
 To fill the vacancy caused by Judge Carmichaers appointment as Auditor the Governor promoted Dr. Shirley Bragg, Physician Inspector of the Con yict Board, to the executive head of that important bureau. The honor or Dr. Braggs late position falls upon Dr. Nat. c. Clark, the physician of the Board in charge at Pratt City. =,
 All the appointments will take enect on October Is, which is the date on which Auditor sowelrs resignation will become effective.
 As has been characteristic of sev- eral appointments in his gubernatoriai career, Governor Jelks sprung quite surprise in his selection of Judge Car michael as the Auditor to fill MT. Sow elrs unexpired term. Some of the most intimate members of hIs official family admitted at the Capitol yester- day that such a turn in the much dis cussed matter was unexpected.
 Popular Appointments.
 Yet on every, side were to be heard words of approal of the Governor s course. There was not an official to deny the thorough capabilfty of Judge Carmichael to preside over the State accounts in their greatest complexities. Nowhere was there heard word de. rogatory of the appointee's personal character and political integrity. He has filled the office before, from 1880 10 1884 with too-muoh honor and it- ness to leave room for doubt as to his ability. 4
 The appointment was simply a polit- ical surprise and set 10 nausht the busy gossip in the Capitol for the last week.
 Not only Is the series of appoint ments by the Governor looked upon as wise and popular but it is an economi- cal arrangement as well. By moving Dr. Clark from the p6sition of physi- elan in charge of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Company's convicts to the inspectorship on the Board. there will be saving of his own sal ary to the State. This saving will re- suit from keeping Dr. Clark in his present work with the power of members of the Board of Inspectors He has had medical supervision over about 40 per cent of the convicts of the State and is regarded as sufiicisnt- iy experienced to fill the vacancy caused by Dr. Bragg's appointment
 pr. Clark is fairly young man who graduated not many years ago from the Birmingham Medical College. He was prominently associated with one of the leading infirmaries of Birmingham before going to the convict prison at Pratt City Here he has gained val uable experience by being for some time associated with Dr. R. M. Cum ningham, Lieutenant Governor. who was hirnelf the physician at Pratt City.
 Retirement of SowelI.
 Hardly has there gone forth from the State Auditors office a man who has enjoyed d wider popularity and repu- tation for excellent administration than has MT. Sowell. His friends point to his record of five years service in that office as one to be nightly proud of. One of the most superb systems of auditing business has been established by him that is in existence in the Southern States. From year to year after MT. Sowell began his administra- ton the beauty and system of the ac- counts have gradually improved.
 Not less proud of this record, how ever, should MT. Sowell be than of the unanimity with which the people of Walker County his home county, have cIamored for his appointment to the bench of the law and equity court there Practically every member of the county bar, every county officer and most of the citizens who expressed a preference in the matter of Judge Pey- 
 names to the petition for Colonel Sow ell's appointment. He is considered eminently qualified for the judicial field. He has had much experience in matters of law and court practice as he was at one time solicitor for Walker County and in other years member of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Legislature.
 Tn 1900 MT Sowell was elected for the first time to the office of State Au- ditor. Te has held the office uninter- ruptedly from then until now as he was reelected in 1902.
 Monroe County was the original home of MT. Sowell. he having been born at Claiborne in 1858. He moved from Monroe County to Walker County in 1887 Tn 1892 he was representa- tive from that county in the General Assembly. From 1895 to 1900 he was county solicitor and in 1898 he was elected State Senator. That was the last public ofice he held prior to his election as Auditor.
 MT. Sowell will remain in Montgom- cry until October 15 when he will move what personal effects he has here to his home in Jasper. He had lived in Mont gomery with his family until few days ago when the home was removed to Jasper.
 CaFmiehaeI's New Work.
 Judge Carmichael will ind the duties of State Auditor in nowise unfamiliar when he assumes charge of that office the middle of the month. He held the ofTce from 1880 to 1884 when the ac- counts of the State. the tax laws and other matters pertaining to the office were more complicated than they have perhaps ever been in the history of the State since the war. It was by his ingenious study of the situation at that time that he inaugurated new methods in accounting the States revenues and budget Changes almost amounting to a revolution were made in the tax laws by tke legislative infiuene of Judge Carmichael and many of the excellent features of the present tax system are due to him.
 GlnEularlY enough IudGe Carnaichael