The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-14
It
JUDGE RHEANAMED
FOR SECOND TERM
Governor Reappoints Southwest
Man on State Corporation
Commission.
HIS BIG WORK IN SIX YEARS
Largely Responsible for In
creased Assessments on Mineral
Lands and Railroads.
HIS BIG WORK IN SIX YEARS

Judge william r. Rhea was reap
pointed member Of the State Corpor-
alton Commission by Governor Mann
yesterday for term OF six years. from
February l. The appointment will be
laid before both houses of the General
Assembly to-day for confirmation, the
law requiring that the General AS:
sembly he notified of appointments to
the Corporation Commission fifteen
days before they take effect BY d.
rection of Governor Mann q commits
sion for the new term. was issued to
Judge Rhea yesterday by Secretary of
the Commonwealth Is. O. James.
Appointed by Swanson.
Judge Rhea was appointed on the
commission six years ago by Governor
Swanson to I'LL tho seat vacated by
Henry G. stuart. now the Governor
elect OF Virginia. He was confirmed
by the General Assembly of 1908 after
one or the most stormy contests since
the days of the Readtusters. Repub-
llcun charges or election Irregularities
~ formeS years were supported by
state Senator Wickham, ana the APP
pointment was warmly defended by
Governor Mann. then a member Of the
state Senate.
On being seated on the commission
the taxation Of mineral properties was
placed under his direction At that
time the assessment of mineral prop
critics In the state was fixed in round
hSures at 100000. Within two years
n, had increased this assessment to
:I6.000.000
Realizing that It was impraoticable
10 handle this subject properly through
The commission Itself, Judge Rhea ASK
cd the Legislature to provide an assist
ant assessor OF mineral lands. which II
did James "a Stone, OF Bristol was
appointed assistant mineral assessor
and the result has been an increase
from S16,000.oo0 in 1909 to about s32,-
100000 in 1913. making an enormous in
crease In the revenues OF the State, az
wei AZ or the counties in which min
eral lands @c located.
Supervision Of Railroads.
When Judge Rhea went on, tho com
mission. he was given charge of the
freight ratio department. but when
Commissioner Joseph z. willard. now
American ambassador to Spain, resign
80 In 1910, Judge Rhea took charge Of
his department. which primarily had
consideration OF the assessment OF pub
nc service corporations for taxation
and the question OF station facilities
both freight and passenger, together
with matters OF train service and
schedules. and the condition of track
and equipment 1t was at the sugges-
ton OF Judge Rhea in 1910 that the as
sessinent on railroads in Virginia was
Increased from $4,000 to $4,000 per
mile on single track. and from s22, 900
10 $4,000 per mile on double track
Since ne has had charge OF his prcs-
cht department, many OF the railroads
OF the State. under his direction, have
been greatly improved by the substitu-
ZION OF heavier rails. the removal OF
ties aud the use OF ballast. and. in ad-
diuon, - number OF new and convenient
passenger stations have been erected
and preparations are now being made
Tor tn. construction OF others
The work In connection with track
and station facilities has necessitated
q large amount or travelling to all parts
OF the state. and many inspection
irips Only in the past week Judge
Rhea has brought sharp pressure to
bear on the Southern Railway to re-
new dccayed ties, and properly safe
guard it's road between Richmond and
Amelia Courthouse. found on inspection
10 be in bad condition.
Native OF Washington County.
Judge Rhea was born in Washington
County in 1855. His mother died when
he was two years old, and his father
lost his life in the Confederate army
near Petersburg in 1859 Judge Rhea
vas raised by his grandmother; was
educated In the common schools, and
attended King College, at Bristol: read
law with private instructor. and OBJ
tanned his license 20 practice when he
was twenty-one years of age. He prao-
'iced law In Bristol until January, ISS2,
when he was elected judge OF the old
County Court Of Washington County.
He served on the bench until 1885,
when he was nominated by tho Demo
Gratis for the state Senate to represent
Smyth and Washington Counties. He
resigned the judgeship. was elected to
the Senate, served four years, and was
not candidate for reelection In
1890 he was elected judge OF the Cor
poration Court OF the city of Bristol,
Va. and served until 1895. when he re-
sumed the practice of law.
In July, 1898. Judge Rhea was unani-