Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-25
|CARDWELL RESIGNS:
| PRENT|S is NAMED
AS HIS SUCCESSOR
Retirement Effective No
vember 16, When New
Member Takes Seat.
C. B. GARNETT TO GO ON
CORPORATION COMMISSION
Raises Lively Question as to
Craftsmanship, for Which
Rhea Is First in Line.
STATE TAX BOARD AFFECTED
Judge George Harrison to Head SUI
premc Court as Senior Rank
ing Member.
C. B. GARNETT TO GO ON
CORPORATION COMMISSION
STATE TAX BOARD AFFECTED
Judge George Harrison to Head SUI
premc Court as Senior Rank
ing Member.

Judge Richard H. Cardwell. presi-
dent Of the State Supreme Court of Ap-
peals. yesterday sent to Governor
Stuart his resignation from that trib-
unal. to take effect on November l6.
The Governor accepted the resignation
and appointed as Judge Cardwelrs sue
cessor Judge Robert r. Prentis. chair
man of the State Corporation Commits
sion. the appointment to become cffec-
tive when Judge Cardwell retires.
Having done :his. the Governor
issued statement serving notice that
he will appoint Christopher B. Garnett.
at present executive assistant to tho
State Tax Board. as a member of tho
State Corporation Commission to fill
the vacancy that will be created by the
resignation of Judge Prentls. which
was handed to the Governor yesterday
afternoon. to take effect on November
l6. Mr.. Garnett will be officially ap-
pointed before that date.
APPOINTMENT OF GARNETT
SURPRISE TO CAPITOL
Although In a measure anticipated
by those in close touch with Capitol
affairs. the designations and appoint
ments, following each other in dizzy
succession, threw State offices in
turmoil of discussion. For months ftv
had been known that Judge Cardwelrs
resignation might be expected any day.
1t had even been conjectured that Judge
Prentis would be a likely successor.
although the honor. II was known,
| would be welcomed by a number Of
judges now on the circuit benches, in
whose behalf friends have for a long
time been active.
The one development that came like
the classical bolt from the blue was
| the appointment OF MIR. Garnett to the
Corporation Commission. Although
one or two State officers close to the
| administration admitted that they have
known ever since the adjournment Of
the Legislature the exact form of yes
tcrday's readjustment, the Capitol had
no intimation that Mr.. Garnett was
destined for the Corporation Commits
sion until the Governor returned from
the Ninth District yesterday und made
the announcement.
WILL SERVE UNTIL
LEGISLATURE OF 1913 MEETS
Under the constitutional provision
governing such cases, Judge Prentis's
appointment will be in force from No
vcmber IL until thirty days after the
meeting of the next General Assembly.
Before that time the Legislature will
caused by Judge Cardwelrs resignation.
Since 1t is the almost invariable prac-
tice of the Legislature to elect the
Governors appointee. 1t is assumed
that Judge Prentis will be chosen by
the Legislature to serve out Judge
Cardwells term. which expires in 1923.
The Constitution gives the Governor
the appointment OF members of the
State Corporation Commission, subject
to confirmation by the Legislature.
Mr. Garnett, who will be appointed by
the Governor to serve out Judge
Prcntis's uneXpired term, will, with
out question, be confirmed Judge
lrentis was reappointed for a new term
of six years on February l. 1916
Politically and in other ways that
are appreciated best by those who are
acquainted with the personal elements
OF the situation. yesterdays appoint
ments gave rise to interesting specula-
lions. Mr. Garnett belongs to the anti
organization wing of the States De-
mocracy. and his elevation to the Cor
poration Commission was looked upon
in many quarters yesterday as a Bit
ter dose for the machine AS cam
patgn manager for the Jones Glass
combination against Martin and swan
son, Mr.. Garnett earned the lasting
poiitical enmity of the organization
leaders
n\ciilNE AND ANTIMACHINE
EACH GIVEN RECOGNITION
Offsetting the Garnett appointments
however. was the naming OF Judge
PrentiS. regarded as an organization
democrat. for the Supreme Court
Bench. While neither office is looked
upon as significant politically, there
were many who drew comfort from
the fact that the Governor played
fifty-hfty" as between the machine
and the antis
Ear more interesting was the spccu-
iatioh yesterday as To the effect OF the
ne" appointment with relation to the
State Corporation Commission and the
Tax Board AS chairma0 of the Cor
poration Commission. Judge prentis is.
under the act. a member OF the Tax
Board. of which the other two mem
berS are the Governor and. the Auditor
or Public Accounts. Judge Prentis's
resignation will leave n vacancy on the
Tax Board. which will be filled only
when the Corporation Commission
elects its chairman.
Here the air Is filed with coniec-
ture. Judge William F.. Rhea of Bris-
'' '"i "oose ifeHtiS TeliTeS, VIII be
the ranking member and. by rule OF
seniority. entitled to the chairmanship.
u he is made chairman. however, ths
election Will give Southwest Virginia
two OF the three members Of the Tax
Hoard. the Governor hailing from that
section OF the State. It is assumed
that there will be instant objection TO 4
such composition.
The commission elects Its own chair.