Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-07
SHEWMAKE IS APPOINTED
I COUNSEL TO COMMISSION
Assumes Important Duties in Regard
to Rate and Other
Matters.
RESIGNS FROM TAX DoARI
Has Made Record as Executive AS
Sistant TO State Tax Board, in
Which Position lie Succeeded
Chairman Garnet.

Oscar l.. Shewmake, counsel for the
State Tax Board, he's been selected as
general counsel for the State Corpora
ton Commission, at salary os sa.s9o
year This action was taken as a
result OF legislation by tina last Cen
cral Assembly. Tho appropriation bill
provided for the employment of
counsel for the protection OF the people
Of the Commonwealth Of Virginia liz
the prosecution of rate cases insti-
tuted by the State Corporation Com
mission before the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission and for other legal
and rate Matters the amount of S.
600 was provided for securing this
counsel.
Mr.. shewmake has already resigned
from the tax board. the resignation
to take effect on 'une ]. This will
leave a vacancy with the State Tax
Board to be filled.
Mr.. Shewmake was born in Prince
George County on February l. 1882.
He lived in Georgia, the native State
of his father. until seventeen years of
age. He entered William and Mary
College. at Williamsburg. in 1899. He
graduated In 1903 with the degree of
Bachelor of Arts. While there he made
the honorary society OF Phi Beta
Kappa the mark of the very best
scholarship.
GRADUATE OF LAW SCHOOL
OF UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
After graduation Attorney Shewmakc
engaged in educational work. He
/ taught two years In williamsburg, and
then served two years as State school
examiner. He entered the law school
! OF the University of Virginia and grad
nated there with the degree of bache-
lor of laws. He engaged in the prac-
| tice OF law at Surry, as the Junior
member OF the firm of Bohauan &
Shewmake. Later he became the SEN
| Tor member of the firm OF Shcwmakc
& Richardson. He WAS attorney for
large number of banks and other
/ financial enterprises.
! In 1901 Mr.. Shcwmake was appointed
| TO membership on the Virginia Normal
School Board, and has been chairman
of the finance committee OF that board
ever since. He was presidential cleo
/ tor from the Fourth Congressional Dis
trict in 1916, in that same year he
stumped the district for Wilson and
! Marshall He served one term MS Com
nonwealths attorney for Surry County
I That Office he resigned to accept the
/ position OF counsel to the State Tax
/ Board. which position he has held ever
/ since.
PUBLISHED BULLETINS
ON TAN MATTERS
! During his tenure OF Office in the last
capacity. he published twelve bulletins
I on tax matters for Information of tax
/ officers. He appeared in more than $50
tax cases as counsel for the State.
! Some OF them were the cc!ebrat ed
/ Drewry- Hughes case against the CRY
. of Richmond; Wise, trustee against
the Commemorative: Twohy's executor
against the Commonwealth; Rixcy's
/ executors against the Commonwealth
! and the Marie Marshall case in VIII
/ liamsburg.
Attorney Shewmake prepared the re-
( port of the state Tax Board to tho Cen
I erai Assembly of 1918. He also drafted
! many bills pertaining to tax matters
! which were directed into law. Among
these. which viii appear in the Ac$s
! or 1918. are the new income tax law
/ the law relating to the taxation OF
/ capital. the inheritance tax law and
the statute seGregating bank stock 20
the localities for the purpose of texa-
/ ton.