The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-06-16
.EHRINGHAUS'
APPOIN TEES
ARE POPULAR
Continued Favorable Re-
action Follows An
nOuncement
By J. c. BASKERVILLE
The Times News Bureau
Sir Walter Hotel

of the appointments made so far
by Governor j. C. B. Ehringhaus,
although most of them followed
out the predictions that had been
made in the newspapers. Almost
the only surprise in the entire
batch was the appointment Of DR..
NJ. C. S. Noble Jr., for several
years associated with the state de-
partment of public instruction, as
executive assistant commissioner
of revenue. No one here seems to
know yet just what this job is, eX-
ccpt that he will rank next to
Commissioner of Revenue A. J.
Maxwell.
The reappointment Of Maxwell
as commissioner of revenue, how
ever, seems to have met with the
approval Of almost everyone, since
the ability and efficiency of Com
missioner Maxwell are recognized
throughout the state. The fact
that Governor Ehringhaus reap
pointed Maxwell to this post de-
spite the fact that Maxwell was
one Of his opponents for the NOM
ination for governor in the pri-
mary last spring has won admira-
ton for the governors sportsman
ship in all quarters. 1t has also
made it impossible for any one to
say that the appointment was in
any way dictated by political con-
sidcrations. The reappointmcnt Of
Maxwell had been predicted on
two grounds: first, because Of the
strong demand from business and
industry all over the state, espe-
cially the merchants, that he be
reappointcd; second, because Of
Inc very large part played by Max
we'll during the 1888 general as
sembly in securing the enactment
of a revenue bill, including the
general sales tax, that would bal
ance the budget and carry out the
program advocated by Governor
Ehringhus. Many observers here
believe it would have been almost
impossible to have passed reve-
lnue bill that would have balanced
the budget. The fact that Maxwell
Jhad opposed ,Ehrin%haus for the
democratic nomination for gov
rrnor and had fought him bitterly
lin the primary, made many doubt
whether or not he would reappolnt
him. however.
The appointment Of f. 3. JEFF
| fress to become chairman of the
I highways and public works COM
mission, and Of George Ross Pou
as executive director of the new
| commission. also did not come as
a surprise to most Of the back-of-
thC-acerca observers here. For
while Il great many believed for
several weeks that Pou rather
than JeffreSs would be named
| head of the entire new commits
sion. those close to the situation
here have believed all along that
.TcffrcSs would be renamed head
Of the highway body and that Pou
would be given a post that would
| continue TO keep him at the head
of the states prisons. The only
difference between the new posi-
ton P0u will have and his posi-
ton in the past rs superintendent
of the state prison. is that, under
the new sct-up, he will be in
charge Of all the 1900 prisoners
! in the various highway commission
prison camps, as well as in charge
Of all the prisoners in the old
state prison system. This VIII
bring the total number of prison
crs under his jurisdiction to more
than 5000.
1t is also generally agreed here
! by those who have been following
the entire situation carefully that
! lou never made any attempt him
self TO get the appointment as
chairman Of the new commission
and that it was friends of JeffreSs
rather than of Pou who sent in
many of the endorsements for
Pou, evidently in the hope of en-
barrassing Pou. Some of Pou's
friends, however, undoubtedly
Joined in this effort, not knowing
where it had its beginnings. But
there never has been and is not
Lnow any breach between Pou and
Jeffress personally and there is
every reason TO believe that they
will be able to work together III
complete harmony.
While there is an element OF
politics in both Of these appoint
ments, since both Jeffress and
Pou gave Ehringhaus very strong
support in the two primaries IN
which he was finally nominated
for governor, they were also dc
tated by a desire to get the great
est efficiency in the operation OF
both the highway and prison dlvi-
sions, according to belief here. For
while Jeffress has not been so
popular as some, there is no doubt
that he has been an efficient
chairman Of the highway commits
sion. There are some, too, who
maintain that Pou is too much of
politician. But among those who
know, he is regarded as an unusu-
ally efficient executive as well as
an able penologist.