The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-01-15
SEE UTILITIES
BOARD MEN AS
BRAIN TRUST
Raleigh Feels Ehringhaus
Has Gone In For Ideas
In a Big Way
By J. c. GASkERVILL
Iae Tunes News turenn
Sir Winter Hotel

| wake fOreSL COlleSe, anu VI
Professor Frank William Hanft
of the University of North Car
ilan law school as Associate Uti-
lities Commissioners, is giving
rise to the belief here that Gov
ernor J. C. B. Ehringhaus is go
/ ing for the "brain trust" idea
| in a big way and extending his
experimentation W h trained
brains to the new utilities COM
mission, of which Stanley Win
borne is full-time commissioner.
The first move by Governor
Ehringhaus to emulate President
Franklin D. Roosevelt and apply
| the brain trust" idea in North
Carolina was when he appointed
DR.. Marcus Cicero Stephens No
BILE, Jr., for some six or seven
years research specialist in the
State Department of Public In
struction as Executive Assistant
Commissioner of Revenue. Many
people in the state, especially the
politicians and politically mind
ed, have not received from the
shock of that appointment yet
and it is still having its rever-
berationS. ....
Almost as much surprise, if
not actual shock, was caused by
the announcement of the APP
pointment of DR.. Poteat, form
er college president and Profess
sor Hanft, a university professor,
as the associate commissioners
of the utilities commission. For
while it was stated by this cor
respondent several days ago that
these two appointments had been
offered to two outstanding men
in the state and that these two
men were not among those
whose names had been mentioned
in connection with the appoint
ments, it was not known who
these two men were or that they
were college and university men
and been received with real en-
thusiasm by some, it has been
received with marked GOODNESS
and an attitude of 'Pm from
Missouri and have to be shown"
in most political circles. The
disgruntled political element is
decidedly displeased while others
are merely skeptical.
Dr.. Poteat is we'll known to
virtually everyone in North Car
DINA. of course, as an educator
of liberal views, an eloquent
preacher, outstanding thinker and
philosopher and as a militant
crusader for prohibition. In this
latter role he is credited with
having shown himself to be a
rather able politician in the re-
cent repeal election. But even
among those who know him best
here-and there are many here
who have known him intimately
for years, since Wake Forest is
only 16 miles from Raleigh
there are few who regard DR..
Poteat as having any wide or
profound knowledge of public
utilities, rate structures, valua-
tions or of the many intricate
thecnical problems affecting the
control and regulation of utilities
companies. No one questions his
integrity and fairness, of course,
or his ability to investigate and
asSimilate almost anything,
There are some, however. who
are rather fearful that. DR..
Poteat will bring to his name du-
ties too much of a philosophical
and sociological attitude without
sufficient background of prac-
tical knowledge. They point out
that he has always been and
still is more of an idealist and
philosopher than practical bust
ness man and inclined too much
to believe in things as they ought
to be rater than as they are.
Others point to the fact that the
Poteat mind is inclined to be I'M
perious and domineering with a
tendency to dictate and impatient
of other minds that hold differ
ing opinions. Some frankly. fear
that DR.. Poteat may try to be-
come the utilities commission, In
spite of Commissioner Winborne
and Associate Commissioner
Hanft.
There is no doubt, however,
that Governor Ehringhaus is es-
pecially pleased at having been
able to persuade DR.. Poteat to
serve as associate commissioner
and that he believes the appoint
ment will be very popular
throughout the state. In an:
nouncing the appointment Of Dr..
Poteat, Governor Ehringh a u s
pointed out that he truly be.
longs to all of North Carolina
and the position which he holds
in the hearts of it's citizenship and
the confidence which he. univef-
sally enjoys, gives added assur-
ance that the actions of the COM
mission will be beyond the sug-
gestion of unfairness, either to
the public or to the utilities
which from time to time may be
concerned"
Gov. Ehringhaus also pointed
out that he had appointed DR.,
Poteat as an associate utilities
commissioner primarily for his
extensive knowledge of individu.
ais and conditions over the state
as whole and his ability to co.
orelate this knowledge with such
inanimate and concrete things a.
rates, valuations and services
He indicated that one of the
principal reasons he wanted Dr.
Poteat on the utilities commits
sion was to humanize it and bring
it into more vital contact. with
the every day lives and activities
of the people who are affected
by the utilities companies in one