1994 Permanent House Journal Printed Pages 2620-2629 - South Carolina Legislature Online

Journal of the House of Representatives
of the Second Session of the 110th General Assembly
of the State of South Carolina
being the Regular Session Beginning Tuesday, January 11, 1994

Page Finder Index

Printed Page 2610, Feb. 24 | Printed Page 2630, Feb. 24

Printed Page 2620 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

Power Built Starter and Alternator since 1978, which manufactures, sells, and rebuilds equipment.

10. He serves as the president of Shirann Ind., Inc.; and serves as a director of Woodruff Federal Savings and Loan Association.

27. Civic, charitable, etc. organizations: Masons; Emma Gray United Methodist Church; Committee Member, Troop 21 BSA; Order of the Arrow, Skyuka Lodge 270; OM coach 1992, finished eighth in worldwide competition.

29. Five Letters of reference:
(a) D. Wayne Waddell

President, Woodruff Federal Savings and Loan
247 N. Main St.
Woodruff, S.C. 29388
(803) 476-8144

(b) Dr. L.D. Jordan
2040 Old Orchard Road

Woodruff, S.C. 29388
(803) 476-3773

119 Pinewood drive
Woodruff, S.C. 29388
(803) 476-8615

(d) William L. Howell III
121 Oakwood Dr.

Woodruff, S.C. 29388
(803) 476-8431

(e) Charlie Boone

Spartanburg Regional Medical Center
101 E. Wood Street
Spartanburg, S.C. 29303
(803) 560-6107

REPRESENTATIVE WILKES: Mr. Chairman.
A. May I say one thing? I was only a little bit more nervous the first time I was audited by the IRS.
REPRESENTATIVE WILKES: Mr. Chairman.

Printed Page 2621 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

THE CHAIRMAN: Let's get us some ground rules here because I'm fixing to walk out. I have to be in Camden at 4:00 o'clock. How many more members?
MR. COUICK: Mr. Chairman, we have --
THE CHAIRMAN: Three.
MR. COUICK: -- three.
THE CHAIRMAN: Who is the senior member here now? Do you have to leave? You're recusing --
REPRESENTATIVE WILKES: I have to -- I need to make a statement before I leave --
THE CHAIRMAN: Go ahead.
REPRESENTATIVE WILKES: -- for the record as well. I would ask the Chairman and the committee to allow me to recuse myself from interviewing any of the Fifth District candidates or making any kind of decision as to their qualifications or to even vote in that district given the fact that I have a financial relationship with someone within that district that might appear to be some conflict of interest. I'm asking the committee to please recuse me on this matter and the next four candidates.
REPRESENTATIVE KENNEDY: I so move.
REPRESENTATIVE WILKES: Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: I would like to make the same request, as I have a long-standing personal relationship with one of the candidates. Who is the next senior member of the panel here?
MR. COUICK: Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure if it's Mr. Quinn or Mr. Kennedy.
REPRESENTATIVE QUINN: It's between me and him. I think it's me.
MR. COUICK: Please raise your right hand, if you would, Mr. Atkison.
GEORGE V. ATKISON, having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
MR. ATKISON - EXAMINATION BY MR. COUICK:
Q. Mr. Chairman, I have the driver's license and the voter registration certificate of Mr. Atkison. His license and registration indicates that he lives at 5 Water Thrush Road in Clover, South Carolina. The zip code is 29710. Is it my correct understanding that's in York County, Mr. Atkison?
A. That's correct.
Q. Thank you. Mr. Atkinson, you had inquired of the committee some number of days ago as to whether you would be required to appear on both days for your screening for the At Large and for the Fifth Congressional District.
A. Right.

Printed Page 2622 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

Q. The committee made a determination on that yesterday. Your appearance today will suffice for both positions, so you will only be appearing today. The positions are different, but the interview would be basically the same --
A. Thank you.
Q. -- so as for the Fifth Congressional -- or Public Service District and the At Large District today. Mr. Atkison, do you own any utility stock?
A. I missed it.
Q. Do you own any utility stock?
A. Yes, I own some General Public utilities and also some Duke Power.
Q. The Duke Power stock that you hold, what would be your intention as to its -- keeping it if you were to be elected to the Public Service Commission?
A. I would assume that it would be desirable to sell it.
Q. Yes, sir. Of the other utility stocks that you own, are any of them companies that provide service in South Carolina?
A. Well, let's see. There's AT&T, that would be a function, too, wouldn't it?
Q. Well, they do have close next connection with Southern Bell, yes, sir, to some degree.
A. Okay. AT&T, General Public Utility and Duke Power and they could all be disposed of. There is no great quantity.
Q. Yes, sir. I understand. Mr. Atkison, would you briefly describe for the committee your employment experience. Over a number of years, you served with a number of corporations and what your general responsibilities were with those corporations.
A. Yes. My first job was with the Remington Arms company in Bridgeport, Connecticut which at that time was a wholly owned subsidiary of Dupont. I'm a chemist by education.

I went to Remington as a chemist, but with the war coming on, I was soon in operation and all. And then I was transferred from Remington to the Dupont Explosives Department in, I think, '42 and assigned to the answer Hanson (phonetic) Engineering Works, the atomic energy operation out in the State of Washington.

And from there, I came back with the Dupont Plastic Department and I served in their technical service and also project engineering position.

From there, I went with a Johnson & Johnson, Chicopee Manufacturing. And there I served as a sales manager and as a product director. A product director is, I would say, essentially the business management of the operation. And from Chicopee, I went with the Rohm

Printed Page 2623 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

and Haus Company as a technical representative. And I was in New York City area.
Q. And you served with that last company until 1982, I believe?
A. That's correct.
Q. And you have been retired and living in South Carolina since that time?
A. That's correct.
Q. Do you receive a pension from those companies?
A. Negative.
Q. Do you receive any income at this point in time from any company that's -- or a regulated utility or has as one of its subsidiaries a regulated utility? Any kind of pension --
A. None that I'm aware of.
Q. Is there anyone in your household that owns any utility stock other than the stock you mentioned earlier? Does your wife own any utility stock different than yours?
A. I doubt it.
Q. Thank you. Mr. Atkison, why would you like to serve on the Public Service Commission?
A. Why?
Q. Yes, sir.
A. Well, I think the Public Service Commission deliberations and decisions are important to the welfare and the progress of South Carolina. I feel like I would like to participate. I think it's a challenge and an opportunity and I think there is some value to being a part of it.
Q. I believe you said that you were a chemist at least by education and to some degree, you employed that throughout your career; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. When you pour different types of substances into a test tube with other things they either make them gel together or they make it explode. If you were to be combined with the Public Service Commission in South Carolina, which would you hope to do? What type of agent would you be, an agent for change, an agent for stability? What would you be looking to accomplish?
A. Well, I think that would be -- I think that would vary with the situation or the problem. In broad terms, I think I would be an agent for stability.
Q. There is a balance on a Public Service Commission between the need of a public utility to offer its shareholders a fair rate of return and the need to provide the consuming public an affordable product. Public utilities are unusual in that the private -- the free enterprise or the

Printed Page 2624 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

marketplace does not determine the price break. You determine the price break as a Public Service commissioner. How would you take on that task? How would you approach that proposition?
A. I think that has to be a balanced approach. I think the health of the public utilities are essential to the State of South Carolina. At the same time, I think you have to balance their concerns, their considerations with those of the consumer.
Q. Yes, sir. Have you had an opportunity to review your Personal Data Questionnaire Summary, Mr. Atkison?
A. I have not, but I have a couple of comments I'd like to make on it.
Q. Yes, sir.
A. One of the questions was am I aware of any negative reasons that I might not be considered for the Public Commission, and I would like the state on that that my hearing is not as sharp as it once was in a public hearing with poor acoustics. That could be a disadvantage, but we have good acoustics in here. I guess that's the only reservation that I have.
Q. Mr. Atkison, you were given a one- or two-page document earlier, I believe, by Ms. Hammond or one of the employees of my office. Do you recall receiving that? Have you had an opportunity to read through it?
A. I have.
Q. Are there any corrections you would like made to it?
A. Yes. Minor. Two places. The names of my sons were spelled with an N. Major, it does not list a letter of reference from a Mr. Charles Savoy and I would like to have that listed.
Q. Yes, sir.
A. Now, that's -- I suggested Mr. Savoy when I determined or learned that Colonel Miller's wife had had serious surgery --
Q. Yes, sir, and we --
A. -- and I did not expect to hear from the Colonel.
Q. Right. And we received a letter from him.
A. Right.
Q. We sure have. Is there anything else that you would like to tell the committee about your background, your experience or your abilities in regards to preparing you for service on the commission?
A. Well, the bulk of my business experience has been in marketing and sales. I think -- I hope I've developed some abilities to deal with problems and deal with folks and I would hope that that would be an attribute.
Q. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That's all my questions.

Printed Page 2625 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

REPRESENTATIVE QUINN: Any other questions from the committee? Mr. Atkison -- oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead.
EXAMINATION BY MR. BILTON:
Q. I have one. Maybe I was -- I might have been out. Maybe ya'll may have asked Mr. Atkison this, but somewhere in my notes I had written down, did you apply for more than one position with the PSC?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. Is there a reason for that or do you want to explain?
A. Well, my information is that the gentleman from the Fifth District was fairly well in ensconced and I thought it increased my possibilities -- the possibilities by applying for two.
Q. Thank you.
REPRESENTATIVE QUINN: Senator.
EXAMINATION BY SENATOR JACKSON:
Q. If you are successful and actually become a commissioner with the Public Service Commission, how much time are you willing to spend with the commission and do you know prior to applying how much time is involved with this position?
A. I've received -- well, not varying information, but varying impressions and I'm not sure what the requirements time wise are at the moment, however, I am retired. I have several other I would say minor obligations, but I can give the majority of my time to the commission.
REPRESENTATIVE QUINN: Any other questions? Well, Mr. Atkison, thank you for your time. We appreciate your patience and you can go now.
A. I'm sorry. I missed that.
REPRESENTATIVE QUINN: I'm sorry. We appreciate your time and thank you for coming and you can go now.
A. I thank you.

PERSONAL DATA QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY

1. George V. Atkison

Home Address: Business Address:

5 Water Thrush Road Same

Lake Wylie, SC 29710

2. He was born in Union, South Carolina on February 20, 1917.

Social Security Number: ***-**-****.

Printed Page 2626 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

3. S.C. Driver's License Number: *******.

S.C. Voter Registration Number: 2 093 147.

4. He was married to Anita Sue Daly Atkison on September 7, 1941. He has three children: Reverend R.M. Atkison, (Pastor); G. Vinson Atkison, (Mortgage Broker); Sue Daly Stolldorf, (Teacher).

5. Military service: 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army Reserves, Field Artillery Unit, 1940-41, Honorably Discharged in 1941.

6. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1940, B.S. Degree in Chemistry. He also took evening courses in accounting at New York University during 1950-51.

7. He served one elected term and one appointed term on the Board of Education, Glen Ridge, N.J., from approximately 1968 to 1974.

9. He worked at Remington Arms Co. from 1940 to 1943, beginning as an analytical chemist, promoted to foreman, and later shift supervisor. He worked at the E.I. Dupont Company from 1943 until 1948, beginning as the Senior Supervisor in the Explosives Department from 1943 until 1945, Process Engineer from 1945 until 1946, Project Engineer in 1946, Technical Service engineer from 1946 to 1948. He was a sales manager and Product Director for Chicopee Manufacturing Corp. in New York from 1951 to 1960. From 1960 until 1982 he worked as a technical representative for the Plastics Department at Rohm and Haas Co. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

27. Civic, charitable, etc. organizations: Lions Club, River Hills, S.C.; Board Member, Hospice of Rock Hill, S.C.; River Hills, S.C. Community Church; Virginia Military Institute Alumni Association.

29. Five Letters of reference:
(a) Major General Charles Beach

P.O. Box 127
Beattyville, Kentucky 41311
(606) 464-3631

Printed Page 2627 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

(b) Colonel W. A. Edens

8139 Grimsby Road
Richmond, Virginia 23235
(804) 272-0686

25 Valley Lane

Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

(201) 934-8610

(d) John S. Ingles

34 Honeysuckle Court
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
(803) 831-8810

(e) Ms. Janice Warner

Manager, Nationsbank, Arrowood Branch
2121 Westinghouse Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28273
(704) 386-8916

30. Fifth District

MR. COUICK: And then while you're standing, I'll administer the oath.
CECIL A. BOWERS, having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
MR. BOWERS - EXAMINATION BY MR. COUICK:
Q. Mr. Chairman, in looking at Mr. Bowers' driver's license now, I see that he lists his address as 807 Kirkwood Circle, Camden, South Carolina, 29020. His voter registration certificate does not have an address. I think you're missing part of it, Mr. Bowers.
A. Is there just one piece of it?
Q. Yes, sir.
A. I told her that, I said it's 27 years old. I think this it.
Q. Senator Holland just asks you to find it before he gets ready to run again.
A. I'm sure he would.
Q. That's okay, Mr. Bowers. That's fine if you're not able to find it. That's okay.
A. I'm sorry. I thought it was all there.
Q. That's okay.
REPRESENTATIVE QUINN: You haven't moved since the last campaign, have you?
A. I haven't what?

Printed Page 2628 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

REPRESENTATIVE QUINN: You haven't moved since the last campaign, though?
A. No, sir, I've been living in the same place since 1958. That's 1967 on that date, I believe.
Q. Yes, sir, it sure was. Mr. Bowers, please have a seat.
A. Thank you.
Q. You have served on the Public Service Commission for some period of time?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And have been a member -- an active member on that commission. Do you own any utility stock?
A. No, sir.
Q. Have you owned any utility stock during your service on the commission?
A. No, sir.
Q. Mr. Chairman, I have reviewed a copy of Mr. Bowers' credit report and also the report of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. There are no negative entries on either one of those. They're both clear.

Does any member of your family who resides with you own any utility stock, Mr. Bowers?
A. No, sir.
Q. Mr. Bowers, you have had business interests I believe that you continued to hold up through 1982, is that correct, with the radio station --
A. Yes, sir.
Q. -- in Kershaw County?
A. Yes, sir. That's true.
Q. Have you had any business interests in Kershaw County or anywhere since that time, 1982?
A. No, sir. Other than what I had at the time which I own a building that I rent to people who have social functions and wedding rehearsals and stuff like that.
Q. Yes, sir.
A. That's the only thing.
Q. So that leasing of that building is your only source of income or business enterprise outside of serving as a Public Service Commissioner?
A. This is true and there is very little there, to be honest with you.
Q. This may sound like a simplistic question and I certainly don't intend it to be that way, Mr. Bowers, but why do you want to continue to serve on the Public Service Commission? What do you hope to accomplish in the next four years that you've not accomplished to date?

Printed Page 2629 . . . . . Thursday, February 24, 1994

A. I would like to continue to try to do as I have done since I've been on this commission to try to make it better and when we have these hearings, and I listen very carefully and I don't make a snap decision, but I just feel that I can continue to be of service and would like to do so.
Q. What do you think are the one or two big issues or problems that the Public Service Commission is facing now or likely to face in the next several years?
A. I think most anybody would tell you, it's going to be the communications, telecommunications.
Q. And describe that problem as you see it a little bit. What's the shape of the problem?
A. Well, one of the things is I'm sure and I feel that most of us do, too, that sooner or later the telephone people are going to get into the cable business. I don't know what kind of headache that is going to create, but you find a lot of people that would be for that because if some man lives 40 miles back in the woods, if he's got a telephone, he can have cable. But whether that comes about or not remains to be seen, but I think it is in the works.
Q. Mr. Bowers, you served on the commission when it issued its opinion in the Southern Bell case that allowed Southern Bell to include its rate base the fiberoptic rebuild that it contemplated; is that correct?
A. Yes, sir. I think I did.
Q. In that case as I understand it, it was taken and appealed to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court did affirm your holding, Southern Bell was allowed to take fiberoptic wherever it pretty much decided to go?
A. That's true.
Q. And bill all of its customers for the use of that fiberoptic and my understanding of the technology is fiberoptic let's you do so many more things than you can do with the regular copper wire type telephone?
A. Such as cable, that's exactly right.
Q. Yes, sir. Is there some tension there that you can see that at some point that lady that lives in Cassatt that just wants phone service to be able to call her sister down the street for having to pay for fiberoptic cable or rebuilding, to go back out there and drag a line and put that fiberoptic down when her copper cable was doing just fine, why should she have to pay for that when the person more likely to use it is one of the high power law firms in downtown Camden?
A. Well, the truth is she shouldn't have to pay for it.
Q. Is it your position that there ought to be some cost allocation based upon the use?

Printed Page 2610, Feb. 24 | Printed Page 2630, Feb. 24

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