The producers news., 1927-12-16
Continued from page one)
Congress Appropriates Money for
Power Project

For some reason the Montana Pow
er Company slept on the advantage
thus gained. At the urgent solicita-
tion of the white settlers and Flat
head Indians the government built the
Newell tunnel for the purpose of gen
Grating power and irrigating lands.
The $t01 900 spent on this project be-
ing inadequate the Interior Depart
ment had another $395,000 appropri-
alton in 1926 passed by congress to
continue the construction of a power
plant. For some unexplained reason
only $4,000 of this sum was spent on
the project during the fiscal year. In
1927 congress appropriated the unex-
pended balance of the 1926, 600 to con-
tinue the work.
Then Enters Montana Power
The Montana Power Company was
now ready to grab the power site.
The same Mr.. Kerr journeyed to
Washington an dsecretly negotiated
for a permit to use the power site.
On February II, 1927, he submitted
n bid to the Department of the lnteri-
or, on behalf of his company, stating
that it would undertake to develop
ervation Of granted permits to do so.
The Power Company proposes to de-
liver to the irrigation systems cleo
trical energy to the extent of 10000
horsepower for project and farm pur-
poses at a price of 1 mill per tilowatt
hour and 5000 horsepower for farm
and project purposes at a rate Of 25
mills per dlowatt hour. (How much
cheaper this is than the price charged
the people Of Montana by the same
company?) The company also pro-
poses to pay the United States 81 90
per average annual horsepower gener-
ated on all plants erected below Flat
head Lake on the reservation.
Kerr Hits Snag
But JudsOn King director of the
National Popular Government Lea
que and others got wind of the gi-
gantic steal. On Investigation il
was found that when congress ap-
prOpriatcj a certain sum for a GER
tain specified purpose no permit
could be granted. The door was
closed in the face Of the affable an;!
astute representative Of Montana
Power. Undismayed he pursued his
ayowed purpose TO ravish the rich
es Of Montana. As a result Of his
exertiOns a rider was added to the
appropriation bill allowing this Der-
INIT to be granted. The Montana
senators knew Of but did not oppose
TINS attempted burglary under the
color Of legal sanction. But again,
luck was against the Montana Pow
er Company. The rider to the bill
failed to pass and the lock was still
on tho door that guarded the treas
ure.
Walsh and Wheeler Play Their Part
In the summer Of this year Mr..
Kerr spoke on the Flathead Reser-
walton to the settlers and Indians. He
painted a glowing picture Of the adj
vantages that would flow to those
present should his company be sue
cessful in securing the premit. The
mouths Of the Main Streeters of Pol.
son wept copiously as the suave spe.
clal pleader for Big Business told OF
the millions that his company would
spend in their immediate vicinity
herr's oratory was effective. But
some settlers on the Reservation had
misgivings.
1t was then that Senators Walsh
and Wheeler appeared upon the
scene. They made slSillful pleas TO
the people in favor of the proposal
OF Montana power To prevent en-
barrassment to its two Senators. the
sixth floor issued orders that only one
paper should publish Senator Walsh's
speech and that the speech of Wheel
er would not appear in print. The