Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-06-20
light RATE HEARING
Held HERE Brings
OUT TESTIMONIES
Rates Too High, Is Opinion
of All Witnesses At
Hearing

Power company believe that they are
paying too much for electric service,
were the statements made by wit
nesses who went on the stand to
testify at the hearing held here by
the Montana public service commits
sion investigating the rates charged
by the power company.
The hearing was held at the court
house before commissioners Jerry ].
OConnell and Thos. E. Carey. al,
bert Angstman, former state sup
rene court judge acted as counsel
for the commission. The testimony
was taken by William Sullivan, court
reporter. J. Berg electrical engineer
and rate expert was a member Of the
party from the state capitol at the
hearing here
Attorney Raymond Hildebrand of
Glendive, appeared for the Montana
Dakota Power company.
Witnesses who testified were
Hans Rasmussen, Jim Popescu, Mar
tin Nelson, and Franc Murray OF
Plentywood, Victor Anker. Andrew
LELAND, C. w Mills, Outlook; Mrs.
George Lund and A r. Rice of Re
erve.
Hans Rasmussen, who was the
first to take the stand, ~contended
that the present flat rate charged by
the company was unfair. Mr.. Ras-
mussen stated that he believed that
the sentiment of the people was ag-
ainst having to pay money for SER
vice which is not used. The flat
rate charge here is 81 .25.
Mrs. George Lund of Reserve,
testified that at Reserve, s electric
ranges which had been in use there
have been taken out due to the fact
that the cost of operating prohibited
their use. She also stated that to
her knowledge, but one electric stove
was being used In that town at
present and she further stated that
1t was her belief that if customers
were given a lower rate for service,
electricity would undoubtedly
be used. The electrical equipment
not In use at the present time would
agains. be put into the homes there.
Mrs. Lund presened sound facts to
the commissioners.
Victor Anker Of Outlook, stated
that on his farm he is paying $500
minimum fee and that at the time
the line was put to his buildings it
was necessary for him to pay 1920
for three poles strung with wire and
a small transformer. He said the
high tension lines an directly by
his farm. Mr.. Anker believed the
rates were also too high.
Martin Nelson testified that it was
the sentiment Of the people here
served by the power company that
that rates were out Of proportion
and that consumers were being tax
ed too heavily. Humor was injected
during Mr.. Nelson's testimony when
Attorney Hildebrand asked Mr.. Mel,
son If he owned Montana-Dakota
Power company stock. The witness
said that he did not, but according
to what he was paying for lights and
power he would like to own some.
The attorney for the power COM
pany then took time to explain to the
witness that the company had lost
money according to the records On
file with the service commission.
Commissioner OConnell in answe
to Mr.. Hildebrand's statement,
brought laughter from the spectators
by asking Mr.. Nelson If he knew
how public utilities could figure.
other Witnesses Testify
Claude Mills of Outlook, took the
stand and was questioned by Angst
man and Hildebrand. Mr.. Mills
testimony was along the lines pre-
scented by the other witnesses and 1t
was his opinion that the majority of
users at Outlook believed that they
were paying too much for service
from the company.
Andrew Iceland Of Outlook, said
that in his vicinity he believed farm
ers would use electrical service If
rates were so that they could afford
to use it. He further stated that on
farms, including his own, an effort
is made to use current sparingly
due to the rate which consumers
are paying there. MFR. Ueland's tes-
timony, like the other witnesses was
we'll founded and presented.
Jim Popescu testified as to the
amount paid the power company by
the Elgin cafe here. A. R. Rice of
Reserve presented his views on the
rates now charged, believing that
they are excessive. Franc Murray,
the last witness to take the stand,
concurred in the opinions of the 9th
er witnesses.
Attorney Gives Explanation
Attorney Hildebrand, presented
statements to the commission mem
beers throughout the hearing. He
said that stockholders Of the COM
pany had not received a dividend
since 1881 and that at the present
time bonds of the company which
were valued at 500 are now worth
but $50 and were down to a $50 val
ne a short time ago.
The new rate which was put into
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