Montana labor news., 1936-02-27
Angstman Attempts
to Halt the Interstate
Commerce Commission
The Railroads Are Attempting to
Steal Montana Highways.
Suit of Injunction Filed in Fed
eral Court by Former Judge in
Attempt to Save Them.

On the afternoon OF February II,
1896, Judge Albert II. Angstman, noted
attorney, former Supreme Court Justice,
and at present chief counsellor and at
torney for the Railway and Public
Service Commission Of Montana, filed
proceedings in the Helena division OF
the federal court to %enjoin the Inter
state Commerce Commission from at
tempting to take over our Montana
highways for the railroads and in the
interests OF these railroads being en-
abled to do so on account of certain
legislation recently passed in Congress.
A perusal OF the legislation in ques-
ton would convince any one that it is
an undetermined attempt OF the rail
roads to swallow up our highways,
which we, the citizens of Montana built
and are maintaining at our expense and
to which the railroads did not contrib
ute one cent.
Limited space presents a full discus
sion OF this subject, but we will relate
part OF the complaint which was filed
and composed by Judge Angstman, on
behalf OF Jerry O'Connell and Tom
Carey, in their official capacities, as
well as the people Of Montana, which
is as follows:
That the people OF Montana have de
veloped an improved system Of high
ways in Montana, which they W
being under their supervision and con
troll, through the Commission as their
agents, and who do not intend to sur
render their rights OF ownership as
guaranteed under the federal Constitu-
ton for the sake Of private gain OF
out OF state concerns whom a hand
picked set OF federal official perhaps
will cater to.
Further the allegations Of the com
plant are that they are attempting to
deprive Montana OF its property with
out due process Of law, and further
denying to Montana equal protection Of
the laws, which is the constitutional
right OF Montana and her citizens.
The complaint concludes with the
prayer that the court issue an injunc-
ton directed to the defendants, Inter
state Commerce Commission and all
others, not to attempt any further ac-
tons in carrying out the above plans.
While this case is OF national con-
Germ, the corporation press has not re-
lated anything about it because it is a
court proceeding in behalf of the com
mon people and against plutocratic
wealth; while if it were the reverse,
it would undoubtedly be their main
topic. Events of the recent past have
proved this fact.
Prominent lawyers of Montana de-
clare that, in their opinions, the position
of Judge Angstman is one that is UNI
assailable in regard to this proceeding.
The attempt to steal Il highways
in order to hamper the trucking indus
tries which are owned by Montana
citizens and which are in transportation
competition to the monsters Of Wall
Street, namely the railroads, is out
rageous and criminal, and should be
dealt with accordingly.
It is the same old game Of theft un-
der cover that the railroads have al
ways practiced, but the public are be-
ginning to understand their racket.
This fact was proven last general cleo
ton when the voters of Montana
elected Jerry O'Connell by the over
w%helmingly majority they did.
The railroads pay thirty-seven mil
lion dollars a year taxes less than the
owners Of the truck lines pay, and what
they do pay in taxes they previously
borrowed from the government. Your
money and my money, they use while
they float their old rotten watered
stock to cover up their c~orruptness.
Why are they entitled to such special
favors as Congress has attempted to
grant them.
AS subsidized as our courts generally
are in favor Of predatory wealth, this
ATTEMPTED steal is so odious that the
legislation which authorized it will be
declared unconstitutional, null and void
in response to reason and justice.