The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-08-27
Consistency

The other day press release concerning bill setting
up Columbia River Power Authority recently introduced il
congress- was received from Montanans Incorporated the
Montana Chamber of Commerce. organization subsidized
and controlled by the corporate interests of the state which
together with the corporation controlled to build
and control public opinion and safeguard exploitation OF the
resources of Montana and its people
The Montanans Incorporated considers this measure
the waters in Western Montana according to
the press release and it goes on to say:
'This bill seems to be another attempt by the admin
ration control the waters of Montana and
make rights of the in Montana subservien to
power and navigation farther down the stream We feel
confident the of this bill which very effective
mpounds the waters of western Montana would be fol-
lowed by similar measures which would confiscate the
waters and destroy the rights of
people to the of the waters of our streams for ga
sH R. 1929 fails to take into account the four-fold
principles control outlined by both the Pacific
Northwest and Central Northwest Regional Planning
Commiseions Montanans Incorporated added USE
OF WATER FOR DOMESTIC AND IRRIGATION PUR-
POSES is SUPERIOR TO ALL OTHER USES, (Caps
Ours prior right to the beneficial of water should be
concentrated possible to the control
upstream should be prior consideration,
and majority members of the control board or boards
should be made up of qualified, battle-ground citizens,
principles laid down, and regardless of what
may appear in power authority bill, unless these
principles recognized Montana will be on the losing
end, officials explained.
It is interesting to note the assertion made press
of water for domestic and irrigation
I unaro h all other as an instance of how the prop
agandss the special interests about building favorable
public opinion This release will probably be carried in many
papers the and the people will get idea that Mon
unseishy in their opposition to the bill creating the
Authority But the people should beware of
Greeks bearing gifts.
Let's Just anayze and how sincere the Montanans
Incorporated in the press release 1t
monty known that the Anaconda Copper Mining Company
Company financial institutions of the
direct Montanans Incorporated the state
chamber of commerce and also The Montana Taxpayers
League press release received from either
ooge organizations it invariably dictated by the
policy building public opinion for interests of the
lions.
Certainly press releases received from either of
partisan organizations at time during
hearing of testimony in the of the Montana
Power Company action enon the Broadwate Water Users
Association from using of the the Missouri
irrigation Why didn't Monanans Incorporated the
champion benefits for Montana then what they claim
today in connection with the Columbia River Power Authority
poses is superior to other uses? The question: of course
itself
matter of fact the people of the state would have
information concerning that suit if this paper and the
Falls Tribune hadn't the story it. Not
paper the state had mentioned it, until these two
brought the open Certainly Montanans ncorpor
horror about the action of the Montana
Power Company in its efforts to deprive the people of the
of the of water for domestic and irrigation
poses superior to all other uses
We have not read H 5129 bill which proposes to
set up River Power Authority but feel justified
in assuming patterned after the Valley
Authority and that the objections of the privately owned u
and their bottecayng organizations based the
grounds both public control of natural
and development for the benefit of the public and
for the privileged few
would be suggestion that the folks of the
not lose much sleep worrying the possible