The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-04-28

introducing exhibits, although
es are still to be cross-examined
sby the Federal Power Commits
sion attorneys.
Attorneys for the $500 pre-
ferred stockholders of the
Montana Power Company put
on seven witnesses at Mondays
hearing and another one on
Tuesday.
In the first four weeks of the case
ney, Enor Matson, had only cross-ex-
amined power company witnesses for
a total of about Is minutes. OBJ
servers have noted Commissioner Leo
nard Young of the state railroad COM
mission occasionally reading news
paper on the bench while accounting
and engineering witnesses were testi-
flying just as though he were tired
chauffeur patiently waiting for his
master.
State Commissioner Paul T. Smith
has not been sitting with the other
commissioners since last Wednesday
and A. F. Lamey of Billings, one of
the attorneys for the $500 preferred
stockholders, has also been conspicu-
GUS by his absence. There has been
no public explanation of their absence.
In concluding the cross-examination
of Mr.. Buckley one of the expert ac-
counting witnesses for the power COM
pany, Mr.. Goldberg, attorney for the
Federal Power Commission, asked Mr..
Buckley If he had any working papers
in support of his study of the COM
pany's financial affairs, and when Mr..
Buckley answered that he had, Mr..
Goldberg asked him if he would make
them available to the staff of the Fed
eral Power Commission At this time
Mr.. Corette, attorney for the Montana
Power Company, advised Buckley NOT
to make his working papers available
to the Federal Power Commissions
staff. The $500 per share interven-
ors upheld Mr. Corette in denying the
Federal Power Commissions staff the
opportunity of seeing the working pa
pers of Mr. Buckley, on which he
based his estimates and conclusions.
Mr. Corette then stated that THEY
had made available to the Federal
Power Commission, at a great incon-
venience to the company, everything
in the office of company. Every let
ter, every contract, every memoran-
dunn they were using in the work were
made available.
At this point Mr. Goldberg reminded
Mr.. Corette that in turning over all
the material in his files and the COM
pany files, he had neglected to turn
over exhibit No. $40, which the record
showed he had furnished the witness,
Mr.. Buckley.
Exhibit No. 240 is photostatic copy
Of memorandum found in the files
Of the Ebasco Service, Inc. This
set forth four different
for dressing up the Mon
tana Power Company's accounts to
try in some manner, to hide $4,000
900 worth of watered stock.
Mr.. Goldberg then stated that the
only working papers made available
to the staff were two summary sheets.
He also stated that it was the first
time he had ever heard that the staff
Of the Federal Power Commission
could be deprived of seeing the work
ing papers of witness, simply be-
cause the company goes out to hire
not employed by the COM
pany.
The trial examiner, Mr.. Marsh, then
stated there was nothing to prohibit
he Federal Power Commission staff
rom subpoening Mr.. Buckley as wit
ness and also to subpoena his working
,apers. Mr. Matson, counsel for the
tate railroad commission, said that
he railroad commission was not in
crested in Mr.. Bickley's working pa
,ers.
Monday the 5000 preferred stock
folders introduced their testimony
nd the Federal Power Commission
ounsel objected to most of it as ir-
evelant and refrained from cross-ex-
mination except in the case of MIR.
3rutsch.
Mr.. Walter Brutsch, vice president
nd trustee officer of the National
'ank and Trust Company of Helena,
allied as a witness for the preferred
tockholders of the Montana Power
company, testified that the officials
t the Montana Power Company were
II honest men, and that the state
egulatory board (the state railroad
nd public service commission) could
Q relied on to exercise proper regu-
ltory jurisdiction with respect to the
balance sheets.
On cross-examination Mr.. Brutsch
estified that in passing upon securi-
les of public utilities for investment
y the bank, the bank relied upon
ne figures submitted by the company.
Mr.. Wahrenbrook then asked him:
Mr.. Brutsch, do | understand that
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