The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-05-05

/ high-priced representatives OF
~the legal profession, some OF
whom may be suspected of do
ing their chores against their
own sound judgment realizing
the "baseless fabric of a vi.
sion" characterizing the claims
of justification for the watered
stock in the accounts of the
company, which these attor-
neys are supposed to transmute
into verifiable assets or values.
Contrariwise, the Federal Power
Commission, with all of the resources
of the federal government back of it,
because of the solidity of its claims,
has deemed it necessary to delegate
only two attorneys, Howard Wahren-
brock and Reuben Goldberg, to the
job of presenting its case against the
company.
Heading the list for the company is
r. II. Glover, head of the legal staff
of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co.
in Montana; ]. g. Corette Jr., resident
counsel for the Montana Power Co.,
John C. Houck of Butte, one OF the
Montana Power Company's regular
staff, Kendrick Smith another of the
staff, and a son-in-law of Austin B.
Middleton, chairman of the state rail-
way and public service commission,
and A. j. G. Priest of Rector Street,
New York City, one of the attorneys
for the Electric Bond and Share Co,
and the American Power and Light
Co., holders of the common stock of
the Montana Power co.
On the same side as the company
attorneys in this controversy. but rep.
different groups of $500
preferred stockholders of the Montana
Power Co. are attorneys William
Meyer and ]. A. Poore of Butte, E. ].
Stromnes of Great Falls, Edmund G.
Toomey of Helena, Montana attorney
for the Guggenheim interests, Howard
Toole of Missoula, ]. B. c. Knight Of
Anaconda, and A. f. Lamey of Bill
lings, who is connected with a firm
that represents many corporations
doing business in the state of Mon
tana.
Enor Matson who is representing
consumers of electrical energy in the
state of Montana, as attorney for the
state Railroad and Public Service
seems concerned about
he welfare of the Montana Power
The case is now in its
sixth week, and today, Tuesday, May
md, is in the 2Sth day of actual hear
ngs. Over 375 exhibits have been in
reduced, and the pages of testimony
lave grown to more than 1000.
Prof Thomas H. Sanders, an ac-
expert witness for the Mon
ana Power Company, in his testimony
stated that most of his experience
lad been related to industrial account
ng and very little with public utili-
les. When questioned by Mr.. Gold
berg about the transaction OF the
Thompson Falls Power sites bought
by Mr.. Ryan from the Milwaukee
abroad company for S950,000 and i'm
resold for S5000,000, Mr..
sanders seemed to be of the opinion
hat it was all right for the railroad
to sell to one of its directors
or $780, 900 a property that was worth
IS, 100000 To hypothetical question
tut by Mr.. Goldberg, regarding the
lctual value of the Thompson Falls
'ower sites ($95O,0OO or s5,00O,0O0)
Professor Sanders after many objec-
ions by Montana Power company
ounsel and intervening counsel an
wered that the actual value of the
over sites was s95O,OOO mot $4,000
90 as claimed by the Montana Power
Mr.. James r. Thomas,
of the Montana Power COM
any called as a witness by the Fed
raj Power Commission stated that he
ad been connected with the Montana
over company and its predecessors
nee 1912.
Mr.. Goldberg at this time asked to
ave marked for Identification let
n dated November II, 1886, from ].
). Thomas, addressed to Dear Mr..
err on the stationery of the May
over Hotel, Washington, D. G.
Mr. Goldberg asked Mr.. Thomas If
2 had written that letter, and when
3 answered he had, Mr. Goldberg
'fered the letter, exhibit No. 312 in
Mr.. Corette objected, but
e objection was overruled by Trial
xaminer Marsh and Austin Middle
n, chairman of the state Railroad
Id Public Service Commission ruled
{ may go in"
On being questioned by Mr.. Gold
,rg, Mr.. Thomas stated that he had
stified before the Federal Power
,mmission in 1886, a hearing in
injection with the proposed re-fi-
4ncing of the Montana Power COM
ny.
He was then shown exhibit 312 (his
tier to Mr.. Kerr wherein he in
Continued on Page Three)