The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-10-27
For information Labor, Agriculture and Political
issues subscribe The Voice. $500 per year.
The Peoples Voice, Box 1913, Helena, Mont

ant-MvA newspaper springs so quickly?
By happy coincidence, the question answered in
article Harper Magazine by Joseph Knsey Howard for 20
years Montana The Montana Power Co.,
subsidiary of the American Power Light
created in 1912 with the participation of John D. Ryan, then
president of the Anaconda Copper Co.
1t formed by the of several companies, in
Guiding properties which Ryan owned and which
sold to companies in which Mr. Ryan "a director
dominant stakeholder or Gin one insance) president Mr.
from the deal with 100000 obtained for
properties for which he had paid $245OOOO longer than
four years earlier
Mr. Ryan became president Of Montana Power His huge
profit added to the total of the company capital invest
men which is the basis upon which the rates
established In addition, the Montana Power Co. declared
stock dividend of four for the $500 value
shares of of the companies from which had been formed
Butte Electric Powerwhich the Federal Power Commits
says had the effect of writing the capital investment
by approximately $20,000000
Through these transactions Montana Power Co. added
$40 to the figure which customers
through purchases Of electricity expected
reasonable profit corporation FPC has brought &C
ton seeking to compel the to adopt the commissions
accounting which it is said would eliminate the
companys capitalization 600 alleged to be in
of actual value.
So much for the Montana Power philosophy of fl
Now for its philosophy respecting development of the
Missouri about which, aso there is fortunately evidence
Mr. Howard tells in Harpers of suit which the
brought five against farmers cooperative
in which diversion dam had been built in the Mis-
souri, river and 210Oe of land had been irrigated
The Montana Power Co. asked injunction against this
declaring entitled the entire flow
of the overwhelming the amount which had been diverted
the operation OF
plants downstream from the farmers dam The company
federal court but the appeals
the water conservation board from the suit and Mr.
writes that the has apparently abandoned
hope of winning under this limitation
The tie-up Of the Anaconda Copper Co. with Montana
Power about naturally from the circumstance that in
Mr. Howards words, in Anaconda the is
eputed have of the largest single industrial customers
not the largest possessed by American uity-a Gus
omer which in 1910 using power than the entire
airplane industry in this country.
For almost generation Mr.. Howard says Montana Pow
Anaconda Copper have been running the show Mon
ana Only there signs that the people of Montana
the show for hemselve Mr. Howard instances
he victory the Democratic primary for the govenorshp of
ef Erickson candidate opposed by the Montana Power Co.
might also have nstanced the rising tide of popular
,ort for MVA.
The Miles City Stars question to why Senator Murray
Introduced the MVA bill brings pertinent questions which
hat and Montana voters in general should ask
hemseves IA
Shall the Missouri river be reserved for private expoita
dominating the public and defrayng the cost by high
lecrc rates? One of the effective to make this
ont of view prevail oppose the only workable idea for
it. MVA. r
Or shall the Missouri river be developed that it will be
the greatest service to the peope There is work
BILE idea available for bringing this about-and only b
IVA. H
Which is the side of the Miles City Star? Which is the
de of the people of Monana?St Louis Post Dispatch Is