The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-09-14
Let's Get Started

ago suggested petitions to initiate
law compelling the State Railroad and Public Service Commits
to take action to reduce the Montana Power Company
rates for service be circulated This has been discussed and
the proposal approved by organizations the state but
of the labor organizations apparently have overlooked
taking action.
Rates charged by public utility such the
Montana Power Company presumably fixed to provide
reasonable profit the basis of the investment the plant
provide such services after deductng the opera
ing COSTS PLUS TAXES PAID.
the plant becomes the determining factor in
considering the public utility be permitted to
charge its Here Montana the Montana Power
Company has for nearly thirty years reported
making purposes of about the amount it has
ported for taxation purposes From time time members of
the legislature have recognized this ineouty and have intro
bills it adjusted that the valuation
that by the agencies the collection
If taxes Sch LEGISLATION has ALWAYS been PROMPTLY killed
through the influence of the corporations the majority of the
membership of Montana's legislature in the past.
public service commission has always admitted that
padded always had the convenient that
impossible to do anything about as the commission lacked
funds with which to make survey of the plant
1913, the u S. Federal Power Commission made such
survey year held that the plant valuation of the
Montana Power Company padded to the extent of $751;
98025 represented by watered stock and nothing else as far
cost of plant is concerned.
It might have been supposed the Montana public
service commission whose and only job safeguard the
public extoronate charges by utilities and to safeguard
the publics interests all of its dealings with public utilities
would have accepted and agreed with the findings OF this I'M
preuded federal arrived at after exhaustive ves
cation.
But the who had hoped for confirming action by the
public service commission doomed to dsappont
The influence that the uses to
control the legislature undoubtedly brought to bear the
commission The members of the commission know that
aside from being organization which supplies electric power
it is also powerful political agency having large numbers OF
employees scattered throughout the state who available to
political job which the may require at any
particular time support oppose candidate for office
depending his attitude toward the company.
the state commission exercised its prerogatve Of dis
agreeing the findings of the Federal Power Commission
being afraid all the and do nothing about wiring
out of the Montana Power Companys plant Vaua
tons it ordered the company rate
mai 1t
that the Montana Power Company with the
approval the company assisted the state commission
arriving at this figure.
That the company agreed action by the state
commission clearly enough evident when the company in
petitionng the Federal Power Commission for rehearng
later used the state commissions order IN making Its plea
However rehearng denied by the Federal Power Com
mission which stated that facts had been brought
which justified it.
So it is certain that even the commission should
the company reduce its rates the basis of the
duced valuation the will not be apprecaby crtaed
robbery of the public will still be collecting profit
the difference between the amount the Federal Power Com
mission has ordered write off the fixed by the
state commission This difference is $3197642616 and
Stunning the company makes the reasonable profit of six
per cent on this the profit gouge
that's hay for the Montana of electricity to be
paying to the punderbund for absolutely nothing.
has been proposed that the petition discussed initiate
mandatory the state commission to order
rates charged by the Montana Power Company
the valuation after the order of the Federal
Commission has been complied with is urged that
organizations discuss this in their meetings. and
from such organizations will be published in The
Voice when received
This is matter temporary but urgent expediency. 1t
hoped that may have Missouri Valley Authority
electric rates to which will effect real saving
the instance had Montana customers for eectri
city been able to purchase them at the rates charged by
Valley Authority in 1913 would have paid SILL
O44 instead of the which paid the plumber
bund and saved for other purchases the of
Perhaps other businesses should interested in that
The Presidents Message