The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1948-02-13
The Hearing On Telephone Rates


The hearing held this week by the Railroad and Publ
Service Commission the application by the Mountain State
Telephone and Telegraph Company should have taught pro
testing public bodies labor and farm organization much
needed lesson This that planned and organized effort
their part mandatory for the protection of theirs and the
general pubcs interests
telephone company filed its application early in De
cember for increase rates. but the Public Service Com
mission did not fix the time for hearing until IN January
about four weeks before the time set for the hearing Anyone
attending the hearing literally stacks of documents
enng evidence of the need for increases IN rates. presented
to the Public Service Commission by the telephone company
attorneys and officials 1t evident that all of this
of material represented months and months OF work by experts
presenting the case of this monopoly.
Two labor organizations the Cascade County Trades and
Labor Assembly the Park County Trades and Labor Assembly
and the Montana division of the Farmers Union the only
peoples organizations represented the hearing These
CARNATIONS represented by Attorney T. j. eather OF
Great Falls whose services had been secured just the day be-
and Mr. Glfeather of had had time to gather
concrete information with which to offset the claims of
the telephone Clarence Hanley and Al Doughery
deputies in the Attorney Generals office interviewed in the
pubc behalf at the hearing and had assembled considerable
information which had tendency efue of the claims
of the telephone but had not been able because of
limited time to secure documentary proofs
Only day two before the hearing last Monday,
request Public
mission asked the Federal Communications Commission send
representative here to the of the public in
position to the telephone company However largely because
of the shortage of time make arrangements the federal
agency unable to provide but offered provide
purpose. then short
them here and of short for digest
the evidence and put it into shape for presentation
While protestants had the privilege of examination
of for the telephone company obviously this
effective offset the claims of the company For instance
Haney of the Attorney Generals office raised the
question of the subsidiary of the telephone the West
Electric Company through which purchase its equipment
supplies with profit accrung favored few the
telephone the reply to this question by the phone
witness that the Western Electric effected great
savings to the telephone While information that
the Western Electric for the first nine months of 1947 showed
increase of $50 the corresponding period of 1916
documentary proof available presentation by Mr.
Hanley.
opinion that the Railroad Public Service Com
mission erred three times in its duty toward the protection Of
the peoples interests In the first place. providing the
general public time for the public hearing and work
closely with the federal whose duties and
sponbes in this be said to be identical with those
of the state but far better equipped with funds and
specially trained personnel
Secondly in refusing to consider favoraby motion made
by Mr. Gfeaher to postpone the hearing in order to
proteants time for securing evidence offset the claims
and proposals of the telephone The Public Service
Commission having delayed month after the tele
phone request before setting time for the hearing
month less before the time set of the principal
for Mr.. Gifeather's request.
When this motion by Mr. Gilfeaher refused by the
Public Service Commission without discussion between
Them Mr. Geather moved that the commission grant the
proestans reasonable time which evidence
support of their position prepare and submit briefs
by documentary evidence before determining whether
company should be granted the in rates which
asked for The commission withheld decision whether this
concession to the proesans should be made but ruled against
it before the hearing ended This opinion has the
color prejudice in favor of the and failing to give
the general public due consideration.
We do not hesitate to declare that the public must share
Railroad and Public Service Commission the blame
decision adverse the public interest and in favor of the