The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-07-24
PEOPLE CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES BY
COLLECTIVE ACTION


COLLECTIVE ACTION
District Judge C. F. Holt of Great Falls over
turned Montana Railroad Public Service Commission de-
giving five railroads nine cent increases on ntra
freight In ruling Judge Holt noted there was IN
sufficient evidence support the commissions approval of the
sought the rails In addition he ordered the rails
to make shippers the resultant overcharges
back the PSC decision January 28 1858
Legal action which eliminated Judge Holt placing
permanent injunction against the freight rate increase
initiated by Montana Citizens Freight Rate Association, an
ORGANIZATION comprised of state Chamber of Commerce.
tana Farmers Union and other interested shippers.
an in Montana annals when Public Ser
Compassion decision is overrued This not to that
most times the commissions findings are above questioning
decidedly the AS rule the
around to initiating the action necessary to
finance costly and out court tests actions taken by
PSC in rate increase requests.
Time and again the telephone monopoly has in and
able substantial tariff increases with only scat
tered and poororganized opposition The same IS true OF
other utilities supposedly regulated in the public interest by
the commission.
example, many eastern Montana natural
er unwarranted and exobitant increases
granted Montana Dakota Utilities four years by the
mission How unwaraned the 10 IA cents increase per thou
cubic feet granted by PSC later admitted by
other than DU Treasurer Fred Gamble before the Federal
Power Commission Candles testimony before the fed
agency brought that the PSC had given MDU bOn
u.s. of cents mcf above the actual needs of the ut
M Thus because of the argess of state commission which
supposed protect the interests of the gen
era public the people of eastern Montana paying many
thousands of dollars each excessive charges for natural
Effective action by going through the
courts might well have thrown of the outrageous
crease granted MDU by the commission.
Currently before the commission rate increase requests
by Mountain States Tel TEL and Montana Power Companys
gas division
MST&T seeking increases of 20 to 80 per ele
phone If granted this will be the fourth of sub
stantia boosts phone this five years of
the earnings of MST&T its parent company American
Tel Tel there much doubt whether the monopoly
should have single cent higher rates at this time
Montana Power seeking gas rate increases of 80 AT
the claim the company making fair on
its investment Montana Power 1852 netted enough to
make possible for officials to allocate for dividend
approximately ten cent return the companys
capital stock Sx cent is considered by financial circles
to be an exceedingly good return for uilities.)
Grapevine reports indicate the chances good that the
commission will grant zeabe increases the pettonng u
tiles despite the doubtful merit of either application
In the instance of Montana Power commission approval
increases could drain much $4,000 per year
ura according to the companys figures
This despite the fact the annual report
showed that rs cents of dollar taken by the gas
vision NET profit.
Taking yet another look at the increases being sought
Montana Power Of 10000 members
and estimated $500 MneM unonists in Butte Helena
Anaconda Bozeman Livingston Deer Lodge and
served with MPCo natural will be forced ap-
proXmatey $47500O for heating the fu
the commission the requested gas
used for domestic purposes.
Telephone monopoly increases if granted full will drain