davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1954-11-19
PLAIN TALK


Jews who had good right to feel
deeply offended"
Thus I shall speak to any who
come up TO reproach me on ac-
count of this column and ! shall
end by telling them story about
a man named Emil Hanswurst.
That may be his name. and then.
again. his name may be something
else.
Mr.. Hanswurst was of the Town
of Three Corners, Ohio. Mr.. Hans
wurst dearly loved the country of
Capadosia from which his ances-
tors had come to Three Corners.
He had never been in Capadosia
but he had a sentimental attach
ment for that country on account
of his great-great grandpa who
had come from there. One may
well say that Mr.. Hanswurst
should be commended for feeling
that sentimental in relation to his
ancestors, except for this:
The town of Three Corners was
just then in the throes Of an cleo
ton for mayor. On that account
he felt he should bring up pub
liclY his devotion to Capadosia.
By now you may be wondering
what and where is Capadosia?
Well. can tell you: Capadosia is
between the north and south
poles. It adjoins on the east the
well-known country of Nimmer-
gewesenwar. on the west lies the
land of Nevernever. Now you
know.
Emil Hanswurst thought of
making his beloved Capadosia an
issue in Three Corners election
for mayor. He would put all the
candidates on record: What did
they think of Capadosia?
He called on Candidates Jinx
and Hix: What did they think Of
Capadosia ;. Come clean now"
he said. What you think of Capa.
dosia may elect or defeat you,
What do you think7"
Neither of them ever had heard
of Capadosia before, but each OF
them promptly replied: "I've al
ways been a friend of Capadosia.
Some of my best friends are
Capadosians. You can tell that to
all the Capadosians in Three Cor
ners."
Mr.. Hanswurst placed an adj
vertissment in the Three Corners
Gazette to tell the voters what
friends Jinx and FIix were of
Capadosia "All Capadosians
vote for either of them" He left
Candidate Fritz out in the cold of
his i'll opinion.
Having so spoken to my critics
on the street, shall continue in
my faith that the good of Israel
is the job of Jewish idealism
alone; it must never be kicked
around in the cheap play of poll
tics, by way of favor to any poll
tician.
leave this all TO the good con-
sciences of the group of Jews who
signed the advertisement for the
senatorial candidate. for Israel's
sake. should conclude that the
advertisement was printed in one
of the Jewish press. That fact
made it possible for all of US TO
l. @... Io1.,eI.:.ae, va~s11a $AI~1
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1954-11-19
Warns that u. S. to Halt
Grant Aid 10 Israel

Even Dow Joseph (You remember
his problem was securing food
and distributing it when there
was no food) has changed his ap-
preach. There was time when
he thought that tha people must
be fed first and then spend what
was left for planned economy.
Now his approach has changed. Il
is all very good"
Mcdaniel was asked about the
socialist trend in the government.
''The trend is definitely changing,
and it will continue to change as
the years go on" He expressed
an opinion tn a the Histadrut
complexion will eventually be
altered with the management
labor purchasing agent combine
evolving into a pure labor organi-
cation.
Mcdaniel spoke Of his personal
affection for the country. and his
intention to return there as a pri.
vate citizen.
Following his visit to Florida
where he and his wife were visi-
tors of Mr.. and Mrs. Lyman Fis-
chler of Fernandina Beach, the
McDaniels are returning to their
home in Southern California be-
fore they appear in New York for
the U.J.A. banquet:
Mr.. and Mrs. Mcdaniel were
received unofficiallY in jackson.
vile by Mrs. Harry Katz. Mrs.
David Armel and Mrs. Isadore
Moscovitz. DR.. Sanders Tofield
was also scheduled to meet with
them.
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1954-11-19
CONTINUED from Page y

NO04A4ASASA0A - O4AA 0SV ~
vocational guidance schools. We
had quite a difficult time convinc-
ing organizations working in Is
1ael in this field of the impor-
lance of our program. but once
they saw the importance of this
work they cooperated splendidlY.
Today Israel is set TO train for
industry and agriculture all the
Immigrants who will come in.
''The country is in a healthy
condition, but the next two years
are very crucial-very crucial.
1T would be wonderful if one
OF two hundred Americans with
technical and professional skills
could come into the country. It
would be an excellent contribu-
ton"
In answer to the political ques-
ton in the Middle East, Mcdaniel
reminded us that the picture in
that part of the world in relation
to the American foreign policy
has never changed.
While in Israel Mcdaniel work
ed close to Israel Government
personalities. you would be sur
prised how the trend in govern
naent-thinking h as progressed.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
SOME OTHER ANGLES TO THE fight
Over EXCESSIVE UTILITY Rates

tribution in 1852 was 22.4 cents. Thi;
meant the average NET return to the
company in that year was 7.6 cents
In otherwords, off every dollar OF
gross income for 1852 ($7,001, 230)
more than 25 cents was NET.
Also, Richardson proved that
Montana Power had had an in
crease of 20 per cent per thou
sand cubic feet between 1943 and
1852. In 1943 MPCo. sold 1888
498 m.c.f. and received therefrom
$3,464, 961-or IS cents per m.c.f.
In 1852 the company sold 23,262,-
727 m.c.f. for $7.OO1, 230-or 80
cents plus per m.c.f. This was due
to a percentage-wise increase in
amount of gas used by residential
to amount used by industrial con-
sumers such as Anaconda Copper
Mining Co. in that ten-year perid.
Finally, the AS&R rate expert
showed that total cost per m.c.f. in
Guiding cost of gas and taxes to the
company in 1882, was IT cents. The
1852 cost of PA cents, accordingly
represented 1873 per cent increase
since 1882. However, as noted in the
preceding paragraph, the gross re-
turn to Montana Power per m.c.f. in
1852 was 20 per cent higher than 20
years previous. At the outside, Rich
ardson contended, Montana Power
should not receive an increase of over
8.3 per cent at this time, in spite of
claims by company officials that rate
increases of 81 to At per cent were
needed to catch up with increased OPP
irrational costs.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
MARY CONDON'S EFFORTS
MORE THAN DOUBLE
INDIAN BUREAU GRANT

The long delayed contract between
Montana and the Indian Service fol-
educating Indian children in the pub
lie schools seems finally near COM
pletion, according to Mary M. Con-
don, State Superintendent of Public
Instruction. An adjustment from the
originally preferred amount, $751;
900 to $235,000 plus $4,000 for
school lunch was accepted by the
State Department after two days of
final negotiations, climaxing several
months of controversy.
The insistence of the Indian Ser
vice that Montana meet criteria, set
up in Washington by the Indian Ser
vice with apparent disregard for
states systems of school finance, was
the basis for delay. According to
Paul Fickinger, these criteria have
been in effect for several years, but
this is the first time in five years that
the state has been required to meet
them. The Montana state officials
claim these criteria are not enforced
rigidly in all other states.
"The statement issued to some To-
cal school officials that the state was
previously offered an interim con-
tract is just not true. The original Of
fer of $4,000 was not listed as
down payment. No other offer was
ever made. The criteria that local dis
tricts levy at least to the state av-
erage levies is basically sound. But
further criteria requiring those dis
tricts who are twice as high as the
state average to maintain these high
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
"BIue Chip" Class
By THE EDITOR

Whenever you hear that Mon
tana Power Co. hasn't had a rate
increase in 20 years, ETC., better
take such talk with a grain of salt
EPSON if you prefer.
MPCo. President Jack Corette, re-
porting to the company's stockhold-
ers in June-after the Public Ser
vice Commission had held it's May
hearing on the utility's request for
80 to At per cent rate increases,
but before the increases were grant
ed-proudly pointed to the fact that
Montana Power is now in what is
commonly called the blue chip class"
of utilities, in financial circles.
Corette then went on to point out
that MPCo. revenues for first five
months of 1853 were up $364,000
over the same period of 1852, 9. :.
and that NET operating revenues for
the first five months are up 8.4 per
cent, or 100000 over last year . &.
In otherwords, for the first five
months of the year, we have been
able TO DTlnY oOWn TO net operating
revenues the total increase in reve-
nues."
Spokesman for Montana Power are
repeatedly calling attention to the
greatly increased operational costs
since 1882. No one will deny this, but
facts and figures presented from the
company's annual reports over the
last 21 years by American Smelling
& Refining Co. rate expert P. K.
Richardson at the May PSC hearing
show that in the overall picture the
cost of operating Montana Powers
gas division went up only per cent.
From the company's own figures,
Richardson showed that operationaI
and distribution costs of the gas di-
vision, excluding cost of gas and
taxes, rose from 1927 cents per thou
sand cubic feet in 1882 to 1894 cents
in 1853.
Richardson also showed the COM
mission that average total cost per
thousand cubic feet of gas including
cost of gas, taxes, operation and dis
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
Now, They're Embarrassing

Reports are that various admins
trative employees of Montana Power
Co. are now spreading the word that
company officials only expected
small increase in rates and were
greatly surprised by the Public Ser
vice Commissions generosity. Looks
like the boys on the sixth floor of
the Hennessy building, Butte will do
anything in their attempt to salvage
at least some of the late good public
relations the utility generally enjoy
ed over the state-even going to the
extent of trying to 'pass the buck"
for the increase onto Messrs. Middle
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19

Business Management" In Government
MAYBE THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD PROBE THIS

The Unemployment Compensation Commission
lively applying 1858 legislative the UCC Act
have to claim refunds from upwards of 900
states Associated Press dispatch of last Friday
This about a result the decision
by District Judge c. Holt Great Falls the Jacobson
q. c. Commission In deciding favor of Jacobson
Judge Holt said the commission had erred in attempting
the benefit schedules adudcated before the
April 1858 effective date of the amendments or further
details, VOICE, March IL issue).
Collection of benefit from upwards of 1000
will substantial problem for the commission
these people Out-osaters drawn Montana
by Hungry Horse Canyon Ferry DAMS
Today these workmen scattered Lord only knows where
these we'll MOntananS will prob
ably nnumerabe actions.
dividua overpaymen will warrant the of tiga
Knowing this collection will not easy
in a majority of cases
How much the Unemployment fund will suffer from
the commissions inability to collect refunds
matter conjecture suffered by this
fund may be $4,000, $25000 100000 Only
audit records at future time will
reveal how expensive the commissions reroactvty
ton of early April 1858.
total in thousands of dollars the fund will be
out, Montanans going to be asking chow the
Commission did first seek official Interpretation of the
1858 amendments effective date by the Attorney General be-
fore retroactvey applying the amendments? And they're
asking than questions how
tenty the Unemployment Compensation Commission being
promised business administration of state government if
Republican administration the nod of approval back
in the 1852 gubematoral campaign?
NOTE: In news story a very
benefits increased Later information shows
statement been The Commission
benefits A. 1903
$500 The other $500, according UCC
Chairman Wesley Castles be in line to get total of $780,
900 benefits withheld following the April 1858 decision by
he
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
MST&T VALUATIONS
ARE PHENOMENAL"

In the case of the Mountain States
Telephone and Telegraph Company
their valuations are phenomenal. On
the first Monday in March last year
under oath sworn to by one of the
officials of their company, they rep
resented to the State Board of Equal
ization that the total valuation of
their entire property and plant in
Montana was worth only twelve mil
lion dollarsf, while at the same time
on their books they valued their prop
erty, less depreciation, at eighteen
million dollars. However, the Public
Service Commission fixed a valua-
ton of thirty million dollars upon
which to base the rates which you
telephone customers must pay.
In one class of single party line,
the telephone rates have been in
creased from $2.75 to $4.75. In an
other class of single party line, from
$500 to $5.00-and all of that raise
in just three short years.
In the case of the natural gas di-
vision of the Montana Power Com
pany, an installation more than
twenty years old is somewhat OF
a record in values, too. For in
stance, they swear to a true valu-
alton when reporting to the State
Board of Equalization at about
ten million dollarsf. Original cost,
less depreciation, was $18,7OO,OOO.
However, the Public Service Com
mission fixed a valuation of $751;
100000 for the purpose of fixing
a rate that you consumers must
pay. What is more, the Montana
Power Company was permitted to
suppress most of the evidence of
its business with its largest custo-
mer, the Anaconda Copper Mining
Company.
DOES MONTANA POWER MAKE
A PROFIT OFF ACM SERVICE!
The Anaconda Company does not
pay the same gas rate as you and L.
They have a special preferred ne
gotiated contract to pay a maximum
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
PHILLIPS ATTORNEY TO
SEEK SECOND DISTRICT
CONGRESSIONAL SEAT

James G. Harrison, Malta, Phillips
county attorney, this week announced
his intention of seeking the Republi-
can nomination for Congress from
the second district.
In addition to being county attor-
ney, Harrison has been Phillips Coun-
ty COP chairman for the last Is
years.
Harrison is the second to announce
Congressional ambitions in Republi-
can ranks. Garfield Senator Charles
Mahoney, 1851 State Senate Majority
leader, and leader of the liberal
wing of the COP, entered the race
the middle of February.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19

levies seems patiently unfair. Another
point in controversy is Montana's
use of cash balances in debt reduc-
ton. We realize Mr.. Fickinger is
bound by criteria set up in Wash
ington, and therefore is not respon-
sible for the basic differences which
arise in trying to get together on
contract"
Attending part of the two-day con-
ference with the state department Of
ficials in addition to Paul Fickinger,
Area Director, and his staff, were
Senator Tom Ross, Blaine county,
Mr.. Harry Cloke, Superintendent of
Browning public schools, and Mr.. Art
Neill, Montana Taxpayers Association
director.
Another meeting will be held in the
near future to work out 1954-55 con-
tracts before levies are set.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
Some Kind Words For Radio

The fact that the Lewis & Clark
county courthouse had the biggest
number of people crowded into
court room in its history last Thurs
day night at the Helena meeting was
due almost entirely to radio stations
XIII and KCAP. Spot announce
ments and radio news stories did the
trick. The ACM-Montana Power daily,
the Helena Independent Record, ma
turally played down the forthcoming
meeting. In Thursday afternoons edi-
ton it noticed" the meeting with
exactly six lines of type-and no
headline.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
Success Important To You

Success of Attorney General Oh
sen in fighting the rate increases
granted the three major utilities
through the courts is of vital import
ance to YOU. Should Olsen win, the
utilities will have to make substantial
refunds to every one of their users.
AS of now, total amount subject to
refund by the three utilities will run
an estimated SIS million dollars.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
DOES MONTANA POWER MAKE
A PROFIT OFF ACM SERVICE?

The Anaconda Company does not
pay the same gas rate as you and L.
They have special preferred ne
gotiated contract to pay maximum
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
Question

Why did the Public Service Com
mission exclude all evidence concern
ing the portion of the Montana Pow
er gas plant devoted to providing
service for the Anaconda Copper Min
ing Company? ACM service utilizes
48 per cent of the total gas plant;
$4,000 other consumers the other 81
per cent. Before the rate increase,
Montana Power received "a per cent
of its total annual gas revenue from
ACM; from the other $4,000 resi-
Dental and commercial consumers,
rs per cent.
ACM continues at its old average
rate of 20 cents per m.c.f.-or-a
loss of "a cents per m.c.f. to Mon
tana Power according to figures pre-
sented PSC by AS&R's Richardson.
With the rate increases now in eff
feet, ACM is paying in only Is per
cent of gas divisions total revenue
for use of 48 per cent of the plant,
while $4,000 other consumers are
paying in IS per cent on the 81 per
cent devoted to servicing them.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19

Continued from Page One)
ment, but we must pay the price as
though it were 1853 model equip
ment.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19

of 20 cents per thousand cubic feet.
You and | and most household con-
sumers of gas pay from SO cents to
$1.30 per thousand cubic feet. In
spite of that low rate enjoyed by
the Anaconda Company, and in spite
of the large percentage of the plant
used by the Anaconda Company, the
protestants of the new gas rate were
not permitted to inquire how much it
costs to deliver gas to the Anaconda
Company, nor were we permitted to
know how much profit was made or
anticipated from the Anaconda Com
pany contract.
Because these rate increases are
unreasonable, unjust and unlawful,
| brought suit in the District Court
of this State to have them declared
unlawful and set aside. The utilities
are presently raising the question
whether your Attorney General has
the authority to speak in the courts
for the people of Montana. 1t appears
that the Supreme Court of the State
will have to decide that issue before
the legality of these rates can be de-
termined.
believe that it is the duty of
your Attorney General to repre-
sent the people. IF the Attorney
General doesn't represent the peo-
pie, who will?
AS long as utility rates remain at
these high levels, and as long as l
am your Attorney General, this fight
will go on. believe that it is i'm
portant to continue with these cases.
| believe that these rate increases
are entirely invalid-that they should
be declared unlawful and that the
money which has been paid by the
consumers Of this State ever since
these increased rates went into eff
feet should be refunded to them, and
| intend to carry on until that is
done.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19

ton, Henry and Young. Such talk
undoubtedly makes the harrassed
members of the commission very hap
DIV.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19

such increases are put into effect
in the future. There is no doubt
that if the present increases are
declared unlawful, the companies
involved will imm ediately file new
petitions. The consumers must be
ready to protect themselves. A
state organization must be set up
to serve as a watchdog.
Ever since the rate increases have
been granted, it has repeatedly come
to the attention of my office that
numerous businesses in Montana have
been injured irreparably and are now
in a precarious financial condition,
principally because of the very sud-
den, very large and unprecedented
increase in rates for natural gas.
A small restaurant in Helena real
lied an increase in it's natural gas
bill of $50 a month = that $50
month is almost the difference be-
tween staying in business and quit
ting. A number of small processing
plants and industries are having
grave difficulty absorbing the shock
of not only great natural gas in
crease, but a railroad freight rate in
crease which was made on top of
what were the highest freight rates
in the entire United States. The rail
road freight rate charge is all that
the traffic will bear.
IT, co,,x.a &c ..A.1- 2..I
road and Public Service Commits
sion has been to discourage Mon
tana industry or the development
Of any new industry in Montana.
I can understand these alert and
active business enterprises-the Mon
tana Power, the Mountain States
Telephone and Telegraph Company,
and the railroads and other utilities,
through their officers, pressing for
greater profits and greater dividends
for the stockholders. l think that it
is the obligation of our government
and the duty of the public officials
to resist when those tendencies col
Tide with the general public welfare.
This is the great American system.
Rate increases granted railroads
are also accorded the commercial
truckers.
! $l2.6 million dollars assessed valu-
alton would make MST&T's tax
able valuation about $4.4 million.
Montana Powers $40 million as
sessed valuation would mean a tax
able valuation of about $3.5 mil
lion. J
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-03-19
CONSUMERS MUSTaBE READY
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES

think it is also indispensable
to the future welfare of the peo-
of Montana that the customers of
public utilities should band to-
gether to see that everything pos
sible is done to remove the pres
ent increases and to see that no
Evening star., 1954-10-17
Engaged
o WED

Mrs. Samuel Fleming ARM
strong of Lynchburg an
nounces the engagement of
her daughter Mary Sheila to
Mr.. Wendell Melville Lewis Of
Charlottesville, son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Melville Lewis of
Suggett's Point, Tidewater, Va.
The wedding will take place in
early spring.
Miss Armstrong was. gradu-
ated from Randolph-Macon
Woman's College and the
University Of Virginia Grad
uate School. At present she is
the registrar at Randolph
Macon College. Mr.. Lewis
was graduated from Randolph
Macon College and the School
of Foreign Service, George
town University. During World
War II he served as a lieu
tenant q. g.) in the Navy. H.
IS member of the faculty of the
Albemarle High School.