The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1957-10-25
Editorial
Montana Powers Good Will
Advertising Pays Off

AuveII ISlH9 TuyS VII
large number of those ''stalwars Democracy" il
Montana weekly press in lather what they
attempt by federal agency ntrude on freedom OF
expression
Following the lead the GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE, these
reprinted editorial from Illinois
entitled Licensing Speech and the Printing Press.
That editorial by the Momence (I) PROGRESSR
general public believe the Federal Power Com
mission is attempting to license the freedom of expression
private utilities FPC ruling last May that the
companies could not charge political propaganda
generating What the FPC said was that such adj
verisng fde operating expense AS SUCH is
proper expense be added into the schedules
the utilities are allowed to charge their customers
The FPC did not say the utilities must refrain from publish
favorable their of monopoly enterprise
and against public ownership and distribution of All
the said the American public should have
for elaborate doses of private utility propaganda that
such advertising should be paid for out of other
net income available for dividends.
What brought the FPC the preparation
publication distribution of expensive anipubc power
propaganda booklet the main by the public rela
tons staff of Montana Power Company with guidance from
Electric Bond Share (EBASCO)-the holding company
which time openly controlled MPCo, and which
tnues supply managerial services to the utility The various
which sponsored that booklet On the Light
charged their prorata cost to operating expenses and thus
their paid the bill through their electricity rates Se
VOICE. June 7, 1879
The amount money involved in publication of that book
let nominal but the FPC ruling applies to all propaganda
advertising which in the past utilities have charged to their
patrons Operating expense.
example, most Montana people will recall that two
this month"; Montana Power sponsored series of
vcousy anpubc antirural electric ads in
the of the state Those ads aimed at soaring Montana
people into believing that public projects such Hun
the rural electric coops sociaistic and
therefore un-American charged off operating
pense of five ads many thousands of
dolars-a of which charged to the customers of
Montana Power Company (who being asked to
for the electricity they use.)
FPC has said regarding of
propaganda purposes fundamentally and the
TafHarey Acts prohibition against labor union
for political purposes The TaHarley
that cannot divert to federal political
compusorly paid by members
of employment If unions want partake political
activity then funds for such activity must be contributed by
members voluntary basis
The FPC has ruled essentially the thing: utilities
shall for political the "dues money paid in
who freedom of choice of utility service If
utilities engage in dissemination of political propa
ganda then they do it contributions from their
either by deductions from dividend payments
or by other method. "
Strange thing the which emissions threat of
licensing speech" because of the FPC ruling has to
express similar opinion regarding the political campaign
prohibition written into the Tafarey Act by the 80th Con-
1947 Could it be that large advertising OUTLAWS by
Montana Power and other utilities have bearing the out
currently being expressed by the press whereas there
jubiation few when organized labor was is
eavely prohibited from using regular union funds for
influence the thinking the body polite? -
II
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