The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-05-19


its subsidiaries, to determine if
there are any farms lengths" deals
whereby the price of Canadian
gas may be pushed several times
higher than gas purchased by the
utility in Montana.
AMPLE MONEY IMPERATIVE
William Leaphart, Helena, told the
approximately 100 present at Friday
nights meeting that eff you're going
to fight this rate increase you've got
to raise money and hire high-priced
consultants."
The experienced utility rate at
torney said it would take at least
$4,000 ga lot of money +. .
but mere pebble compared to what
you can save by avoiding higher
rates ;" He then related how, in
1857 and 1859, labor and farmer
groups had secured expert assistance.
In 1857 the telephone company was
turned down entoto on a proposed
$3.5 million rate increase, and Mon
tana Power had it's requested in
crease of residential electric rates
reduced considerably.
The Helena attorney emphasized
that, by State Supreme Court deci-
sion. ''you have to put the evidence
before the commission before you
have chance of beating an increase
Leaphart, like DR.. Keller and Chair
4 L i
want to deny the utility rate in
crease if it really needed one, but,
said he, Montana Power isn't hurt
ing so far as money invested and
earnings are concerned :"
POCKETBOOK PINCH
At Monday nights meeting the
principal speaker was Sen. Robert
Durkee, Havre, who briefly reported
on the organizational meeting of the
Hi-Line association last Friday night,
and outlined their proposed program
TO secure a broad base of financial
support.
Durkee said that rumors have been
apparently by MPCo. Of
that if the utility gets beat
on its rate increase, they'll ''get beat
on political manuever ;"
But. said the Hill county senator,
this fight ''isn't politically the asso-
citation membership extends across
party lines and is representative of
every major group which would be
adversely affected by the up to SO
per cent increase in gas rates. "They
nave one thing in common +. :" he
said.
Durkee characterized the pro-
posed "escalator'' clauses whereby
the monopoly could increase gas
prices at will any time between
January 1, 1868 and January /,
1878, as "un-American", and if
granted would have the Public
Service Commission abdicate its
authority. Then, "you might just
as well send the commission home,"
he contended.
In connection with the proposed |
'escalator", Durkee contends MPCo.
5 getting Canadian gas cheaper"
nan Cne usual D ~ ceuLS per CHou-
and cubic feet they pay Montana
PRODUCERS. (Higher priced Canadian
as-at a reported 21 to % cents
o the company-is one of the reasons
he utility has given to justify the
rate increase.-EDITOR
Reiterating the growing realiza-
ion that this increase isn't a 'prob-
I'm just for the gas consumer" Dur
ee said fits problem for every
axpayer )" For example, he said,
ne increased cost of gas to the City
f Chinook would require imposition
f an additional two mills property
IVY. The same type of tax increase
rould apply to school districts, county
the State and the fed
raj government.
Concluding, the Havre sporting
GODS store operator, reiterated the
eed for the several local groups to I
DOL their funds to employ rate ex-
erts and consultants. In closing he
lid ''the prime thing we need now
some money to hire the right kind
people to handle the case before
10 commission ,,