President William Howard Taft signed the Mann-Elkins Act, also called the Railway Rate Act of 1910, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission’s (ICC) authority over railroad rates and expanding federal regulation to telephone, telegraph, and wireless companies for the first time. The …
President William Howard TaftStephen Benton ElkinsJames Robert MannInterstate Commerce Commissionprogressive-eraregulatory-enforcementcorporate-powertelecommunicationsrailroad-regulation
When Theodore Roosevelt left office on March 4, 1909, his administration had filed 44 antitrust lawsuits (18 civil and 26 criminal cases, resulting in 22 convictions and 22 acquittals) against major corporations including Northern Securities, Standard Oil, American Tobacco, the Beef Trust, and Du …
Theodore RooseveltWilliam Howard TaftJ.P. MorganU.S. Department of JusticeInterstate Commerce Commissionantitrustcorporate-powerprogressive-eraregulatory-enforcementpresidential-legacy
On June 29, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Hepburn Act into law after a month of conference committee reconciliation, with the Senate passing it 71-3 and the House by substantial margin. The Act fundamentally strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission, giving it power to set …
Theodore RooseveltRepresentative William HepburnInterstate Commerce CommissionRailroad companiesU.S. Congressrailroad-regulationregulatory-enforcementprogressive-erainstitutional-expansioncorporate-power
On February 19, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Elkins Act, which made it a federal misdemeanor for railroads to grant rebates or preferential rates and held both the carrier and the recipient liable. The Act was sponsored by Senator Stephen B. Elkins of West Virginia and introduced in …
Theodore RooseveltSenator Stephen B. ElkinsInterstate Commerce CommissionPennsylvania RailroadRailroad companiesantitrustrailroad-regulationprogressive-eraregulatory-enforcement
On February 4, 1887, President Grover Cleveland approved the Interstate Commerce Act, creating the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to oversee railroad industry conduct. This landmark legislation made railroads the first industry subject to federal regulation in American history, responding to …
U.S. CongressInterstate Commerce CommissionGranger MovementRailroad IndustryFarmers Allianceregulatory-frameworkdemocratic-resistanceinstitutional-accountabilitycorporate-regulation