US Congressman. He served an apprenticeship in a printing shop and studied law in Iowa City and Chicago. During the Civil War, he served in the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Cavalry and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Elected to Congress as a Republican in 1880, he represented his district in southwestern Iowa from 1881 to 1887. Defeated for re-election in 1886, he joined the Harrison administration as Solicitor of the Treasury from 1889 to 1893. He returned to Congress in 1893 and served until 1909. As Chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce from 1895 through 1909, he was instrumental in the formulation of major trade and commerce legislation. In 1905 he became President Theodore Roosevelt's congressional spokesman for a moderate regulatory bill that would address the excessive rates charged by railroads. The Hepburn Act of 1906 empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission to determine and prescribe maximum railroad rates and forced compliance within 30 days. It also extended the regulatory powers of the I.C.C. to sleeping car, pipeline, and express companies. His political career ended in 1909 when he unsuccessfully contested the election of his opponent, William D. Jamieson; and he resumed the practice of law in Clarinda, Iowa, until his death.
US Congressman. He served an apprenticeship in a printing shop and studied law in Iowa City and Chicago. During the Civil War, he served in the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Cavalry and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Elected to Congress as a Republican in 1880, he represented his district in southwestern Iowa from 1881 to 1887. Defeated for re-election in 1886, he joined the Harrison administration as Solicitor of the Treasury from 1889 to 1893. He returned to Congress in 1893 and served until 1909. As Chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce from 1895 through 1909, he was instrumental in the formulation of major trade and commerce legislation. In 1905 he became President Theodore Roosevelt's congressional spokesman for a moderate regulatory bill that would address the excessive rates charged by railroads. The Hepburn Act of 1906 empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission to determine and prescribe maximum railroad rates and forced compliance within 30 days. It also extended the regulatory powers of the I.C.C. to sleeping car, pipeline, and express companies. His political career ended in 1909 when he unsuccessfully contested the election of his opponent, William D. Jamieson; and he resumed the practice of law in Clarinda, Iowa, until his death.
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
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