Hepburn Act regulation of railroads

E87608

The Hepburn Act regulation of railroads was a landmark 1906 U.S. law that greatly strengthened federal oversight of railroad rates and practices by expanding the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Hepburn Act 0

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal statute
railroad regulation law
affected common carriers engaged in interstate commerce
aimedTo curb railroad rate discrimination
increase federal oversight of railroads
protect shippers from unfair practices
allowedAgencyTo inspect railroad financial records
prohibit free passes and rebates
require standardized accounting by railroads
set maximum railroad rates
appliesTo railroads in interstate commerce
cameIntoForceInDecade 1900s
considered landmark in U.S. regulatory history
major expansion of federal power over commerce
country United States of America
surface form: United States
enactedInYear 1906
enactedOnDate 1906-06-29
era Progressive Era
expandedJurisdictionTo bridges used by railroads
express companies
ferries used by railroads
railroad-owned oil pipelines
sleeping car companies
expandedPowersOf Interstate Commerce Commission
followedBy Mann–Elkins Act
historicalSignificance marked shift toward stronger federal regulation of private industry
jurisdictionExpandedFor Interstate Commerce Commission
legalDomain administrative law
commerce clause regulation
legislativeBody United States Congress
limited railroad rate-setting autonomy
namedAfter William Peters Hepburn
partOf Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal program
policyArea economic regulation
progressive era reform
transportation regulation
precededBy Elkins Act
prohibited railroad free passes to favored shippers
railroad rebates
reducedPowerOf railroad companies
regulatoryTarget railroad freight rates
railroad passenger rates
signedBy 26th President of the United States
Theodore Roosevelt
sponsor William Peters Hepburn
strengthened Interstate Commerce Commission
strengthenedEnforcementOf Interstate Commerce Act
surface form: Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
subjectMatter regulation of railroad practices
regulation of railroad rates

Referenced by (1)

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Theodore Roosevelt implementedPolicy Hepburn Act regulation of railroads