United States Senate Committee on Railroads
Encyclopedia
The Senate Committee on Railroads is a defunct committee of the United States Senate
. It succeeded the Committee on the Pacific Railroad
on March 12, 1873. The committee reviewed legislation and matters related to railroad transportation on the United States. The committee existed until April 8, 1921, when it was abolished due to inactivity. The committee's role waned after the 50th Congress
(1887-89) as other Senate committees acquired legislative jurisdiction over railroad matters. The United States Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce, in particular, focused on regulating railroad rates and assuring safety of railroad passengers and crews. A separate Committee on Pacific Railroads
also operated from 1893-1921, investigating the financial status of the Union Pacific Railroad
.
While it no longer formerly exists as a standing committee, the Senate still conducts oversight over the railroad industry through the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
and its Surface Transportation and United Interstate Commerce subcommittees.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. It succeeded the Committee on the Pacific Railroad
United States Senate Committee on the Pacific Railroad
The Senate Committee on the Pacific Railroad is a defunct committee of the United States Senate. It was first established as a select committee on July 7, 1861, to examine legislation to authorize construction of a transcontinental railroad....
on March 12, 1873. The committee reviewed legislation and matters related to railroad transportation on the United States. The committee existed until April 8, 1921, when it was abolished due to inactivity. The committee's role waned after the 50th Congress
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
(1887-89) as other Senate committees acquired legislative jurisdiction over railroad matters. The United States Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce, in particular, focused on regulating railroad rates and assuring safety of railroad passengers and crews. A separate Committee on Pacific Railroads
United States Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads
The Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads is a defunct committee of the United States Senate. It was first established as a select committee in 1889 and became a standing committee on March 15, 1893...
also operated from 1893-1921, investigating the financial status of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
.
While it no longer formerly exists as a standing committee, the Senate still conducts oversight over the railroad industry through the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is a standing committee of the United States Senate in charge of all senate matters related to the following subjects:* Coast Guard* Coastal zone management* Communications...
and its Surface Transportation and United Interstate Commerce subcommittees.
Chairmen 1873-1921
- 1873-1875: William Stewart (R-Nevada)
- 1875-1877: J. Rodman West (R-Louisiana)
- 1877-1879: John H. MitchellJohn H. MitchellJohn Hipple Mitchell, also known as John Mitchell Hipple, John H. Mitchell, or J. H. Mitchell was a controversial American lawyer and politician, who served as a Republican United States Senator from Oregon on three occasions between 1872 and 1905...
(R-Oregon) - 1879-1880: Matt Ransom (D-North Carolina)
- 1880-1881: L.Q.C. LamarLucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (II)Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar was an American politician and jurist from Mississippi. A United States Representative and Senator, he also served as United States Secretary of the Interior in the first administration of President Grover Cleveland, as well as an Associate Justice of the U.S...
(D-Mississippi) - 1881-1883: William Pitt Kellogg (R-Louisiana)
- 1883-1887: Philetus SawyerPhiletus SawyerPhiletus Sawyer was an American politician of the Republican Party who represented Wisconsin in both houses of Congress. Sawyer County, Wisconsin, is named for him....
(R-Wisconsin) - 1887-1889: Dwight Sabin (R-Minnesota)
- 1889-1891: John H. MitchellJohn H. MitchellJohn Hipple Mitchell, also known as John Mitchell Hipple, John H. Mitchell, or J. H. Mitchell was a controversial American lawyer and politician, who served as a Republican United States Senator from Oregon on three occasions between 1872 and 1905...
(R-Oregon) - 1891-1893: Lyman R. CaseyLyman R. CaseyLyman Rufus Casey was a United States Senator from North Dakota. Born in York, New York, he moved with his parents to Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1853. He received a classical education and engaged in the hardware business for many years; in 1882, he moved to Carrington, Foster County, Territory of...
(R-North Dakota) - 1893-1894: Johnson Camden (D-West Virginia)
- 1894-1895: John MartinJohn Martin (Governor of Kansas)John Alexander Martin was the tenth Governor of Kansas.Martin was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, a son of James and Jane Montgomery Martin. His father was a native of Maryland, and his mother a native of Pennsylvania. He was of Scots-Irish extraction, and the family was related to General...
(D-Kansas) - 1895-1905: Clarence D. ClarkClarence D. ClarkClarence Don Clark was a teacher, lawyer, and politician from New York who participated in the constitutional convention for Wyoming's statehood and was one of that state's first congressmen.-Biography:...
(R-Wyoming) - 1905-1907: J. Frank AlleeJ. Frank AlleeJames Frank Allee was an American merchant and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U.S. Senator from Delaware. He was known by his middle name.-Early life and family:Allee was born in Dover,...
(R-Delaware) - 1907-1911: Morgan Bulkeley (R-Connecticut)
- 1911-1913: Thomas P. Gore (D-Oklahoma)
- 1913-1915: George C. Perkins (R-California)
- 1915-1917: James D. PhelanJames D. PhelanJames Duval Phelan was an American politician, civic leader and banker.-Early years:Phelan was born in San Francisco, the son of an Irish immigrant who became wealthy during the California Gold Rush as a trader, merchant and banker. He graduated from St...
(D-California) - 1917-1919: Peter G. GerryPeter G. GerryPeter Goelet Gerry was an American lawyer and politician. He was a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.-Early life:...
(D-Rhode Island) - 1919-1921: Irvine L. Lenroot (R-Wisconsin)