Regulatory insight from the 1886 Senate committee on interstate commerce
This concise volume collects the findings and plan of a Senate select committee that studied how freight and passenger travel moved between states by rail and water. It explains why national regulation was being considered and what kind of legislation might be needed to address fairness, rates, and competition. The book also describes the committee’s methods, including hearings in major cities and written submissions from a wide range of interests.
What you’ll gain from reading this edition
- A clear overview of the issues that prompted national regulation of interstate transportation
- Foundational arguments for why a flexible, broad approach to governing rates and discrimination is needed
- Historical examples and state-level experiences that influenced the discussion
- Context for the debate over publicity, commissions, and potential national rules
Ideal for readers exploring the origins of federal transportation policy, the rise of rail and canal interests, and early attempts to balance public needs with industry concerns. The text serves as a snapshot of the period’s policymaking process and the questions that shaped later regulation debates.