The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-09

the system. 1t was reOrRanlZeQ as the Clil-
cago, St Louis & New Orleans, and he was
made secretary of it and later vice presI-
dent. When Ii was consolidated with the
Illinois Central, in 1882 he was made second
vice president of the latter corporation, and
a few months later first vice president. lie
succeeded to the presidency in 1887, and since
that time has devoted his energies asSidu-
ously to building up the system and devel-
oping the country through which 1t runs.
SENATOR EDMUNDS'S RECORD.
The best-known man on the commission
is probably ex-senator George +. Edmunds,
born in Richmond. VT, Feb. 1, 1928. He
was educated at the common schools and
by private tutor; studied law at an early
age and began to practice in 1S49, removing
in 1851 to Burlington, VT. He was a repre-
sentative in the Vermont Legislature in 1854
to 1859, serving as speaker for three years,
and in 1S6l-62 was a member of the State
Senate, and it's president pro tempore. At
the beginning Of the civil war he was a
member of the state convention which
formed coalition between the Republicans
and the war Democrats, and drew up the
resolution adopted there. He was appoint
ed to the United States Senate in March,
1866, by the Governor of Vermont, to MI
the vacancy made by the death of Solomon
Foot, and was then elected by the LegiS-
lature to fill the unexpired term, and three
times reelected. Mr.. EdmundS was active
in the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
sided with the President against Charles
Sumner and acted an influential part in the
passage OF the reconstruction measures,
adopting a conservative course. In 1851
he was one CT the members Of the Electoral
Commission, having been previously chalr.
man of the committee which, IN concert
with a similar one of the House of Rep
resentatives, prepared the bill creating that
commission. The passage of the Paclnc
Railroad funding act was also largely due
to his influence and eXertions. At the ma
tional Republican conventions held at chi
I'll he irfN ffhlI
and ninety-three votes, respectively, for the
presidential nomination, each on the first
ballot. He was elected president pro tenn
pore of the Senate after Mr.. Arthur be-
came President of the United States. In
the Senate he has served on the committees
of commerce, public lands, appropriations,
pensions, retrenchment, private land claims,
the library and the judiciary and he served
as chairman of the last-named committee
for five consecutive Congresses. AS leg
islator Senator Edmunds has been noted for
his legal acumen, his readiness in repartee
and his love of strictly parliamentary pro-
cedure. He has been a fearless foe OF po-
litical jobs and legislative intrigues. He
was the author Of the act of March, 1882, for
the suppression of polygamy in Utah and
the disfranchisement Of those who prac-
ticed it. This is known as the "Edmunds'
act, and was upheld by the Supreme Court
a series of five cases: He was also the
chief author of the similar act passed in
1887, and the act of 1886 prescribing the
manner in which the electoral votes for
Pr eSident shall be counted. In 1886 he was
the leader in the Senate in the attempt to
compel President Cleveland to furnish that
body with all the documents necessary to
show cause for the recent removals from
office.
Charles Stebbins Fairchild was born April
30, 1872. at Cazenovias N. 7. His father
S T. Fairchild, was formerly the attorney
for the New York Central Railroad and q
prominent man in central New York. After
an education in the common schools and a
Methodist seminary the son entered the law
department of Harvard, and commenced
to practice shortly after he. received his
degree. He was a member of the success
full firm of Hand, Hale & Swartz from 1871
to 1876, serving year as deputy auditor
general of the State, and the following
year QS75) was elected by the Democratic
party state auditor general. In 1878 he
went to Europe and remained two years
In 1885 he was appointed assistant secretary
of the treasury, serving in that capacity for
two years, when he was appointed Tin 1880
secretary of the treasury by President
Cleveland: serving, the, rest Of the. adminis--
laws was conferred upon him from
Harvard and also from Columbia Univer-
sity. In 1889 he became the president Of the
Security and Trust Company, which posi-
ton he now holds.
George F.. Leighton has been for years
one of the most prominent citizens of st.
necessity of currency rei >rm, being at pres
ent president of the National Sound
money League. He was born in Cambridge,
Mass, and educated at Cincinnati, migrat-
ing to st. Louis in 1857. He served in the
Union army during the war and resumed
the practice of law in st. Louis after the
war was over. He became a famous law
yer, but by 1874 his commercial interests
had become so large that he retired from
the practice. He has now retired from ac-
tive business, but stili mas large interests
been president of the Commercial Club and
has time and again been honored by the
commercial organizations of his city. lie
has been a. trustee of washington Univer-
sity for a number of years