Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-01
THE new CHAIRMAN
Charles A. Prouty He'd Been Ee'eet-
ed For Appointment A. One OF fhe
Judges Of the Supreme Court.

The Railway Age Gazette has the fo'-
rowing article on the Hon. charles a.
Prouty now chairman of the Interstate
commerce Commission:
Charles AFRO prou,y. as announced in
our columns last week, has been elect
ed chairman of the Interstate Commerce
commission for the ensuing wear MI
f'routy succeeds Judson c. Clements, In
accordance with the plan announced 'ast
year. Following the resignation Of Martin
a. Knapp to become presiding Judge OF
thc now Commerce Court. that a new
chairman would be elected each year IN
or"er or the commissioner length or
service After Mr. Clements, Mt Prouty
IS the ranking member OF the comms-
sion IN point of seniority He was APP
pointed In 1896. and has served contin-
uous'y ever since, always bearing most
prominent part In the numerous activities
| or the commission
1T hos been All open secret that he
mad been selected for appointment as
one OF the Judges of the Commerce
Court at the time of it's organization.
but that he preferred to remain ION the
firing line" In the performance Of the
| more arduous and multifaiious duties Of
the commission.
personally. without doubt one OF tho
best-known and most popular OF tho
commissioners. Mr.. Prouty has been gen.
orally regarded by both railway men
anu the representatives of the shippers
as one of the very ablest of the member
| oil mat body a man of unusual natural
parts, tireless energy, keen insight Into
men and matters. he has acquired re-
inarkably comprehensive knowledge and
understanding of railway and commercial
infairs, aid enjoys a power of logical
and forcetul reasoning, which. with his
universally recognized answering hon
esty have commanded the highest respect
for his opinions even on the part of
those who may often have disagreed with
his conclusions.
The same qualities have also made
him a powerful factor in bringing about
n better understanding between the
transportation and the shipping interests.
while very strongly influencing the char'
acter of the work of the commission.
t1Ie has written the opinions In many CT
Its most important and far reaching de-
cisions including some that have involv-
ed the most strenuous controversies.
Among the more recent OF these may
be mentioned particularly the opinion ir
the eastern general rate advance case
last year, most of the long series OF de.
cisions growing out of the transcontnen-
tai rate cases, and the opinion in the
Southeastern rate case The latter tive
cases are now before the Supreme Court
He has also been one of the most active
and indus trious of the commissioners ir
travelling about the country hearing i'm
lportant cases. During the early years OF
his connection with the commission he
had much to do with the criminal branch
of Its work, and conducted many of it.
Investigations.
Mr.. Prouty is a lawyer by profession
and one of the most distinguished char
acteristcs OF his work has been tn,
clear and logical reasoning as well az thu
remarkable literary quality. displayed
Throughout his opinions. His capacity fo
absorbing intricate details and tho anal
lytical powers which he brings into pla,
in separating the salient facts from thu
non essentials during the progress OF
hearing. coupled with his wonderful mem
DRY, have often aroused the admiration
of those who have observed him In &C
ton; while his shrewd. dry humor ant
a certain pleasing Quaintness in his rug
ged personality have done much to reliev
the strain and expedite the proceeding
of Il complicated case.
| Members of the Interstate Commerce
Commission have been selected for ap
pointment with a view to giving repre-
lsentation to the different sections o
the country Mr. Prouty in this respec
represents the New England and north
eastern States. He Is a native Of New
port, Vt, where he was born OctObe
Q. 1853, and where he now maintains hi
permanent residence.
He was graduated from Dartmout
College in 1875, and taught school TO
several years before he was admitted t
the bar in 1859. He practced law at New
port from 1882 until 1896. and meanwhil
was a member of the Lower House O
the Vermont Legislature in 1858. and wa
reporter of the Supreme Court OF tn
State from 1SNS to 1895 In December O
the latter year he was appointed a mem
her of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, and has since been regularly rear
pointed on the expiration of his term.
mo longer used-no longer wanted"