Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-08
WILLIAM PETERS
HEPBURN is DEAD
Framer of Hepburn Rate Law, Pure
Food Act and Public Health
Act Passes Away.
IN CONGRESS TWENTY YEARS


CLARINDA, Ia, Feb. 7.-(Spe-
cial. Former Congressman Will
liam Peters Hepburn died here this
afternoon after an illness of several
weeks.
Colonel William p. Hepburn. although
twenty years in congress, became best
known throughout the country during
the Roosevelt administration. II was ne
who framed what later was called the
Hepburn law. prohiting rebates and dis
crimination by railroads. As chairman
OF the house committee on interstate and
foreign commerce in the first session OF
the FIfty-ninth Congress he was the
author OF three acts out of five. which
the then President Roosevelt afterwatd
declared would cause that congress to be
memorable in history because of its con-
structive legislation. Of the five acts.
four came from Colonel Hepburn's COM
mittee and three OF them-the Hepburn
law, the pure food act and the public
health act--were framed by Colonel Hep
burn himself
soldier ana Lawyer
Mr.. Hepburn represented the Eighth
I iowa district. He also was an efficient
soldier and lawyer OF high reputation
lie Was a product OF the early pioneer
j days in Iowa and got what little school
ing he had In three winters at an acd-
denny near Iowa City. lie was born in
Columbiana, county. Ohio. November 4.
] 1888. removing to Iowa City where his
mother and his step-father took up their
residence on a farm, when he was years
4 OF age After brief experience In the
schools the community afforded he got
employment in a printing office where
he worked for four years. Later he read
law at Iowa City and Chicago, being
admitted to the Illinois bar IN 1854 He
returned to Iowa IN 1855, married Miss
Melvina A. Morseman OF Iowa City and
settled at Marshailtown.
, When the civil war broke out Colonel
Hepburn organized "a company and be-
came its captain. This company went &c
the front in February. 1862. as part o!
the Second Iowa cavalry. He was soor
advanced to major, and In that position
learned distinction at the battle of Cor
inth. Not long afterwards he wai
placed on the staff of General Sheridan
/ and in December of the same year be
} came a lieutenant colonel and was put IN
command OF the Second brigade. cavalr,
! division. Sixteenth army corps. He wal
: later transferred to other commands anC
served until the close OF the war.
solicitor of Treasury.
= In 1876 Colonel Hepburn moved to clar
india, Ia, which had since been his home
: except for a part OF the time. when h
/ resided I'm Washington. ID. c. He wa
elected to congress In 1850. and twice sue
? cessively thereafter. During the Har
rison administration he was solicitor o
the Treasury department. which position
he resigned March (. 1898, to again ente
congress for his old district. He was al
y unsuccessful candidate for United State
senator in 1883
Colonel Hepburn was thirteen times IN
nominee of hie party in the Eighth low
= district, his first contest in 1850 bein
q the most remarkable. The conventio
] was held at Council Bluffs and Congress
! man sapp had received fifty-four votes
: three less than a Neutrality-suspicious. a
3 nllnution 3s4 times. After a three day.
5 session the convention took a recess q
3 four days. Its second session covere
1 two days and Colonel Hepburn wa
Q nominated on the SS5th ballot. receivin
: fifty-nine votes His twelve subseaueT
Z nominations we're practically unanimou
8 Two or them were by acclamation. Dui
ing his career in congress. which ende
3 March 4. 1903. Colonel Hepburn supporte
q every measure that became law lookin
!, TO the control OF common carriers. Mar
y Of these bills were introduced by him.
J. Colonel Hepburn will be buried her
Arrangements are undecided, awaitin
y word from relatives. Ms Hepburn an
S his son. Charles. from Washington. al
the only ones here.