The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-08

City. He was also clerk Of the house
for the first general assembly that
met in Des Moines when that city was
made the capital of Iowa. In 1858 he
was elected district attorney for the.
eleventh judicial district but resigned
that position in 1851 to enlist in the
army.
His military career was brilliant
one. 1t started with his election as
captain of<Company B, second Iowa
infantry which company he organ
lied himself under authority he had
secured from Governor Kirkwood by
long ride from Marshalltown to
Iowa City. His regiment was ordered
to the front in February, 1852.
Captain Hepburn was soon pro-
noted to the rank of major and
placed in charge of the second bat
talon of his regiment and in that
position he distinguished himself at
the battle of Corinth.
In the same year he was placed on
the staff of General Sheridan and
later upon that of General Rosecrans,
serving with him during his campaign
in command of the army of the Cum
berland
He received his commission as lieu
tcutlilI SOlOhCl LII DSCOllOCAS 1oO6, d1l0
was placed in command of the Second
brigade, cavalry division, of the Six
teenth army corps. His regiment was
mustered out at the expiration Of his
term of enlistment, but he re-enlisted
and remained in command of pro-
visional cavalry reEim emit until after
the close of the war.
Finding conditions greatly changed
upon his return to MarShaltown, he
moved further on and in 1867 estab-
lished his home in Clarinda, where
he has maintained his residence ever
since. Here he secured a half in
terest in the Clarinda Herald and
started stumping the country for the
republican candidate for congress.
He was first elected to congress
himself in 1soJ and in the twenty
two years Of service during the time
that followed until 1903 he estab-
lished an enviable reputation in that
body. He was elected to the two
congresses successfully following the
first of which he was member, the
forty-seventh. and then during the
Harrison administration was solicitor
Of the treasury, which position he re-
signed to again enter congress from
his old district, the eighth.
During his connection with the
treasury he carried on investigations
of the customs matters at the port
of New York which led to the estab-
lishment of the board of general ap-
praisers and--to many other reforms
of the customs service.
In 1886 he was defeated for con-
gress by Major Anderson, but was
returned to his, former seat in 1892.
Actiyjty in Congress.
During his career In congress,
Colonel Hepburn supported every
measure that. became law looking to
the control of common carriers, in
Guiding all legislation looking to the
safety of employees and passengers on
trains Many of the bills that be-
came law were introduced by him.
While in congress he had service
of eighteen years on the committee
on public lands on the alcoholic liquor
traffic, on pensions. on Pacific rail-
roads and on the judiciary.
For twelve years he was chairman
of the committee on interstate ana
foreign commerce. During his chair
manship he introduced the pure
food" bill and presented 1t to 1our
congresses before he secured us
adontion. He also introduced during
that time the Nicaragua canal bill,
several bills providing for safety ap-
nIiances. for the marine hospital ser
vice and for the present public health
service. He participated actively In
ali the legislation resulting IN gen
eral pensions, for the government OF
tho canal zone, and finally the bill
nroviding for the further control OF
RAILWAYS which bear his name today
and Ia known as the Hepburn rate
| bill.
roosevelt on two public occasions
.,;d that the first session of the M
tv-n,nth congress would be memoir
| abIe in the history of congresses be-
cause of it's constructive legislation
and he named five acts that gave IL
this renown. Four of these acts came
from the committees over "nlch
| Colonel Hepburn presided ana tnree
of them from bills he introduced
| Nominated Thirteen Times.
| He had been thirteen times the
nominee of his party TOT cohsress,
twelve times his NOMINATION pelns
nra ctically unanimous ana oe'hs Ca
ried ten times by reclamation. ne
served the eighth Iowa dlstt'Ct ~
congress for twenty-five years anu In
the days when the republican pay
{, was in the full strength OF us po"ei
was recognized as the leading de-
hater If the house of representatives
! Tn addition to his service IN con
gress. Colonel Hepburn was Always ss
Prominent in state politics. IN 1900
/ he was a candidate for United states
senator and he served as a delegate
from Iowa to the republican natlonai
/ conventions of 1860, 1883 ana Loso
/ He was presidential elector at iaise
from Iowa in 1876 and 1888.
Colonel Hepburn was persis. 49,,
and faithful worker LOT ms ,o.ra
II;a farsightedness and his determi,
nation are responsible for many OF
tho nublic welfare measures now