kids encyclopedia robot

United States Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads was a special group in the United States Senate. The Senate is a part of the U.S. government that helps make laws. This committee was created to look into important issues, but it doesn't exist anymore. It was first set up in 1889 as a temporary group. Then, on March 15, 1893, it became a permanent committee, meaning it was a regular part of the Senate's work.

It's important not to mix up this committee with another one called the Committee on the Pacific Railroad. That one existed earlier, from 1861 to 1873. The Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads was formed after the government looked into the money problems of the Union Pacific Railroad. This railroad company owed a lot of money to the United States government. The committee stopped its work on April 18, 1921.

What Was the Pacific Railroads Committee?

The Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads was like a special team of senators. Their main job was to check on the big railroad companies, especially the Union Pacific Railroad. This railroad had borrowed a lot of money from the U.S. government to build tracks across the country. The committee was there to make sure everything was fair and that the government's money was being used correctly. They also looked into how the railroad was managing its money.

Leaders of the Committee

A "chairman" is like the leader of a committee. They guide the meetings and make sure the committee does its job. Here are the senators who led the Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads during its time as a standing committee:

  • 1893-1895: Calvin S. Brice, a Democrat from Ohio
  • 1895-1900: John H. Gear, a Republican from Iowa
  • 1901-1905: Jonathan Dolliver, a Republican from Iowa
  • 1905-1907: Russell A. Alger, a Republican from Michigan
  • 1907-1911: Elmer J. Burkett, a Republican from Nebraska
  • 1911-1913: Robert L. Owen, a Democrat from Oklahoma
  • 1913-1919: Frank B. Brandegee, a Republican from Connecticut
  • 1919-1921: Charles S. Thomas, a Republican from Colorado
kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
United States Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.