A Level History - America - Practice Exam

Which act gave Roosevelt the power to inspect railroad company records?

1. Interstate Commerce Act

2. Hepburn Act

3. Sherman Antitrust Act

4. Pure Food and Drug Act

The correct answer is: Hepburn Act

The correct answer is the Hepburn Act. This act, passed in 1906, empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to set maximum railroad rates and inspect the financial records of railroad companies. It aimed to strengthen regulatory control over the railroads, addressing issues of unfair practices and pricing that affected both consumers and smaller businesses. The other acts listed, while significant in their own right, did not grant Roosevelt or the ICC the specific authority to inspect railroad records. The Interstate Commerce Act established the ICC but did not provide the investigatory powers that the Hepburn Act did. The Sherman Antitrust Act focused on prohibiting monopolies and unfair business practices, while the Pure Food and Drug Act was aimed at consumer protection in food and pharmaceuticals, without relevance to railroad operations. Therefore, the Hepburn Act is recognized as the legislation that specifically expanded the government's powers to monitor railroad companies effectively.