Charles A. Prouty
Encyclopedia
Charles A. Prouty was an American Democratic
politician and government official who served as a commissioner of the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission
) from 1896 to 1914. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate from Vermont in 1914, losing to incumbent Republican senator William P. Dillingham
.
, Prouty graduated at the top of his class at Dartmouth College
. He worked at the Alleghany City Observatory in Pennsylvania for a year, but ill-health forced his return to Vermont, where he read law for two years and was admitted to the Bar in 1877.
in 1888. He served as principal of Newport Academy for two years. From 1888 to 1896, Prouty served as Reporter of Decisions for the Vermont Supreme Court
. He also helped to found the Orleans Trust Company and the Newport Electric Company. He served as general counsel for the Rutland
and Central Vermont Railroads.
nominated Prouty to the ICC. Prouty was confirmed by the Senate on December 17, and was sworn in on December 21 to serve an unexpired term ending in 1901. President Theodore Roosevelt
reappointed him in 1901 and in 1907. Prouty served a one-year term, elected by his fellow commissioners, as Chairman of the Commission from 1912-1913. While on the Commission, he urged Congress to increase regulation of railroad rates, and allow the Commission to value railroad property. When Congress finally enacted the latter reform, Prouty resigned, effective in 1914, to become the Commission's first Director of Valuation.
Prouty ran for Senator from Vermont in 1914, but lost to incumbent Republican Senator William P. Dillingham
. Prouty had received the endorsement of the Prohibition
and Progressive parties, while failing of nomination at the Democratic convention. When the Democratic candidate, Charles D. Watson, withdrew, the party's state committee substituted Prouty as the Democratic candidate as well. However, Prouty was defeated by about 7,000 votes.
's director of the Division of Public Service and Accounting. On July 8, 1921, he died at his Vermont home.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician and government official who served as a commissioner of the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
) from 1896 to 1914. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate from Vermont in 1914, losing to incumbent Republican senator William P. Dillingham
William P. Dillingham
William Paul Dillingham was an American Republican politician from the state of Vermont.-Early life:The son of Vermont Governor Paul Dillingham, William P. Dillingham was born on December 12, 1843, in Waterbury, Vermont, where he later attended the public schools...
.
Early life
A native of Newport, VermontNewport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
, Prouty graduated at the top of his class at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. He worked at the Alleghany City Observatory in Pennsylvania for a year, but ill-health forced his return to Vermont, where he read law for two years and was admitted to the Bar in 1877.
Vermont businessman and politician
As well as practicing law, Prouty worked in a number of positions. He was twice elected State's Attorney in 1882 and 1884, and to the Vermont House of RepresentativesVermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1888. He served as principal of Newport Academy for two years. From 1888 to 1896, Prouty served as Reporter of Decisions for the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
. He also helped to found the Orleans Trust Company and the Newport Electric Company. He served as general counsel for the Rutland
Rutland Railroad
The Rutland Railway was a small railroad in the northeastern United States, primarily in the state of Vermont but extending into the state of New York. The earliest ancestor of the Rutland, the Rutland & Burlington Railroad, was chartered in 1843 by the state of Vermont to build between Rutland...
and Central Vermont Railroads.
Interstate Commerce Commission
On December 14, 1896, President Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
nominated Prouty to the ICC. Prouty was confirmed by the Senate on December 17, and was sworn in on December 21 to serve an unexpired term ending in 1901. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
reappointed him in 1901 and in 1907. Prouty served a one-year term, elected by his fellow commissioners, as Chairman of the Commission from 1912-1913. While on the Commission, he urged Congress to increase regulation of railroad rates, and allow the Commission to value railroad property. When Congress finally enacted the latter reform, Prouty resigned, effective in 1914, to become the Commission's first Director of Valuation.
Prouty ran for Senator from Vermont in 1914, but lost to incumbent Republican Senator William P. Dillingham
William P. Dillingham
William Paul Dillingham was an American Republican politician from the state of Vermont.-Early life:The son of Vermont Governor Paul Dillingham, William P. Dillingham was born on December 12, 1843, in Waterbury, Vermont, where he later attended the public schools...
. Prouty had received the endorsement of the Prohibition
Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement...
and Progressive parties, while failing of nomination at the Democratic convention. When the Democratic candidate, Charles D. Watson, withdrew, the party's state committee substituted Prouty as the Democratic candidate as well. However, Prouty was defeated by about 7,000 votes.
Later life
In 1918, Prouty became the United States Railroad AdministrationUnited States Railroad Administration
The United States Railroad Administration was the name of the nationalized railroad system of the United States between 1917 and 1920. It was possibly the largest American experiment with nationalization, and was undertaken against a background of war emergency.- Background :On April 6, 1917, the...
's director of the Division of Public Service and Accounting. On July 8, 1921, he died at his Vermont home.