Another main focus Roosevelt had on his presidency is expanding the power of the federal government regulation business. Regulating business helps to protect employee rights, and hold corporations accountable for how much power it has in the business world. Roosevelt started and created The Department of Commerce and Labor. The Department of Commerce and Labor focused mainly on the concern on controlling the excess of a large business. When concern for large businesses striked, is when the department was created. Big businesses were overthrowing the economy, making the life of small businesses hard to live. Even though the department was short-lived, it was important to regulating business because it helped maintain the excess amount of power …show more content…
Roosevelt enforced his trust-busting policies heavily to control the amount of power unregulated business have. The Elkins act is a federal law that authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to heavily fine railroads that offered rebates. Rebates are partial refunds or repayments for someone who has paid too much for tax. Railroad companies were not allowed nor permitted to offer rebates and made the Elkins act important. After Roosevelt sponsored this act, he got a popularity boost and made him more likable by the public. This law was part of his, “Square Deal” which is Roosevelt’s domestic program that showed his three main goals, conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection. The Elkins act, along with the Hepburn act was an extreme help in helping to control the railroad businesses. The Hepburn Act, a federal law that gave the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) power to set maximum rates for railroads and extend its functionality in America. One of Roosevelt's main goal policies was railroad regulation, the Hepburn and Elkins act both help to support this policy