Elkins Act
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The Elkins Act (57th Congress, Sess. 2, ch. 708, 32 Stat. 847, enacted February 19, 1903) strengthened the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 by imposing heavy fines on railroads offering rebates and on the shippers accepting them. The railroad companies were not permitted to deviate from published rates. The law was sponsored by President Theodore Roosevelt as a part of his so-called "Square Deal", and greatly boosted his popularity. This law also caused nearly all railroads to become defunct for a short period of time.
