Edgar Erastus Clark

Edgar Erastus Clark (February 18, 1856 – December 1, 1930) was an American attorney, railway union official, and government employee. The chief executive of the Order of Railway Conductors for more than 15 years, Clark served on the Interstate Commerce Commission from 1906 to 1921, and was its chairman from 1913 to 1914 and 1918 to 1921.

Railway career

Edgar E. Clark was born in Lima, New York, on February 18, 1856. His father died when he was six, leaving him to be raised by his mother. He would later receive a law degree.

Governmental career Clark's former residence (left) in the Dupont Circle residence of Washington, D.C. Clark involved himself in lobbying, and received credit for the 1898 enactment of a Mediation and Arbitration Act, which provided for a permanent board to settle disputes between railways and their employees. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 13, 1906. President William Howard Taft attempted to reappoint Clark, but his confirmation was held up in a dispute between the lame-duck President and Congress after the 1912 elections, with the Senate determined to deny Taft any further appointments. Nonetheless, Clark was immediately reappointed as Commissioner by the new President, Woodrow Wilson, on March 5, 1913, and was confirmed by the Senate the same day. The following day, the ICC commissioners elected Clark as chairman, filling out the remainder of the one-year term which had been left vacant by the resignation of ICC Chairman Franklin Knight Lane, who had been confirmed as Secretary of the Interior.

In 1918, Clark was again elected Commission chairman. While the chairmanship had been rotating, in view of Clark's long service, the practice was abandoned, and Clark remained chairman until his 1921 resignation.

Later life In 1921, Clark resigned from the Commission to enter the practice of commercial law. It was stated that the reasons for his resignation were to alleviate the stress of his position, and to make provision for his family.

In 1929, Clark retired from the firm of Clark & Laroe and in June moved to Monrovia, California, where he died on December 1, 1930, leaving a widow, Agnes Clark, and three sons and three daughters.