Final answer:
The Elkins and Hepburn acts were laws that aimed to regulate railroad rates and practices, with the latter expanding the Interstate Commerce Commission's authority to set maximum rates and oversee other forms of interstate transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Elkins and Hepburn acts dealt with the subject of regulating railroad rates and practices. The Elkins Act, passed in 1903, targeted the use of rebates by railroads, which allowed them to charge different prices to different customers, often in violation of the Interstate Commerce Act. The Hepburn Act of 1906 expanded the authority of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) even further by granting the ICC the power to establish maximum railroad rates and extending its regulatory reach to other forms of interstate transportation. While Progressives viewed these acts as victories for fair competition and consumer protection, Conservatives and business leaders feared the increasing power of the federal government in private industry regulation.