Sterne, Simon, 1839-1901

Simon Sterne was a United States lawyer and economist. He was particularly known for his work in the areas of real estate and constitutional law. A vocal advocate for the reform of municipal government, he was elected secretary of the Committee of Seventy in 1870. In 1876 he was appointed by Governor Samuel J. Tilden to a commission to devise a plan for the government of cities, and in 1879, as counsel for the New York Board of Trade and Transportation, he spearheaded an investigation into abuses in railroad management. This resulted in the creation of a board of railroad commissioners for the state of New York. Later in his career, Sterne was involved in the establishment of the Interstate Commerce Commission. In 1885, President Cleveland appointed him to examine and report on the relations between the railroads and the governments of western Europe.

From the guide to the Simon Sterne papers, 1861-1901, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)