August 22, 1967
Page 23524
DEATH OF EDWARD C. MORAN, JR., OF ROCKLAND, MAINE
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, it is a rare man who can leave his mark on the public affairs of his community, his State, and the Nation. Such a man was Mr. Edward C. Moran, Jr., of Rockland, Maine, who died last month at 72.
Mr. Moran was admired and respected for many achievements – as the father of the Rockland city manager-council charter and as a council chairman, as a U.S. Congressman and author of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as a U.S. Maritime Commissioner, as an Assistant Secretary of Labor assigned to reorganizing the Department, as an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of his State, and as director of the Maine Office of Price Stabilization.
These are important contributions, but what I admired most about Carl Moran was his courage in being an active Democrat in Maine at a time when the party could hope for few victories at the polls. His successes in the public interest were highly significant in the development of Maine as a two-party State. Maine people of every political pursuasion have benefited from the revival of political competition, which he helped ignite.
His achievements as a Democrat in a Republican State suggest a man of deep conviction and great energy and optimism. That was Carl Moran. All who knew him or worked with him appreciated his drive. His spirit was contagious. We all took courage from his example and we benefited from his wisdom and experience.
The Nation lost an outstanding citizen, and Maine a favorite son with the passing of Carl Moran. I ask unanimous consent that his obituaries published in the Rockland Courier-Gazette and the Portland Press Herald be printed fn the RECORD.
There being no objection, the articles were ordered to be printed in the REcoRD, as follows:
[From the Portland (Maine) Press Herald, July 13, I967]
EDWARD C. MORAN, JR., 72, "MR. DEMOCRAT" IN 1930'S, DIES
ROCKLAND. – Edward Carl Moran, Jr., 72, Maine's "Mr. Democrat" during the New Deal era, died unexpectedly Wednesday morning at his home. He headed E. C. Moran Co. Inc., an insuuance agency founded by his father in 1896.
Moran's political star first appeared on the Maine horizon in 1928 when in a stirring speech at a Democratic convention, he united the badly split party elders behind the presidential candidacy of the "Happy Warrior," Alfred E. Smith.
A lifelong resident of Rockland, Moran made two unsuccessful bids for the governorship against William Tudor Gardner in 1928 and 1930. In 1932 he won the first of two terms in the US. House of Representatives from the old Second District in the Democratic landslide which swept Louis J. Braun into the governor's chair.
A pronounced liberal, he supported all of President Roosevelt's policies except he voted
for the soldier's bonus bill and against a resolution authorizing negotiation of reciprocal trade treaties by the president.
In his first term in Congress, Moran served on the House Committees on Accounts, Merchant Marine, Radio and Fisheries and World War Veterans. In his second term he was named to the powerful Appropriations Committee.
While serving on the Appropriations Committee he became interested in the Merchant Marine and was anxious to see improvements in quarters for ships' crews, more economical overhaul programs and a more modern maintenance program.
As a result he wrote the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 still in operation today. President Roosevelt appointed him to the United States Maritime Commission in 1937 when Joseph P. Kennedy, father of the late President John F. Kennedy, was chairman.
Moran returned to Rockland in 1940 to run the family insurance business when his father died unexpectedly.
He maintained his interest in government however and in 1942 was named Maine state director of the Office of Price Administration which controlled the state's 60 ration boards.
He was called to Washington in 1945 for a "two months" job of reorganizing the Department of Labor. The job took six months during which time he was appointed an Assistant Secretary of Labor. He sat in on every Cabinet meeting and was asked by President Harry S. Truman to remain at his post. He resigned when the reorganization was completed.
Moran was also the father of the Rockland city manager-council charter approved April 19, 1946. It was selected as a "model charter for the United States" by the National Municipal League. He served on the council and as its chairman under the new charter.
The Rockland insurance man felt strongly the Maine Governor's Council was outmoded and should be eliminated. He wanted to see the Governor as an "executive officer" rather than "a ribbon cutter."
Democratic Governor Edmund S. Muskie named Moran to a committee of 25 to study state government but its recommendations weren't adopted by the Legislature.
Moran was born here Dec. 29, 1894, son of Edward Carl Sr. and Susan Bunker Moran. He was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1917 where he majored in history and government and was an assistant in the History Department. He was captain of the debating team two years.
Following graduation he enlisted in the Army and served overseas. He rose from private to first lieutenant by the time he was released in March 1919 when he returned to join his father in the insurance business.
He was a member and past commander of Window-Holbrook-Merritt Post American Legion in Rockland.
Surviving besides his wife, Irene Gushee Moran are a son, Paul W. of Rockland and sister, Mrs. Phyllis M. True of Brunswick; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the congregational church, the Rev. Charles R. Monteith officiating. Interment will be in Achorn Cemetery.
[From the Rockland (Maine) CourierGazette, July 13, 1967]
FORMER CONGRESSMAN, VETERAN BUSINESSMAN CARL MORAN DIES
A two-term Congressman, father of Rockland's council-manager form of government, and a Rockland businessman for nearly 50 years is dead. E. Carl Moran, 72, died at his 73 Beach Street home Wednesday morning. He succeeded his father as head of the E. C. Moran Insurance Company, and had been active in the business until his death.
Born in Rockland, Dec. 29, 1894, he was the son of Edward Carlton and Susan Bunker Moran. His father not only was the founder of the insurance business but he served as Rockland postmaster and died in office May 28, 1940.
A graduate of Rockland High School in 1913, Mr. Moran received an A. B. Degree from Bowdoin College in 1917. He served 27 months in the artillery in World War One and was discharged as a first lieutenant.
He became president of the insurance firm on his return from military service in 1919. He was senior past commander of the Winslow-Holbrook-Meritt Post, American Legion, serving as head of the state's first Legion post in 1920.
An active Democrat, he was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1928 and 1930 and was elected to the 73rd Congress from the Second Maine District in 1932. He served in the 73d and the 74th Congresses.
On the completion of his second term in 1937, he was appointed to the U. S. Maritime Commission and served in that capacity for three years. During World War Two, he was Maine director of the Office of Price Administration. In 1945, his last federal post found him appointed Assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor.
Mr. Moran returned from Washington to play as active part in developing a more modern form of government for Rockland and was chairman of the city council when the new council-manager form of a government went into effect.
He has been known as the father of the present Rockland City Charter. In addition, he was responsible for a complete revision of the city ordinances in 1946.
In 1956, Mr. Moran was named by Gov. Edmund Muskie to serve on a committee to study the Public Administration Service survey of state government. Some 25 years prior, Gov. Tudor Gardner had named Moran to a similar study committee.
In 1942 he published the book "Bunker Family Genealogy" and 20 years later published a second volume on the Bunker family. Researching his mother's side of the family had been a hobby his entire lifetime.
He was a member of the Rockland Congregational Church.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Irene Gusbee Moran; a son, Paul W. Moran of Rockland; a sister, Mrs. Phyllis True of Brunswick; and two grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Burpee Funeral Home.