Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Alaska, Bierd, William Grant, 1864-1944, California--San Francisco, Canal construction workers, Civil engineers, Employees--Housing, Employees--Wages, Goethals, George W. (George Washington), 1858-1928, Illinois--Chicago, International Brotherhood of Steam Shovel and Dredge Men, Isthmian Canal Commission (U.S.), Locomotive engineers--Labor unions, Locomotive firemen, Louisiana--New Orleans, Mobile crane operators, New York (State)--New York, Overtime--Law and legislation--U.S. states, Panama, Panama Railroad Steamship Line, Panama--Isthmus of Panama, Railroad conductors, Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943, Wages and labor productivity, Yellow fever
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Secretary of War Taft reports to President Roosevelt on labor negotiations with railroad employees working on the Panama Canal and isthmian railroad, touching on topics including pay schedules, sick pay, and overtime compensation. Taft recommends keeping the compensation and benefits package with which the workers were first recruited, but disagrees with some of their newer demands. Conditions are improving at the canal, including better living quarters, a lower rate of disease among workers, increased amusement options, and travel to the United States becoming easier. Taft attaches an account of the relevant hearings with labor and committee men.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-04-07
Creator(s)
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
17
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt. [April 7, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o25839. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930. Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt. [7 Apr. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o25839.
APA:
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930., [1907, April 7]. Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o25839.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
