Your TR Source
President Roosevelt asks Commissioner of Labor Neill what he thinks of the enclosed for his message. He asks what Neill thinks he should say about labor and wonders if they should consult Moseley on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt wants Commissioner of Labor Neill to report to him the specific charges made on the second page of Charles Stedman Hank’s letter so he can determine if Henry C. Adams has done anything “wrong in form or anything that is wrong in substance”. Roosevelt would also like to know the actions taken by the Interstate Commerce Commission if there has been any wrongdoing. He would like Neill’s report to inform him if any offenses discovered are trivial or serious in nature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-15
Following the death of a worker on Washington, D.C. infrastructure, President Roosevelt charges Commissioner of Labor Neill with beginning an investigation into the building inspection department. Roosevelt describes his authority for charging a federally appointed employee with this investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-10
President Roosevelt is pleased to hear of the proposed cooperation between the Labor Bureau and the National Conservation Commission, and advises Bureau of Labor Commissioner Neill that whoever is assigned to work on this collaboration should be relieved of any other duties so that they can focus on the task at hand.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-02
President Roosevelt quotes an excerpt from the English Fortnightly Review which praises the quality of men in his administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-23
President Roosevelt appoints Commissioner of Labor Neill to the Dillingham Commission in accordance with the passing of the Immigration Act of 1907.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-01
President Roosevelt thanks Commissioner of Labor Neill for his recent report on the enforcement of the eight-hour law, and remarks that he is concerned by some of Neill’s findings. Roosevelt declares that he is “bound to see that this law is absolutely enforced,” and “will go to any requisite length in order to secure its proper enforcement.” He asks Neill to continue to work on the issue, and to draw up several orders to help ensure the law is enforced within governmental departments. Roosevelt also wishes to act against district attorneys who are lax in enforcing the law, and asks for the names of any officials Neill knows of who fall into this category.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-21
President Roosevelt asks Commissioner of Labor Neill to discuss the letter and pamphlets from Richard Lloyd George with Commissioner of Immigration Frank P. Sargent and Frances Kellor. Roosevelt feels that Jones is trying to deal with the same problems that Neill will have to consider in his report on immigration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-12
President Roosevelt directs Commissioner of Labor Neill to cooperate with Commissioner-General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent in order to conduct a thorough investigation of immigration. While investigations abroad will necessarily be done by the Bureau of Immigration through its agents, Roosevelt wishes for the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Labor to cooperate closely in the domestic investigation. He directs them to “carefully avoid all unnecessary publicity,” and to “consider it a confidential investigation for my use.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt asks Commissioner of Labor Neill to inspect the beef-packing buildings of Chicago on January 1, 1907, and report to him on the differences in conditions there compared to his recent inspection.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt has received some interesting reports from the Dairy and Food Department of Pennsylvania and asks Commissioner of Labor Neill to go over them with James Bronson Reynolds and report to him on them by Friday morning. Roosevelt will ask the Dairy and Food Commissioner of Pennsylvania, Benjamin H. Warren, to come to Washington, D.C., to see himself and Neill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-29
President Roosevelt would like to speak with Commissioner of Labor Neill about his report on stockyards and meat packing once Neill and James Bronson Reynolds have gotten it in suitable shape. He would also like to discuss the report with Neill and representatives of the Department of Agriculture. Roosevelt believes the matter should not be acted on hastily, as it will have far-reaching effects.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-23
President Roosevelt asks Commissioner of Labor Neill to consider some papers he recently received from the Department of Agriculture and tells him that he would like to see him and James Bronson Reynolds soon to discuss the matter. Enclosed in the letter are a draft of a bill regarding the inspection of meat as well as proposed changes to the bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-04
President Roosevelt asks Commissioner of Labor Neill if he has seen the specific statements that Upton Sinclair made in a recent article in Everybody’s Magazine, and requests that he investigate them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-27
President Roosevelt sends Commissioner of Labor Neill a second report from the Department of Agriculture on the packing town matter, and says that it is more satisfactory than the first report. Roosevelt asks Neill to consider the report in connection with his own investigations and report to him on it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-16
President Roosevelt sends Commissioner Neill of the Department of Commerce of Labor a self-explanatory letter from he received from Upton Sinclair, and instructs him to report about the condition of workers, as well as diseased meats.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-09
President Roosevelt asks Commissioner of Labor Neill to review a report to see whether it fulfills Roosevelt’s requirements, and asks about how the report is formatted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-06
John Hays Hammond, President of the National League of Republican Clubs, sends Commissioner of Labor Neill “hot campaign stuff” and suggests that he discuss with President Roosevelt how best to make it public. The information confirms William H. Taft’s position about securing the rights of laborers through the courts, and shows his interest in the welfare of workers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-16