Payne, Henry C. (Henry Clay), 1843-1904

President Roosevelt finds Charles J. Bonaparte’s and Holmes Conrad’s report on the charges against Seymour Wilcox Tulloch to be damaging. It shows that the practices under Perry S. Heath, the First Assistant Postmaster General, were “reprehensible.” Roosevelt calls Postmaster General Payne’s attention to the report’s conclusions which state that the conditions have existed for two or three years. Joseph L. Bristow’s inspectors should be able to state definitely what has been going on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt advises that an unnamed postmaster be reprimanded for his comments regarding Congressman Hildebrand (probably Charles Quinn Hildebrant) and requests an investigation into the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks if it would be safe to give a denial of a New York Sun story about the “scandalous mock celebration of the Fourth in the Department.” An Assistant Postmaster General should investigate the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt would like Oliver E. Pagan to be thanked for his admirable work and requests several different memoranda from Assistant Postmaster Bristow to go along with his report. “All possible diligence” should be used to collect the information on Perry S. Heath’s case so that it can be submitted to Charles J. Bonaparte and Holmes Conrad.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt would like the report on Assistant Postmaster Bristow’s investigation submitted to Charles J. Bonaparte and Holmes Conrad so that their opinions can be taken on further avenues of investigation. Roosevelt has been pleased with the “evident thoroughness of the investigation thus far.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

At the direction of President Roosevelt, Benjamin F. Barnes forwards to Postmaster General Payne a letter from George E. Green.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-15

Creator(s)

Barnes, Benjamin F., 1868-1909

President Roosevelt instructs Postmaster General Payne to remove John W. Pettit but advises that no action should be taken regarding S. Davies Warfield until further notice. Secretary of Commerce and Labor George B. Cortelyou should be consulted on the situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt’s opinion has changed after viewing the papers in the Warfield case. Roosevelt would like Postmaster General Payne and Charles Henry Robb to interview Warfield, explain the gravity of the offense, and see if Warfield has anything to say.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Before proceeding against Mr. Warfield, Postmaster General Payne should be certain of the facts about the Washington postmaster. President Roosevelt asks if the cases have been “minutely compared.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William Loeb forwards a telegram from John N. Parsons of the National Association of Letter Carriers for Postmaster General Payne’s attention. Parsons appeals for a leave of absence for members to attend the convention of letter carriers at Syracuse.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-29

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

President Roosevelt wants the postal investigation to be thorough, complete, and closed as soon as possible. He encloses documents related to a Delaware Post Office matter where a senator wants a fourth class postmistress removed because she is “personally obnoxious to the senator.” Roosevelt would rather upset a senator than make it appear that the administration is using the post office for machine politics. Henry C. Payne is facing a newspaper attack relating to his business interests colliding with Post Office interests. President Roosevelt encourages him to simply state the facts of the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt feels strongly that the postmistress in Delaware should be reinstated. It is a particularly poor time for the Post Office Department to be seen as a political tool. If any politician demands anything of the Department that is not “exactly square,” they must be turned down. Roosevelt understands the desirability of maintaining good relations with senators and congressmen, but a federal employee being “personally obnoxious” is not sufficient grounds for dismissal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-08

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Recipient

Payne, Henry C. (Henry Clay), 1843-1904

Language

Shorthand

Due to a dispute among Colorado Republicans, President Roosevelt asks Postmaster General Payne not to make any more appointments until after the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt fowards to Postmaster General Payne information on Mr. Robinson’s record. Roosevelt believes that Robinson would be a good replacement for James N. Tyner, Assistant Attorney to the Post Office Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Postmaster General Payne that he is glad James N. Tyner was removed. Mrs. Tyner’s actions show that their clemency was misplaced. George A. C. Christiancy, Tyner’s assistant, should not be promoted as the entire office seems to be in bad shape.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has received Henry C. Payne’s first rate letter and is pleased with Payne’s statement. Roosevelt requests that Payne wait on the Machen decision until it can be discussed at their meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt agrees with the removal of August W. Machen and is not concerned with newspaper criticism. Roosevelt and Postmaster General Payne are not responsible for the post office corruption, but it was discovered on their watch and they will remove it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt will discuss postal matters with Postmaster General Payne upon his return and advises against releasing any more statements. Roosevelt regrets Senator Hanna’s action at the Ohio Convention. If Hanna supports Roosevelt “there could be no possible objection to his saying so.” The trip has been great, but Roosevelt is anxious to have his “hands on the levers once more.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt feels that the actions of Senators Spooner and Quarles may have jeopardized the national ticket. There cannot be any perception that post office employees are working for either side in Wisconsin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919