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Wadsworth, James Wolcott, 1846-1926

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Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

President Roosevelt has gone over Representative Wadsworth’s bill closely, and believes that it is a poor substitute for the presently existing bill. Roosevelt believes Wadsworth’s amendment, as written, “is framed so as to minimize the chance of rooting out the evil in the packing business.” While this may be attractive to the meat packing business in the short term, Roosevelt believes it would be extremely harmful in the long run, and would hamper the Secretary of Agriculture’s work. While Roosevelt admits that he may sign the bill if it is passed, as it is a slight improvement on existing conditions, he would only do so with an accompanying memorandum stating the defects of the bill. Passing the bill in the form Wadsworth suggests would harm both external and external trade.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

President Roosevelt acknowledges the statement he made which he was in error about there being no provision to make the meat packing plants accessible to inspectors at any hour, but comments that while a similar provision was put in, it was not as good as the original one. He explains his objections to further provisions of the bill, especially the one involving courts, which he believes shows “a deliberate purpose to interfere with effective administration,” as it would require a judge to back up any declarations of the Secretary of Agriculture. Roosevelt has spoken with Representative Henry Cullen Adams recently, who has agreed that the changes that Roosevelt and other members of the Executive Department recommended should be made. Roosevelt emphasizes to Representative Wadsworth that his aim is to allow “a thorough and rigid, and not a sham, inspection,” which the current amendment does not allow for.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

President Roosevelt sends Congressman Wadsworth the reports of an inspection made by a committee appointed by the Department of Agriculture into conditions at meat packinghouses. Prior to the completion of these inspections, Roosevelt ordered a similar investigation be made by Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill and James Bronson Reynolds. Their report is not yet concluded and contains some details not touched upon by the Department of Agriculture’s reports, but there is no significant disagreement in the two studies. Roosevelt believes that the simple fact of investigations into conditions at the packinghouses has already produced beneficial changes, and provides the text of a letter attesting to this. In order to continue this improvement of conditions, Roosevelt calls for “immediate, thoroughgoing and radical enlargement of the powers of the Government in inspecting all meats which enter into interstate and foreign commerce.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

President Roosevelt wishes to speak to Representative Wadsworth about the amendment to the agricultural bill giving effective inspection and control over the meat packing industry, as he believes the situation must be immediately remedied. Roosevelt has determined to withhold the damning report he received as long as he gets the legislation allowing government oversight over the industry because he fears the economic effects it may have, but he will do so if he is unable to secure the means to solve the problem. Roosevelt believes passing the amendment will be good for both people raising cattle and the beef-packers themselves.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

President Roosevelt tells Representative Wadsworth that since they last spoke, he has seen reports from the Dairy and Food Commissioner of Pennsylvania Benjamin H. Warren that bear out the report of Charles Patrick Neill and James Bronson Reynolds. Roosevelt emphasizes his hope that the Beveridge bill will be passed in its current form. He feels justified in not yet making the matter public, as the investigations are still ongoing, but this is contingent on legislation being passed to ensure the betterment of conditions. Roosevelt makes suggestions on how to potentially organize a Bureau of Animal Industry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

President Roosevelt has spoken to a number of people regarding the amendments Representative Wadsworth proposed to the Beveridge amendment, and after careful consideration believes each change to individually be for the worse, and collectively to be ruinous to the bill. Given that it seems unlikely for common ground to be found on the, Roosevelt now feels that he must release the reports detailing the conditions in the beef-packing industry in order to drive meaningful legislation and effect change.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

President Roosevelt sends Representative Wadsworth the report of the Committee on Department Methods, also known as the Keep Commission, dealing with several matters involving the Department of Agriculture. Judging by a recent speech of Wadsworth’s, Roosevelt believes he has seen the report already but sends it nevertheless in case there are further actions Wadsworth believes Roosevelt should take.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919