Memorandum

Fred W. Carpenter, private secretary under the direction of Secretary of War William H. Taft, instructs Theodore P. Shonts, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, to relay a telegram to Chief Engineer John F. Stevens that his telegram was received.  Carpenter informs Stevens that he will be made Chairmen of the Isthmian Commission on March 5th and “will exercise the supreme control” that the position entitles to him.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-28

Secretary of War Taft requests Commissioner Shonts forward the following dispatch from President Roosevelt to Chief Engineer John F. Stevens. After serious review, Taft asks Shonts whether to accept a bid for the construction of the Panama Canal under the present contract or to reject all bids entirely. Taft cites that the two most desirable bids, McArthur Syndicate then William J. Oliver and Anson M. Bangs fit all the requirements with exception to “the least expense of the Government.” Taft informs Shonts of the resignation of Stevens, Chief Engineer of the project, and solicits to have him replaced with Major George W. Goethals. In the meantime, Taft requests that the Commission reject the two bids aforementioned. In a typed postscript, Taft informs Stevens that Goethals will replace him as Chief Engineer and Chairman of the Commission. Roosevelt expects him to use every attempt to assists Goethals with “as little friction and as little loss of efficiency” as possible.

John E. Wilkie relays the contents of a cable from Secret Service Agent Taylor in Honolulu. The cable details a meeting of the Hotel Keepers Association, which opposes the new immigration law. Japanese workers are agitated, but the meeting was a “comparatively insignificant affair.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-18

A memorandum describing a telephone conversation between President Roosevelt and Representative Jenkins. Representative Jenkins wishes to know Roosevelt’s wishes regarding the bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-14

Six names are suggested for the new judgeship in the Southern District of Ohio. Two of the men named have withdrawn as candidates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-04

Brigadier General Murray contests several statements made by Mr. Archibald regarding the incompleteness of the fixed defenses of the Pacific Coast harbors. Murray assures Chief of Staff Bell that the mines used in the coastal defense system are controlled from shore and are harmless to friendly vessels. Murray also notes that submarines are promising war vessels but they have not yet proven to be valuable and, therefore, Mr. Archibald’s suggestion to adopt submarines for the defenses of the harbors is “preposterous.” Murray does believe, however, that submarines possess decided merit for uses supplemental to fixed defenses in harbors where mines cannot be used.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01

Senator Dillingham of Vermont knows of no one who opposes the confirmation of Oscar R. Hundley except Senator Edmund Pettus of Alabama, whom Dillingham believes holds a personal grudge against Hundley.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-24

The nomination of Oscar Hundley to the United States District Court of the Northern District of Alabama is now in the hands of a sub-committee. There is some opposition to the confirmation of Hundley because of his advocacy for an amendment to the Constitution “providing that moneys collected by white taxpayers should be used in the education of white children only, and that moneys collected from the colored people should be used for the colored schools.” This would have resulted in “colored children” being thrown out of school, as “the amount of taxes collected from colored people is very small.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-24

Senator Robert M. La Follette has met with Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp and discussed their disagreements over a bill concerning Choctaw and Chickasaw coal lands. La Follette may support Leupp’s provisions, but he feels that the bill, leaving out any reference to the Choctaw and Chickasaw lands, should be introduced today.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-22

Captain Mahan forwards lists of “Medical and Pay Department stores” sent to Kingston, Jamaica, which were not returned. The enclosed lists include sugar, butter, and other food stuffs, as well as muslin, chloroform, and boric acid.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-21

Corps of Engineers Lieutenant Colonel Leach summarizes James F. J. Archibald’s letter to President Roosevelt regarding the weak defense of the Hawaiian Islands. In general, the Pacific Ocean is very poorly defended and should be considered a vulnerability. Leach discuses the logistics of introducing submarine weapons into naval defenses and previous attempts to acquire such weapons. While Leach concedes that Hawaii is lacking in defense, he strongly disagrees with the position that the Pacific Ocean is vulnerable and proves this by listing the local forts and their weaponized capacity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-21

This memo urges naval officers and midshipmen to contact their senators, congressmen, and any other influential people they know and express their support of the Navy Personnel Bill, which, the memo states, would “add to the efficiency of the personnel” and “save the country nearly a million dollars each year as compared with existing law.” The memo also quotes a Special Order issued by the Navy Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-27

Lieutenant Commander Preston informs Captain Pendleton that work has been stopped on the Hamburg-American Steamer Princessen Victoria Luise and the wreck abandoned. The Prinz Waldemar is being discharged and it is expected that she will be saved.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Captain Mahan reports to Rear Admiral Davis the extraordinary work of Navy men in responding to the earthquake crisis in Kingston, Jamaica. Mahan names individual sailors who have performed remarkably well in the dangerous conditions. They commanded the work done on shore, quelled a mutiny at the penitentiary, and repaired the Plumb Point Lighthouse.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Captain Mahan updates Rear Admiral Davis on the work done by sailors on Friday, January 18, in Kingston, Jamaica, following a devastating earthquake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Attorney General Bonaparte relays to President Roosevelt the language of the immigration law enabling the President to prevent the Japanese government from issuing passports for immigrants to the continental United States who first travel through other countries or United States territories and the draft executive order. Bonaparte suggests changes to the order to make it conform with the immigration law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-14

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt would like to get a photograph of Mary Ledwith, called Mame. She does not want Mame to know about it, but the first time a good photographer comes to the White House, she will arrange for the photograph.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Lieutenant Gilmer of the USS Missouri provides a detailed description of the United States naval response to the January 14, 1907, earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica. Gilmer explains that the Navy landed in Kingston on January 17, setting up a hospital, landing forces, and providing aid. Gilmer describes the destruction of the city both from the earthquake and the subsequent looting and the various dead victims he sees and living victims he interacts with. After the governor of Jamaica asked the Navy to leave the island, Gilmer interacts with many who request that the Navy stay and insist they are badly needed. The Navy withdraws on January 19, back to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Warrant Machinist Grant reports that he and others were removing damaged structures and reinforcing existing structures following the devastating earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica. He also reports that he helped in handling the sick and wounded at Winchester Park Hospital.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Assistant Surgeon May recounts the medical treatment he and other Navy sailors dispensed in responding to the earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18