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