Your TR Source
President Roosevelt enjoyed George Franklin Spinney’s letter which made him laugh and brought back memories. He then recounts to Spinney how Senator Joseph Benson Foraker “ate crow” over having to side with Roosevelt on an amendment therefore humiliating himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-22
President Roosevelt tells Representative Payne, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, that he agrees with the position taken by Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson in passing a new law amending the most recently enacted law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-15
President Roosevelt tells Senator Aldrich that he has forwarded correspondence to Representative Sereno Elisha Payne about the recently enacted law ‘relating to the fortification of pure sweet wines.’ Roosevelt agrees with the position taken by Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and hopes a new law can be passed that is aligned with his views.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-15
President Roosevelt shows Uncle Sam a “quilting bee in aid of the suffering public.” Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Wisconsin Senator John C. Spooner, Iowa Senator William B. Allison, and Texas Senator Joseph W. Bailey sit at a table stitching amendments on a “rate bill” quilt. Spanish Treaty Claims Commissioner William E. Chandler looks through a window and holds a paper that reads, “I’m no liar.” There is a portrait of George Washington on the wall.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-15
Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich and Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox sit on top of a “Senate” dome, trapping President Roosevelt underneath with an “Allison amendment” and “the big stick.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-14
President Roosevelt uses “the big stick” with a “White House amendment to R.R. rates bill” tag to poke a “Senate” beehive. A number of bees swarm out and sting Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-05
A number of men are in a “railroad rate bill” train car, including President Roosevelt, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, West Virginia Senator Stephen B. Elkins, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Iowa Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver, Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox, Texas Senator Joseph W. Bailey, Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, and Wisconsin Senator John C. Spooner. Some of them hold “amendment” cards. Caption: Engineer Roosevelt—”Who’s running this train, anyhow?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-24
President Roosevelt and South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman go fishing in a “senatorial pool.” At the bottom of the pool is “the railroad rate bill” turtle, a “Philippine tariff bill” alligator, a “statehood bill” frog, and a “Santo Domingo” fish. On the ledge are two crayfish by a “bait amendments” can.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-25
Manuscript of an amendment intended to be proposed by Senator Allison to H.R. 12987 to amend “An Act to regulate commerce” and to enlarge the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-11
President Roosevelt encloses a letter he sent to Representative De Alva Standwood Alexander. He asks Senator Clark if the amendments could be added to the bill, as it is useless as it currently stands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-19
President Roosevelt sends Representative Burton the text of an amendment for the Snake River project submitted by Representative Wesley Livsey Jones and Senator Samuel H. Piles. The amendment grants the Secretary of War oversight and authority in the construction, administration, and management of the Benton Water Company and the dam that will be constructed on the Snake River. Roosevelt believes the bill can pass with this amendment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-02
President Roosevelt encloses the New York Board of Trade and Transportation’s protest, which is largely aimed at the Hepburn bill. The main complaints are about legalizing boycotts and blacklists. Roosevelt would favor a modification to the law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-14
President Roosevelt congratulates Senator Hansbrough on the success of the denatured alcohol amendment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-01
President Roosevelt has heard from Edward A. Moseley, of the Interstate Commerce Commission, that although the bill is “a sloppy piece of legislation,” it will accomplish what it sets out to. Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte disagrees, and Roosevelt is planning to meet with him tomorrow. He asks Representative Jenkins to ensure the bill’s passage, should the present one be the best currently possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-18
President Roosevelt approves of George P. McCabe’s work on a legislative amendment. He mentions a concern that Senator Albert J. Beveridge has regarding “full and free entry to the packing-houses” not being guaranteed, and asks McCabe’s opinion on the matter. If McCabe agrees that there may be such a loophole, he asks him to send an amendment to Representative Henry Cullen Adams, as it would be better to close any loopholes now. Roosevelt additionally asks McCabe to discuss the matter directly with Beveridge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16
President Roosevelt slightly prefers the wording of Senator Beveridge’s amendment to the one presented by the House, but does not think the difference is vital. Roosevelt recently spoke with Representative Henry Cullen Adams of Wisconsin regarding the majority report, and he accepted most of the amendments proposed on the bill. Roosevelt reiterates that he is not concerned with the way these amendments are phrased, but is concerned rather with the results obtained. He especially wants to avoid getting bogged down in arguments about minutia, as was the case of a statehood bill several years ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-15
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-14
While President Roosevelt feels it may be better that the packers pay, he does not consider it vital, and certainly not at the cost of losing the amendment. He tells Senator Beveridge that he cannot attend the farmers’ dinner because going to one would oblige him to attend many others. He has written to Secretary of State Elihu Root to see if he can do anything for Hannah.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-29
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-26