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President Roosevelt disagrees with William E. Chandler’s idea of “conservatism of naval expenditures” if it means building fewer battleships or otherwise stalling the “policy of upbuilding the navy.” He feels doing so might cost the nation a period of lack of preparedness and, eventually, humiliation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-02
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Westminster S. Abbey that the Department of the Navy would need an appropriation to purchase the suggested chain. Roosevelt informs Abbey that he would have to introduce a bill to Congress for the appropriation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-02
Senator Lodge wants to do all he can to save the battleship legislation and thanks Theodore Roosevelt for writing to Senator Clapp. He is angered by the publication of a private letter by Maria Longworth Storer from Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-01
Senator Lodge is working to secure Senator Clapps’s support for the battleship legislation. As a member of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs, Clapp’s support could be very beneficial.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-27
Senator Lodge requests Theodore Roosevelt’s help with passing legislation that will fund new battleships. The Senate has had a very successful session. Three important measures have passed; the ending of the white phosphorus match industry, an improved immigration bill, and a workmen’s compensation act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-10
Edward E. Higgins believes that President Roosevelt should veto the Naval Appropriations Bill in its entirety if Congress does not provide funding for four battleships. He provides his rationale for this opinion and has spoken about it with Senator Jonathan Bourne of Oregon who, while initially dismissing the veto as an option, now approves of it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-24
Secretary of War Taft submits a statement by General Arthur Murray regarding the deficiencies in the monies appropriated for the completion of defenses in the Pacific and on the Pacific Coast. All bureau chiefs agree that the present appropriations must be increased, and the Appropriation Committee’s assertion that the naval committee is not making proper provisions for dredging Pearl Harbor is not enough of a reason to delay the funds. Taft recommends that increased appropriations be added in amendments to the bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-30
Albert L. Key cites different recommendations President Roosevelt and his administration have made over the years regarding organization of the Navy and Navy Department. In spite of the recommendations, Congress and the naval committees have not acted on them. Rather, they seem more concerned with appropriations. Key asks Roosevelt to push the issue of new legislation in a special message to Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-25
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry explains in detail to Senator Hale of Maine how expenditures for current repairs to the U.S.S. Oregon and Massachusetts, as well as planned naval maneuvers in August and September, violate neither “the letter or the spirit of the existing law.” Newberry will call Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf’s attention to Hale’s concerns on his return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-30
Representative Calder from New York expresses to President Roosevelt his anxiety over the layoffs of men employed by the Brooklyn Navy Yard which lies in his Congressional District. He fears that the timing of the layoffs will harm Calder’s re-election chances and reminds Roosevelt that his opponent, Robert Baker, is anti-war and voted against the Naval Appropriation bill when previously in Congress. Calder also updates Roosevelt on the election prospects in Kings County, New York, for Charles Evans Hughes, the Republican candidate for governor running against William Randolph Hearst.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-17
Secretary of War William H. Taft relays to President Roosevelt his view that the Cuban government should pay for the construction and maintenance of quarters for the United States Army’s stay in Cuba during the occupation. However, Army officers’ salaries should not be taken from the Cuban treasury. Taft hopes that United States Comptroller of the Currency William Barret Ridgely will agree that U.S. funds can be expended so that construction can begin immediately and then the Cuban treasury can reimburse the expense. Both Army Chief of Staff General James Franklin Bell and newly named Provisional Governor of Cuba Charles Edward Magoon concur with Taft’s view.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-10
Admiral George Dewey sends to Secretary Charles J. Bonaparte a report of United States Navy resources and recommendations from the General Board for the coming year. Dewey feels that, for the foreseeable future, the Navy must continue laying down two battleships per year, and he provides comparisons of the ships both in use and under construction of the principal powers: England, France, Germany, and Japan. In conclusion, he outlines the desired tactical qualities of each type of ship discussed in the report, which includes battleships, scouts, motor ship’s torpedo boats, Helena-type gunboats, small Philippines gunboats, shallow draft river gunboats, and ammunition vessels.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-02
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on several matters. The Court of Enquiry’s findings exculpate Admiral Robley D. Evans, though Admiral George Albert Converse hints that Evans’s rapid signals may have contributed to the collision. Bonaparte will scrutinize the matter carefully. He encloses a report from the commander of the Portsmouth, and though the New Jersey militiamen performed no “great feat,” he suggests sending praise anyway because naval officers are “decidedly ‘sniffy'” toward them. Bonaparte has received many favorable letters about anarchism, but the occasional unfavorable ones amuse him and he has enclosed one such letter. He feels that the Navy faces an uphill battle meeting its needs due to the clashing views of those on the deciding committees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-19
Secretary of War Taft sends to President Roosevelt a copy of a memorandum from General Fred C. Ainsworth. Taft advises allowing the troops at Boise, Idaho, to stay, and to expend the money mentioned for temporary stabling.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-14
Representative Sherman is organizing other representatives to remove two battleships from an unspecified “Naval Bill.” Representative Dayton feels Sherman should be encouraged to refrain from doing so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-16
Secretary of War Taft has received numerous reports that have led him to conclude it is necessary to ask Congress for authority to increase the Army by 5,000 enlisted personnel and to bolster the artillery.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-08
Senator Lodge telephoned to report that he succeeded in heading off an amendment reducing the appropriations for battleships. The amendment to the naval appropriations bill failed 30 to 45.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-17
Draft of a letter President Roosevelt will send, appointing members to a commission to study the organization and efficiency of the Department of the Navy. Roosevelt’s goals for the commission include examining laws governing the Navy, divisions of responsibility, the possibility of consolidating bureaus within the department, providing military advisors to the Secretary of the Navy, ensuring accountability for appropriations, and how to ensure the Navy is militarily ready to prepare for and conduct war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-13
List of military appropriations for the years 1903-1904.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-03
Senator Cockrell tells President Roosevelt that he sees no opposition in the Senate to the War College appropriation of $300,000. (Though Cockrell named the War College, this was the appropriation for the Naval Academy that year. The Naval War College appropriation was only $8,125.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-13