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Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

George von Lengerke Meyer writes to President Roosevelt about troubles in Russia, including the mutiny of the battleship Potemkin and marines in Libau who rebelled. Meyer notes that as soon as Czar Nicholas II of Russia makes a move in the right direction he is countered with obstacles in the press or in bureaucracy. He is “surrounded by men who are not in sympathy with needed reform.” Meyer feels education, freedom of the press, and a representative government will raise standards for citizenship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-01

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to John Hay

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to John Hay

Ambassador Meyer writes to Secretary of State Hay concerning a translated article from the Russian newspaper “Novoe Vremya”. Meyer remarks that write ups in this newspaper have been tinged with negativity against the United States, and the newspaper has taken a neutral standpoint concerning Roosevelt’s efforts. Meyer then makes mention of President Roosevelt’s invitation for sending plenipotentiaries and plans for an armistice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-21

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

Report upon the organization of the Department of the Interior

Report upon the organization of the Department of the Interior

Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Keep, Comptroller of Currency Murray, and Chief Forester Pinchot provide President Roosevelt with a detailed report of the organization and operations of the Department of the Interior. The report highlights “grave defects” in the structure of the Department such as redundant job functions, an “abuse of letter writing” that impedes public business, and rampant inefficiency. The report recommends the dissolution of several divisions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-22

Creator(s)

Keep, Charles Hallam, 1861-1941; Murray, Lawrence O., 1864-1926; Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William A. Richards

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William A. Richards

President Roosevelt is frustrated with the bureaucracy that has been slowing down the distribution of funds to the Sierra Forest Reserve for supplies. He insists that Commissioner Richards make sure the money arrives “by the middle of May, not by the middle of November, when all chance of using it will have gone.” He also asks Richards to “stir up Newhall on the cattle question,” and make the cattle owners conform to regulations whether they like them or not. Finally, Roosevelt explains that he will not appoint “any supervisors who are not A1 men,” and asks if local rangers can be given more power to make decisions without having to always ask officials for permission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Noble Chase Butler

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Noble Chase Butler

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt believes both he and Noble Chase Butler agree on most matters because they both have common sense and distaste for bureaucratic work in civil service. Roosevelt is not happy with men who care more about following the red tape of civil service work than the result of the work. Roosevelt would like to do away with some of the bureaucracy of the civil service in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-08-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Albert J. Beveridge to William Loeb

Letter from Albert J. Beveridge to William Loeb

Senator Beveridge defends his stance on moving an office to Indianapolis. He states that it would be beneficial to the state, comparing it to Collector of Revenue Elam H. Neal moving his office from the Lawrenceburg district to Indianapolis. He claims it would “completely change the face of affairs in that badly honeycombed service.” Beveridge would like to state his opinion on the topic to the president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-04

Creator(s)

Beveridge, Albert J. (Albert Jeremiah), 1862-1927

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Meyer writes to President Roosevelt comparing the situation in Russia to events in France during the French Revolution. Meyer goes into detail about the current political crisis in Russia, mentioning the need for reform, the need for improved conditions for the military, and the public opinion of the czar. Meyer describes the shutting down of newspaper offices, the imprisonment of editors, and strikes that could take place. He suggests that an American military attache could be of great help to him, as communication and media in St. Petersburg are not reliable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-20

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

Letter from Daniel O. Lively to Cecil Andrew Lyon

Letter from Daniel O. Lively to Cecil Andrew Lyon

Daniel O. Lively, a wholesaler who is in business on the Panama Isthmus, reports to Texas businessman and politician Cecil Andrew Lyon about the poor conditions there that he believes will prevent the canal from being dug in a timely manner. In particular Lively criticizes the “absolutism” of the army and navy, the red tape and lack of wages for anyone not in the army, and the conduct and management skills of Governor General George W. Davis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-07

Creator(s)

Lively, Daniel O. (Daniel O'Connell), 1868-1933

Letter from Presley Marion Rixey to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Presley Marion Rixey to Theodore Roosevelt

Presley Marion Rixey, Surgeon General of the Navy, informs President Roosevelt that his memorandum relating to the United States Navy Medical Corps has not yet been carried out. Rixey apologizes for bringing the matter to Roosevelt directly but asks that he sign an additional memorandum so that the matter may be decided swiftly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-22

Creator(s)

Rixey, Presley Marion, 1852-1928

Memorandum by George Albert Converse

Memorandum by George Albert Converse

George Albert Converse, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, issues a memorandum responding to a prior memorandum by Commander Cameron McRae Winslow. While Converse agrees with the conclusions Winslow makes, he takes issue with several comments concerning the design of warships and alleging that line officers who would actually be captaining the ships had not been consulted in their design. Converse defends the method of designing ships upon the recommendations of the General Board, and does not believe it is necessary for Congress to intervene in the process, as the greater amount of time required for the process would exacerbate the danger of beginning construction on ships that are immediately outdated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-19

Creator(s)

Converse, George Albert, 1844-1909

Existing administrative organization of the Navy Department

Existing administrative organization of the Navy Department

The report discusses the administrative organization of the Navy Department, noting that the chiefs of various bureaus all report the the Secretary of the Navy, who is a civilian. The writer advocates for streamlining the bureaucracy in the department to increase efficiency, and to place line officers and other men directly involved with battle and preparing the fleet for action in positions of greater authority.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-21

Creator(s)

Unknown

“Due process of law”

“Due process of law”

A man wearing a top hat labeled “Lawyer” sits on a pile of money bags labeled “Fees” in a cart drawn by a donkey labeled “The Law.” The reins are labeled “Red Tape” and the harness is labeled “Technicalities” and “Delays.” Hanging from a whip just beyond the donkey’s reach is a carrot labeled “Conviction of the Guilty.” A large horseshoe magnet labeled “Positive” and “Negative” hangs off the side of the cart.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-01-03

Creator(s)

Crawford, Will, 1869-1944