Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936

Memorandum from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

In a memorandum requested by President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Taft outlines the reasons for the reversal of the Joint Board of the Army and Navy’s 1903 unanimous decision to construct a defensive naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines. The decision was reversed in 1907 due in part to the emerging strength of Japan and the cooling of relations with Japan, and to the indefensibility of the area by land.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Memorandum from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

In light of the most recent report by Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf, Secretary of State Root recommends that no further action be taken by Congress in regard to setting up a system of government for American Samoa. The natives there already have a “just conception” of the type of government that best suits them and interference from Congress would make a mess of it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-02

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key sends President Roosevelt a copy of his written statement and printed testimony given before the Senate Committee. He wants Roosevelt to know that he is not an “irresponsible agitator,” that he advocated for moving the naval base from Subic to Manila, and that he is not responsible for the criticism of the Navy and naval vessels in the press. His investigation into the Navy was done independently, and his report and recommendations are based on facts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-22

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key makes recommendations regarding the administrative structure of the Navy Department. He compares and contrasts the management of the department with the management and authority structure on a naval vessel, and recommends that the Assistant Secretary of the Navy be a line officer who has legal responsibility for supervising and coordinating the subordinate bureaus.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-27

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-25

Letter from Presley Marion Rixley to Theodore Roosevelt

U.S. Navy Surgeon General Rixey writes to President Roosevelt to remind him of the promise Roosevelt made to call both Rixey and Admiral Willard H. Brownson for a meeting on the topic of the hosital ship Relief. Rixey encloses the letter he sent to Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf about placing doctor Charles F. Stokes in command of the vessel.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-19

Memorandum for William Loeb

A memorandum states that the accompanying papers regarding the Carl H. Shaifer case should have been forwarded with Secretary of the Navy Victor H. Metcalf’s letter of December 21, 1907.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-23

Letter from John Charles Black to Theodore Roosevelt

John Charles Black, President of the Civil Service Commission, informs President Roosevelt that Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf has received instructions to create a certificate of transfer for Carl H. Shaifer to the Navy Department immediately following any receipt of request.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-12

Letter from John W. Osborn to Theodore Roosevelt

John W. Osborn tells President Roosevelt about his recent hunting trip, which included killing two large bears, and remarks that Tensas Parish, Louisiana, has some of the finest hunting in the northern part of the state. Osborn will leave for Washington, D.C., on December 1.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-17

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge discusses several items of concern with President Roosevelt. Lodge does not believe that Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte and Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf are applying the act of 1904 as Congress originally intended, particularly as Bonaparte is basing part of his argument on an English law of dubious applicability and potentially dangerous implications for the United States. Lodge is also concerned about the fact that the Great White Fleet is relying on British ships to supply coal, which could be a dangerous liability in wartime, and commends Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou’s handling of the current financial crisis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-28

Letter from William H. Moody to Theodore Roosevelt

Supreme Court Associate Justice William H. Moody has examined President Roosevelt’s letter with care. Moody finds the statement about McGraw’s conduct to be as he remembers, but thinks it would be best to say McGraw’s habits and reputation were very poor and his appointment would have caused a scandal. Moody remembers that in the case of the William C. Bristol matter, he felt the benefit of the doubt was deserved. Moody is grateful for Roosevelt’s trouble in the matter, and asks for a copy of the letter when sent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-30

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Oscar S. Straus

Attorney General Bonaparte provides legal counsel for Secretary of Commerce and Labor Straus regarding the British steamer Ferndene, which transported coal for the Navy from the East Coast to the West Coast. Bonaparte informs Straus that, so long as the ship carried nothing else but the coal, she does not have to pay the associated tonnage tax and Straus’s other questions are moot.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-09

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on the progress of the Idaho land fraud cases. He forwards Roosevelt his telegram to Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch demanding that N. M. Ruick take no part in the case. Bonaparte updates Roosevelt on other matters and suggests the two schedule a meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-28

Letter from Truman Handy Newberry to Eugene Hale

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-30

Memoranda from Huntington Wilson to Robert Bacon

Assistant Secretary of State Wilson sends three memoranda to Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon. In the first, Wilson gives a brief curriculum vitae of Japanese diplomat Admiral Gonnohyōe Yamamoto, indicating he is considered an “elder statesman” in Japan and likely to be the next prime minister. In the second memorandum, Wilson describes Japanese public opinion and press coverage of the immigration situation in the United States, particularly in San Francisco. The third memorandum describes complaints sent by the Chambers of Commerce of Japan to the “principal” Chambers of Commerce of the United States regarding the treatment of Japanese immigrants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-06

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge is pleased that President Roosevelt agrees with him on the topic of inspectors under the naturalization legislation. Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley has placed the inspectors under the Civil Service, but Lodge hopes that Roosevelt can shift them so they can be selected by the District Attorney or who ever is in control. Lodge was surprised by Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf’s announcement regarding battleships being moved to the Pacific, and he hopes that “there has been no change in the situation which implies danger.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-08

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge thanks President Roosevelt for his previous letter and agrees that it is wise to run exercises with the Pacific Fleet. Lodge believes that more immigration inspectors are needed to investigate and prosecute violations of contract labor law. He hopes they can be hired under the civil service, but agents who are willing and able to prosecute fraud must be able to do “first rate detective work.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-13

Letter from Robert Bacon to William Loeb

Assistant Secretary of State Bacon asks William Loeb when President Theodore Roosevelt would like to receive the official visitors from the Norwegian ship that arrived (likely referring to the Haarfarge, a ship from the Royal Norwegian Navy). Bacon may need to reschedule the dinner with Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-19

Letter from Lyman Abbott to Theodore Roosevelt

Lyman Abbott worries that his comments were misunderstood, and he did not mean to offend anyone. Abbott explains additional funding is required for the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy chaplains, in order to occasionally have outside preachers. He states that outside preachers are common practice for other college congregations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-21

Letter from Elihu Root to William Loeb

Secretary of State Root returns the original report made by Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor Howard Metcalf on the exclusion of Japanese children from public schools in San Francisco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-13