Your TR Source
Secretary of the Interstate Commerce Commission Moseley sends William Loeb two opinions on the constitutionality of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-19
William A. Kissam informs Theodore Roosevelt about the troubles that he is going to encounter with the railroad matter. He states that the Interstate Commerce Commission does not need certain powers and that certain people need to come forward with all of the information that they have. Kissam continues on to state that there are some wrong doings going on within the different railroad companies and if these are not addressed then the President will have either anarchy or revolution on his hands with the workers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-20
Business card of M. O. Davis, passenger agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In a handwritten note, a position with Vice President Roosevelt or his secretary is requested for Mr. Moffett.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901
William Loeb requests that another representative be sent in place of Mr. McCoy for the rest of the Presidential trip. The request should not be interpreted to McCoy’s detriment as he is obviously knowledgeable in railroad matters. However, he does not possess the “peculiar qualifications necessary for the conduct of a Presidential tour” and does not get along well with the other members of the party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-04-21
William Loeb informs William Augustus Patton that the horse has not arrived and to determine its location.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-06
William Loeb asks William Augustus Patton of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to send a “proper official” to arrange the timely transport of President Roosevelt’s pony from Jersey City to Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-30
President Roosevelt agrees with Senator Platt that Thomas I. Chatfield is a good candidate, but he is not from the correct district in New York, which could cause problems if he were appointed. Concerning the other candidates, Roosevelt believes that Charles M. Hough best meets the requirements. While there had been concern regarding Hough’s connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad, Roosevelt has come to the conclusion that they do not impact Hough’s qualifications for the position, and that he can be trusted to deal with corporations fairly. Roosevelt encloses three letters supporting this position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-08
President Roosevelt was impressed by Robert C. Morris’s straightforward letter to Senator Platt explaining he did not want to be considered for a Federal judgeship. The sentiment in New York is in favor of appointing Charles M. Hough. Roosevelt has looked into Hough’s connections with the Pennsylvania railroad and has not found anything objectionable, and so feels that he ought to be appointed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-06
President Roosevelt assures Charles M. Hough that if he decides to pursue Hough’s appointment as a judge, he will use the knowledge of the letter between Frank Hinchman Platt and Senator Thomas Collier Platt. Roosevelt is not sure what he will do yet, because while he has heard many good things about Hough, he is somewhat uncomfortable about the effect Hough’s connections with the Pennsylvania Railroad may have on public opinion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-31
President Roosevelt tells John K. Johnston that the present plan for a commission comes from Georgia Senator Augustus Octavius Bacon and is “idiotic” and “admirably calculated to interfere with the efficiency of the work.” Roosevelt’s own idea is to have an executive head the commission in a position similar to A. J. Cassatt holds at the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-24
William Augustus Patton has investigated the complaint by Charles H. Lee, and sends William Loeb copies of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s reports. Patton believes that Loeb’s instructions were fully carried out by railroad employees, and that Lee’s reports of the journey are misleading and untrue. He assures Loeb that the railroad is happy to provide services for the President.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-12
Walter Worthington Bowie provides George D. Dixon with information relating to the shipment of President Roosevelt’s horse from Jersey City to Washington, D.C.. The horse was able to be delivered immediately after arrival, and the White House had no complaints about the service from their station, although the person accompanying the horse had some issues while traveling on the train.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-09
William Augustus Patton, of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, informs William Loeb that he received his note and has arranged for Charles Lee, President Roosevelt’s African American coachman, to ride in the caboose on the train from Jersey City to Washington D.C.. Patton has given direct instructions to each of the Division Superintendents on the railroad, so there should not be any trouble, as had previously happened.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-03
George W. Boyd, General Passenger Agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad, writes William Loeb on behalf of S. K. Hooper of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad regarding President Roosevelt’s travel. Boyd encloses a message from Hooper. Boyd tells Loeb that it has always been the Pennsylvania Railroad’s policy to treat matters surrounding the President’s travel confidentially. A representative of the New York American inquired about Roosevelt’s itinerary, but Boyd declined to comment and referred the man to the White House. Boyd assures Loeb that all matters relating to the President’s travel are always treated as strictly confidential.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-08
Judge Charles M. Hough has shown Judge George C. Holt and Charles C. Burlingham the correspondence President Roosevelt sent him, and now returns the letters. Hough does not understand Senator Thomas Collier Platt’s conduct, as he had previously written letters suggesting that he had no objections to Hough’s nomination to the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York. He admits that he had previously been unable to fully understand “the political or quasi-political qualifications” surrounding the selection of a judge, and thanks Roosevelt for the confidence he has placed in him in spite of his previous connections with railroads.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-06
Commissioner of Corporations Garfield summarizes for President Roosevelt portions of the oil report. The report uncovered the practice of railroad lines in the Northeast and Midwest offering Standard Oil Company secret discounted rates in the interstate transportation of oil. Both railroad and Standard Oil representatives deny any wrongdoing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-16
A. J. Cassatt writes to President Roosevelt about his concerns regarding a bill that impacts railroad companies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-26
Philip Battel Stewart, who is making arrangements for President Roosevelt’s upcoming hunting trip in Colorado, has asked S. K. Hooper to arrange for Roosevelt’s return trip to Denver to use the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Hooper asks George W. Boyd of the Denver and Rio Grande to make the necessary arrangements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-31
B. M. Newbold sends William Loeb the tickets for President Roosevelt’s shipment of four horses as well as their two attendants from Washington, D.C., to Oyster Bay, New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-31
The Philadelphia Evening Item reports on the good economic conditions in various industries, companies, and places in the United States and its trading partners, which it says “give[s] the lie to the calamity howlers.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-22