Your TR Source
John Allison examines Richard Olney’s article on the constitutionality of the United States Congress delegating control of railroad operations and rates to a commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10
James Kennedy reminds Theodore Roosevelt of a previous letter he sent containing a speech he gave to Congress about railroad legislation. He resends a copy, and asks that Roosevelt carefully consider and respond to it, as it is relevant to a recent decision made.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-18
William Vanamee informs Theodore Roosevelt of Chester Hardy Aldrich’s stance critiquing the interpretation of Railroad Rate Law and notes it is popular to criticize the courts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-16
Frederick W. Whitridge is not familiar with the laws of the ten states mentioned by President Roosevelt as providing for state valuation of railroads. Whitridge agrees with Roosevelt that more states may move to require valuation, but he does not believe that this justifies a move by the national government to make such a valuation. He refers to court cases, and encloses extracts, which have required valuation of a railroad to determine whether a given rate was reasonable; but he notes that such actions are quite different from requiring valuation of all roads. In his opinion, valuation of the railroads would be a means to one of three ends: taxation, setting rates, or limiting or controlling capitalization. The first is not necessary, and the others would cause fear among holders of railroad securities for the value of their investments. He urges Roosevelt not to discuss it further.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-15
Paul Morton expresses concern about the possibility of the Interstate Commerce Commission being negatively influenced by “public clamor” and carrying its investigation beyond legal limits. Morton argues what is needed now is not further exposure, but the opportunity for the business community to adjust to new business methods and practices. Otherwise, Morton fears that financiers will become so worried over the danger of their private affairs being exposed, that it will be difficult to finance the needs of the railroads, which will retard the growth of American commerce and the development of the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-21
Paul Morton, President of Equitable Life Insurance, clarifies E. P. Ripley’s stance on President Theodore Roosevelt and the railroads. Morton points out the false information Roosevelt has received regarding the prosecution of the Standard Oil corporation. Railroads are seeing an increase in expenses and a decrease in net earnings. Morton hopes that Roosevelt approves of his letter to Ripley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-04
University of California President Wheeler thinks that President Roosevelt and Edward Harriman need to talk face-to-face about the impending railroad legislation. Wheeler says that, contrary to rumor or gossip, Harriman prefers Taft as the next president to anyone else.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-19
The United States Supreme Court has decided Johnson v. Southern Pacific Co. in favor of Johnson. President Roosevelt ordered the case brought to the Court, and the decision is a great victory.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-19
Francis C. Travers has met with Major Byrne and feels there is an opportunity for reconciliation between the two sides of the interstate commerce issue. He encourages President Roosevelt to arrange a meeting with Byrne.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-18
Frank T. Campbell congratulates Chairman Bacon on the progress he is making before Congress on the issue of railroad rates. Campbell believes it is important that corporate interests do not win out. He writes that the people strongly favor giving the Interstate Commerce Commission more regulatory power.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-16
President Roosevelt holds a bow with an arrow labeled “Tariff Revision” and two other arrows in his mouth, “Income Tax” and “Inheritance Tax.” Just beyond him is a man labeled “Trusts” with a large apple labeled “The Tariff” on his head. The man has the arrows, “Anti-rebate,” “Anti-trust” “Railroad Rate Law,” and “Pure Food” in his chest, and he is saying, “The most unkindest cut of all!” Caption: “See if you can hit the apple, Mr. Roosevelt.”
Both President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root went public with ideas about economic and governmental reforms that shocked many people in the Republican Party and on Wall Street. Chief among these were theoretical considerations of a national income tax and a national inheritance tax. These concepts previously had been relegated, and rejected, by many Americans as Populist or even Socialist dogma.
Lyman Abbott draws Theodore Roosevelt’s attention to an item in The Globe which might amuse Roosevelt and William H. Taft. Abbott also discusses an amendment to the Dolliver bill which Judge Taft approves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-09
President Roosevelt writes to his Kermit and says people have been asking his to make a speech on the railroad situation, but he has said all he wants to say. Roosevelt compliments Kermit on learning to jump on a horse, gives updates on the family, and describes the spring scenery.
1907-03-31
Theodore Roosevelt replies to William Davenport Hulbert’s letter, expressing his desire that Hulbert should come east to personally discuss viewpoints on the government’s role in Alaska, particularly in regard to coal fields and railroads there. Roosevelt believes that it has been difficult to develop Alaska due to the type of laws “under which the Guggenheims acquired the Cunningham claims,” but does not want to go against the law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-29
Theodore Roosevelt believes Senator Jonathan Dolliver and Representative William Hepburn both played significant roles in creating the Act referenced in a previous letter. Roosevelt says Dolliver had as much to do with its passage as anybody in Congress, and without him, it would not have passed through the Senate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-10-02
President Roosevelt assures Lawrence F. Abbott that he has followed the course of the Outlook. Roosevelt believes Abbott is correct in thinking that bankers and businesses will eventually look at the course that Roosevelt currently advocates, in the way the railroads now view legislation they had previously opposed. Roosevelt encloses an address by Robert Mather of the Rock Island Railway, who had previously been an enemy of the rate bill. Roosevelt also thinks that Abbott will like his message to Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-12
President Theodore Roosevelt thinks John A. Sleicher is “right about my meeting those railroad men.” The railroad men need to announce that they accept and will work with the government regulation. They are being cooperative now, but it would have been better had they thought to do this a year ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-12
President Roosevelt encloses a telegram from Patrick H. Morrissey and asks Senator Hepburn if Morrissey could be summoned before his conference committee. Roosevelt assumes that Hepburn wants the opinions of the best men from railroad organizations before they pass legislation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-21
Frank Knox thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his courtesy and found the luncheon at the Astro Club “most interesting.” He suspects Charles S. Mellen of trying to “put one across” again and feels Edgar J. Rich overly emphasizes the need for immediate legislation regarding the Boston and Maine railroad’s illegal rates. Knox shares further concerns and thoughts about New Hampshire’s fight against the railroads.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-10
Herman Henry Kohlsaat explains that he has asked Forrest Crissey of the Saturday Evening Post if he would write an article about a letter President Roosevelt sent regarding the regulation of railroads in 1899. The Post would like to reprint the letter in question as a facsimile, and since Mabel Blake Kohlsaat is unsure where the original letter is, Kohlsaat requests another signed version of the letter for reproduction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-22