Your TR Source
President Roosevelt drives a “railroad reform” car with William Loeb and a “railroad rate regulation bill” in it across a “Congress” bridge toward a “railroad opposition” car.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-05
President Roosevelt points revolvers toward several items: a “beef trust” bull, a “railroad rebate” locomotive, and a “Standard Oil” can. Meanwhile, John Findley Wallace runs toward the “subway.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-02
President Roosevelt holds up a dove to Uncle Sam and an olive branch to “the rail roads” that holds a “rebates” big stick. There is a heading above Roosevelt that reads, “No extra session—peace.” A handwritten note is included: “We did not think this of our President. More important than Japan & Rushia—Peace to us.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-12
President Roosevelt whittles a “R. R. rate regulation” big stick to add to his pile of big sticks: “tobacco trust investigation,” “beef trust investigation,” and “Standard Oil investigation.” Uncle Sam hands him an “enforcement of existing laws” big stick. A man labeled “the trusts” stands behind a corner and watches.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-08
Two senators bow to President Roosevelt who drives a cart with goods: “arbitration treaties,” “railroad legislation,” and “tariff revision.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01
President Roosevelt sits on a “traffic regulations” scroll on a railroad track while a “special rates” train comes toward him. The cowcatcher has several words on it: “rebates,” “illegality,” “discrimination,” “private,” “cars,” and “rebates.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-08
President Roosevelt rides an elephant and tries to lasso a number of locomotives: “freight lines,” “rebate system,” and “Beef Trust Refrigerating Line Car Co.” A “small shipper” man lies on the ground.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-25
Various bills regarding the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission have raised opposition from both shippers and railroads, particularly those bills which would give the Commission power to regulate railroad rates. Charles Jerome Traxler has proposed an alternative which is acceptable to shippers and which the writer believes is worthy of consideration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-03
President Roosevelt would prefer not to write to any state legislature on matters they are currently debating, as Alexander Jeffrey McKelway has asked him to do. Roosevelt would be glad for McKelway to state what he said regarding Georgian Governor Hoke Smith, but would prefer not to be directly quoted as he is not sure what precisely he said, and minor changes can alter the tone or meaning of a quote. Roosevelt agrees with McKelway that the national government must do the main work regarding the regulation of railroads, but that state governments have important work to do in this regard as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-19
President Roosevelt wants Speaker Cannon to explain the stall of the passage of the bill limiting railroad employees’ hours of service, and to know how he can assist. As it was part of their platform in the last election, Roosevelt feels that should Congress fail to pass such a law the Republican Party would be seen to have breached the voters’ trust.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-06
President Roosevelt is concerned over the accusations made by Edward Henry Harriman, a prominent railroad executive, particularly a “wilful untruth” concerning a request to raise money for the Republican party during the 1904 presidential campaign. Roosevelt tells Representative Sherman that he believes the dispute with Harriman stems from a dissatisfaction with regulations made on interstate commerce, particularly affecting railroads. Harriman is also disappointed that Roosevelt failed to appoint Senator Chauncey M. Depew as Ambassador to France as he had requested, and refuses to support the Republican party as long as Roosevelt’s policies dominate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-08
President Roosevelt is surprised that R. J. Caldwell paid any heed to an editorial of the New York Evening Post. While Roosevelt agrees it could be useful to imprison some railroad officials for evading or violating laws, the author of the article either does not know or blatantly ignores the difficulties in prosecuting such trials. Roosevelt mentions, however, that the administration is sometimes able to punish offenses of the railroads, and brings up several recent fines that were imposed on railroads and railroad officials. The chance of securing imprisonments, however, would be minuscule, even if clauses allowing for it were restored to the law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-09
President Roosevelt has received Attorney General Moody’s letter regarding the guilty plea of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to the charge of issuing rebates. While he is glad about the fine that was imposed, Roosevelt believes that court should be able to imprison people in addition to fining them, and asks what the possibility of getting such a change through Congress would be.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-20
President Roosevelt has received Attorney General Moody’s letter referring to prosecuting the Santa Fe Road under the Elkins law, and directs him to begin taking steps to do this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-21
President Roosevelt writes to Senator Nelson because the actions of Senator Eugene Hale, likely on behalf of Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, referring to Senator Joseph W. Bailey’s amendment have changed the situation enough to warrant a reevaluation of the amendments. Roosevelt was worried at first about the constitutionality of Bailey’s amendment, but feels that if it is put in as a separate clause so that it does not risk the entire bill, it may be all right. He suspects that several ‘railway Senators’ have supported Bailey’s amendment because they believe it will be struck down by the courts and thereby stop the entire legislation. He reiterates that he is fine with Bailey’s amendment, but hopes that Nelson or Senator William B. Allison will be able to insist on separate votes, splitting the amendment into two.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-11
Although President Roosevelt is willing to speak with Ray Stannard Baker about his thoughts on the bill establishing a maximum railroad rate, he believes that not much good will come of it. He explains to Baker why he prefers first trying to get legislation setting a maximum rate before adding a provision giving the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to set definite rates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-22
President Roosevelt explains why he is not in favor of Ray Stannard Baker’s suggestion that the Interstate Commerce Commission should be given the power to condemn railroad shipping rates. Roosevelt believes his maximum rate plan is the best option.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-20
Senator Lodge does not think that President Roosevelt should bring a lawsuit against the New Haven Railroad until the Massachusetts case currently in the courts has been decided and they see whether they could be separated from trolleys by law. Roosevelt had asked Lodge to speak with U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Asa P. French about it before anything was done. Lodge is writing because he saw writing from Attorney General Charles Bonaparte that suggested he were about to bring suit against New Haven, and Lodge believes it would be a mistake to do this if they can accomplish the same result a different way.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-03
Jesse H. Wise thanks President Roosevelt for the good he has done the country, and urges him to settle the question of railroad rates, which is so important to the continued prosperity and health of the nation. Wise urges Roosevelt to run for another term as president, to complete the good work he has begun to protect the “helpless and defenseless portion of our population.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-27
Senator Lodge writes to President Roosevelt regarding Brooks Adams’s proposal to establish distance rates by law. Lodge considers this destructive to businesses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-01