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
President Roosevelt tells Judge Speer that he has not closely followed Speer’s case concerning railroad rates in Georgia, which was recently overturned by Judge Don Albert Pardee, as he was concentrating on a decision concerning Standard Oil. Roosevelt has forwarded Speer’s complaint to Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-14
President Roosevelt apologizes for disturbing Attorney General Bonaparte while on vacation but asks him to review the enclosed letter from former Minnesota governor and representative John Lind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
The writer petitions United States Attorney Sims make a motion that the federal government repudiate its promise of immunity in the case of the United States vs. The Standard Oil Company of Indiana. The writer provides a thorough review of the case history beginning in June 1906.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-20
Interstate Commerce Commissioner Prouty believes that the federal government should not establish interstate commerce rates at this time. Some states would bitterly stand against President Roosevelt should he change these policies. States in the South and West, in particular, are confident that the states are already charging fair rates and the national government will increase those rates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-16
Railroad executive W. C. Brown explains to Joseph Nimmo, a statistician working on the Interstate Commerce Commission, the extent to which poor public confidence in railroads will impact the overall finance of railroad companies. Brown has confidence in the Interstate Commerce Commission in its regulation decisions. He believes the “abuses and hurtful practices” of some railroad companies have been stopped, but continues to be concerned about the “universal and indiscriminate” condemnation of the railroad companies. Brown hopes President Roosevelt will appeal for fair and reasonable treatment of the railroads to restore confidence in them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-22
Postmaster General Cortelyou acknowledges Representative Overstreet’s letter asking about the weighing of mail, and encloses a reply from the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, who is responsible for that area. Cortelyou has directed an investigation of this, as well as an investigation of the different rates and routes of carrying the mail across the country, and how much compensation would change given different variables.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-09
Joseph Bucklin Bishop writes to update President Roosevelt about various projects. Bishop then inquires about a job opportunity that he feels Roosevelt could help him obtain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-07
Now that he has retired as Secretary of the Navy, Paul Morton makes a statement concerning the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company and Colorado Fuel and Iron Company rebate case. Morton outlines the agreement between the parties and his own involvement in securing injunctions against the companies. Morton stresses his long history as a railroad man and his commitment to transparency and fairness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-05
Mr. Kellogg has rendered Attorney General Moody valuable service in reference to the railway rate question. He has declined compensation for his work and to Moody’s knowledge, has declined retainers from the railroad company. Moody wants President Roosevelt, if he thinks it is proper to do so, to write a line of appreciation for Kellogg which Moody can then forward with a word of his own.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-17
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-10-20
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
President Roosevelt would like to discuss the recent decision by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals of Illinois in person with Attorney General Bonaparte and Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt feels that the fine Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis initially imposed on Standard Oil was excessive, but would have preferred to modify the fine rather than reverse the decision. In a postscript, Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte’s view regarding the Standard Oil Case, and sends a clipping about it. In a second postscript, Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte that John D. Archbold must have had advance notice of the decision. Roosevelt does not believe the railroads should raise their rates until December.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-25
President Roosevelt asks the members of the Interstate Commerce Commission if a general raise of railway rates is necessary. Roosevelt thinks some rates might need to be raised, but others night be too high already. He asks if the members of the commission feel it might be wise to unofficially announce that there will be an investigation into whether a raise is necessary, so that those who want a raise might consider carefully before taking action.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-23
President Roosevelt informs George W. Perkins that since a personal meeting in which the two discussed raising railroad rates, Roosevelt has seen reports in the press that there will be a general raise in railway rates. Roosevelt pointedly hopes these reports are in error. Roosevelt goes on to say that some people believe that some rates might be raised, while others could be lowered, and Perkins should contact the Interstate Commerce Commission before acting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-23
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 Roosevelt writes to Commissioner of Corporations Garfield regarding the results of his investigations into railroad rates. While open rates do not appear to be unlawful, they are a strong argument for the passage of the railroad rate bill currently being considered by Congress. Roosevelt asks for a list of the secret rates that were not discontinued before the publication of the report, as well as a list of cases Rudolph believes should be presented to the Department of Justice for possible action. Roosevelt believes future development on this issue will involve antitrust law instead of interstate commerce law, as the government examines if there is “any radical remedy for the existence of a great corporation acting as the Standard Oil Company has been shown by your report to act.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-31
President Roosevelt feels that Interstate Commerce Commissioner Prouty has made a strong case. He remarks that he wishes the Senators from Vermont could be convinced to take a stand for railway rate legislation. Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield’s report is complete, and Roosevelt hopes that the Interstate Commerce Commission will go into the case of railroad and oil transportation matters as thoroughly as soon as possible. In the meantime, he asks whether Prouty is going to look up the combinations involved in the anthracite coal business as well as those in bituminous coal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-21
President Roosevelt thinks the article Brooks Adams sent is interesting, although he has not read it carefully. He is particularly pleased with the farmed tax analogy, because that is exactly what a railway rate is.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-13
President Roosevelt believes that the shipping bill is in “really good shape” and hopes that Speaker of the House Cannon will support it. He believes that there is political need to pass it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-26
President Roosevelt takes issue with some criticisms that Lincoln Steffens has made of his efforts to get Congress to ratify the Santo Domingo treaty. He points out that several Democrats are opposing the treaty merely to be obstructionist, rather than because of an honest difference of opinion. In contrast, Roosevelt believes that there is more room for honest differences in opinion in the railroad rate bill. Steffens’s idea that Roosevelt should refuse to make any concessions and to let the voters decide who is correct in the next election is flawed. Roosevelt cites evidence of voters supporting men who are on two sides of the same issue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-05