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President Roosevelt informs W. C. Brown, vice-president of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company, that he is concerned by certain railroad men’s actions. One railroad’s legitimate rate may be illegal if multiple railroads agree to it despite the antitrust laws.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
President Roosevelt thinks Paul Morton’s letter was based on the Edward Henry Harriman investigation. Roosevelt feels the railroads should not act in ways that would need to be hidden from the public, and believes a full investigation by the government is the best way to meet any such allegations of misconduct head on.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-24
Chairman Theodore P. Shonts showed W. C. Brown’s letter to President Roosevelt, “who read it with interest.” Roosevelt agreed with Brown and understands that the need for increased pay for employees and shorter work hours requires appropriate rates, and the government wants to ensure no discrimination in rates. Roosevelt also wants to ensure that railroad securities are used for specific improvements like more terminals or additional rolling stock to ensure the security of investors’ money.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-01
Benjamin Ide Wheeler asks President Roosevelt to consider meeting with Edward Henry Harriman and explains the reasons behind Harriman’s behavior.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-29
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
President Roosevelt sends self-explanatory correspondence. Roosevelt understands that that Judge Clements is about to investigate the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific railroad companies and adds that he was not paying attention to the management of the two companies until Clements reported on the coal lands. Roosevelt has since heard several complaints of the companies’s management, including their connection with the grain elevators. Roosevelt believes that the complaints are widespread enough for a thorough investigation and would like the Interstate Commerce Commission, of which Clements is a member, to judge the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-21
President Roosevelt has received Paul Morton’s letter concerning rebates given to the Colorado Fuel Company when Morton was vice president of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. As Morton’s letter indicates, he was “ignorant of the existence of such rebates” and had explicitly prohibited rebates. Roosevelt acknowledges that years prior, Morton alone was someone who gave testimony that helped stop “the system of rebates as it then existed,” and this showed Roosevelt he was “a man whose word could be trusted absolutely.” Because of this fact, the president wanted to have Morton enter his cabinet in the Navy Department, which he did serving the past year. Upon accepting Morton’s recent resignation from office, Roosevelt wishes him and former president Grover Cleveland success at the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Roosevelt believes Morton and Cleveland will do an excellent job.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-12
President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Moody that individual proceedings should not be brought up against officers of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway unless there is evidence linking them to guilty conduct. Roosevelt compares the Atchison case with the case of the western railroads and the International Harvester Company. Unlawful practices were abandoned in both cases, and no individual proceedings were brought against the officers of the western railroads. The president believes the Atchison railroad officers should be treated the same way. Roosevelt details why there is not “one shadow of testimony” against former Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton and believes how the government handled the Northern Securities case in not prosecuting the principal directors is how the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway case should be handled.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-12
President Roosevelt was glad to hear of Charles Sanger Mellen’s election to the Presidency of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railway.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-25
William Allen White is personally offended by attacks levied at President Roosevelt, particularly in a speech given by Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer. White, who worked in similar circles as Brewer in Kansas, alleges that twenty years earlier Brewer had sold a receiver position on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad to Colonel Harrison C. Cross and threatened to fire him when Cross ceased payment. White also suggests that for the last twenty years there has been a concerted effort by outside parties to control senators and judges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-22
Theodore P. Shonts discusses the proposed restructuring of the Panama Railroad Co.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-01
Attorney General Moody writes concerning the issue of rebates being granted by the Atchison, Topkea and, Santa Fe Railway Company to the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. Moody writes that it may be assumed that the transportation of coal at less than the published rate is in contempt of the restraining order of 1902. However, he does not believe any proceedings should be brought against any officers of the railroad company, including E. P. Ripley and Paul Morton, unless there is evidence linking them to guilty conduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-31
Chester Arthur Legg reports his view on the inefficiency of railroads. He declares that it is common knowledge that train passengers can expect to arrive hours late to their destination. However, he feels this pales in comparison to the issues surrounding railroad freight service resulting in economic impacts on businesses. He reports the negative impacts of car shortages and the determination of railroad presidents to run their businesses with the least amount of expenditures; even to the detriment of railroad employees. Legg suggests penalties for slow moving cars. He also discusses railroad accidents and safety, and the Interstate Commerce Commission’s lack of railroad experts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Report on expenditure for improvements, additions, and equipment for several railroad lines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-02
Edward Henry Harriman encloses a statement of expenditures for equipment and additions on the various rail lines under Harriman’s influence. Harriman calls for the traffic and operating officers to work together and “properly sort the traffic.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-02
James Speyer thanks President Roosevelt for the invitation to have lunch with him and for speaking so frankly about issues affecting Wall Street. He feels that the action Roosevelt took in the Northern Securities Case was the correct one. In response to a previous question from Roosevelt, Speyer also offers a recommendation for Mr. Keller as someone who understands traffic and is honest and conservative but is not considered one of the “greatest railroad managers in the country.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-25
Frank P. Sargent provides information on the attendees and next meeting of the chief executives of the Railway Organization.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-02
The creation of the Northern Securities Company is another step towards the consolidation of the nation’s railroad system. The new entity is almost a monopoly west of the Mississippi River. If railroad consolidation and organization continues the government will be in a perfect position to assume control.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-14