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President Roosevelt tells Postmaster General Cortelyou he has become uncomfortable with William Barret Ridgely due to the “Walsh matter.” He would like Cortelyou to determine if Ridgely should be retained when Cortelyou becomes Secretary of Treasury.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
The Department of the Treasury announces several changes to Sec. 5153 of the Revised Statutes regarding loans and collections from custom houses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-11
Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou writes to President Roosevelt about several potential nominees for consular and government positions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-05
President Roosevelt agrees with the course that Attorney General Bonaparte is taking. Roosevelt asserts he was explicit in stating that he wanted the investigation to be about District Attorney John Wesley Dunkle’s conduct. He contends it would be “preposterous” to investigate Comptroller William Barret Ridgely, as he is out of office. Further, he has asked if there are cases against the bank examiners Charles Starek and John B. Cunningham. He was told that there were none against Starek, and that it was suspected that Cunningham was drunk, but Dunkle was the main offender.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-23
President Roosevelt assures Senator Lodge that Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf was misrepresented in an article which said he disowned Lodge over Lodge’s comments on the Navy. Roosevelt believes that Lodge never said that Japan would insult the country if not for the Navy. Regarding the speeches made by Comptroller Lawrence O. Murray, Roosevelt believes that Murray’s statements regarding bank examiners were correct and necessary, but it is unfortunate that he made them during the campaign, when there were going to be misunderstood.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-15
President Roosevelt congratulates the Department of the Treasury on the conviction of John R. Walsh. Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou if they can recognize the work of Edward P. Moxey, a bank examiner who was particularly involved in the case, and worked to continue investigating when then-Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw and Comptroller of the Currency William Barret Ridgely wanted to defend Walsh.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-20
President Roosevelt comments on the “grand mix-up” surrounding the dismissal of Augustus H. Price, one of North Carolina’s Assistant United States Attorneys. Roosevelt asks Attorney General Moody to look into the matter, and to report to him on the relative qualifications of Price and his possible replacement, Albert L. Coble. Roosevelt plans to change the internal revenue offices in North Carolina to be part of the civil service, and asks Moody to raise the issue in an upcoming cabinet meeting so Roosevelt can discuss the matter with him and Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou. Roosevelt is also concerned with a matter concerning Comptroller of the Currency William Barret Ridgely. He additionally asks Moody to direct Judge James Wickersham to return to Alaska, as his presence in Washington, D.C., has not helped his confirmation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-21
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of State Root that Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou would like Louis A. Coolidge to be made comptroller of the currency. The current comptroller, William Barret Ridgely, would have to be put in the diplomatic service to free the space for Coolidge. The next two vacancies in the diplomatic service are spoken for, but Roosevelt would give Ridgely the third vacancy to open his place for Coolidge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-06
After an uncomfortable talk with Comptroller of Currency William Barret Ridgely, President Roosevelt asks William Emlen Roosevelt for any information about the character and quality of Charles A. Hanna and Ridgely’s brother, Edward Ridgely, who have been accused of inefficiency and drunkenness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-07
William Emlen Roosevelt congratulates President Roosevelt on his recent bear hunt, and jokes that all the bears have “fled into Wall Street for safety.” More seriously, Emlen finds that the situation is quite grave and offers some thoughts on how he feels Roosevelt might proceed. Emlen also provides an update on life at Oyster Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-22
William Henry Porter writes to William Emlen Roosevelt. Porter worries about issuing a special currency unless it is a temporary emergency measure and discusses what he believes are the minimum and maximum taxation and interest rates for such currency.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-22
This answer includes answers to questions asked by the Special Currency Committee of the New York Chamber of Commerce regarding the circulation of National Bank notes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-22
Secretary of War William H. Taft relays to President Roosevelt his view that the Cuban government should pay for the construction and maintenance of quarters for the United States Army’s stay in Cuba during the occupation. However, Army officers’ salaries should not be taken from the Cuban treasury. Taft hopes that United States Comptroller of the Currency William Barret Ridgely will agree that U.S. funds can be expended so that construction can begin immediately and then the Cuban treasury can reimburse the expense. Both Army Chief of Staff General James Franklin Bell and newly named Provisional Governor of Cuba Charles Edward Magoon concur with Taft’s view.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-10
William Emlen Roosevelt cannot give Theodore Roosevelt the names of any bank officers opposed to the reappointment of Comptroller of the Currency William Barret Ridgely. The officers who do oppose Ridgely do so for reasons that could be construed as personal, and so their arguments could easily be dismissed. Emlen Roosevelt agrees that Ridgely should not be reappointed and does not think he has “displayed any particular fitness for the position.” Emlen Roosevelt believes that the Comptroller should be “a strong and bold man with banking experience.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-03
William Emlen Roosevelt attests to the professional character of Charles A. Hanna, but finds Edward Ridgely, brother of William Barret Ridgely, Comptroller of the Currency, lacking in ability as a bank examiner and given to alcohol. William Emlen Roosevelt is glad President Roosevelt has taken up the matter of football.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-11
With the Illinois Republican State Convention taking a recess, newspaperman Frank B. Noyes writes concerning the support for Illinois politician Frank O. Lowden, whom Noyes describes as “an exceedingly weak candidate.” Noyes asks that President Roosevelt speak with Illinois Senator Shelby M. Cullom about shifting his support from Lowden to Charles Samuel Deneen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-21
Postmaster General Wynne tells William Loeb that both Comptroller of the Currency William Barrett Ridgely and Attorney General William H. Moody have stated it is in violation of the law to detail clerks to the White House from the Post Office Department or a post office. As such, Postmaster John A. Merritt is responsible for three months pay illegally given to the clerk detailed to the White House. Wynne inquires if the Executive Office has a fund that could reimburse Merritt, or if he needs to go to Congress for relief.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-05
Governor Yates lists politicians supported or appointed by President Roosevelt, who have opposed Yates and supported other Republican candidates in the campaign for Governor of Illinois.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-27
Shelby M. Cullom encloses a resolution endorsing Theodore Roosevelt as a presidential nominee, adopted at the Illinois 12th District Republican Convention. He expects a solid delegation at the Republican National Convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-08
Lyman J. Gage recommends Edward Ridgely for appointment as the National Bank Examiner of New York City. Gage explains that Ridgely’s brother, William Barret Ridgely, is comptroller of the currency, and that may be a point in his favor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-08