United States. Bureau of Corporations

Hearings before the Committee on Interstate Commerce

Part four of Hearings before the committee on interstate commerce starts part way through a hearing in which Mr. Martin answers questions from the senators regarding the dissolution of trusts and the consequences to stockholders. A statement of Andrew Jaritz begins on page 174 in which Jaritz presents his ideas and conclusions on the permanent and progressive habits of economic legislation and the need for economic principles. Jaritz suggests the government frame trusts within the context of the economy and work for the people to set reasonable prices and prevent waste by the producers and the consumers. The government could then profit from the savings and continue regulating and enforcing economic legislation by forming a new department of economic policy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Brown McKinley

President Roosevelt agrees with Representative McKinley’s comments on the amount of constructive, beneficial legislation accomplished by Congress in the past seven years. He lists specific pieces of legislation that he feels “form a record of substantial legislative achievement in harmony with the best and most progressive thought of our people.” Roosevelt argues that electing William H. Taft will ensure such progress continues.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Shaw

William Shaw’s letter gave President Roosevelt a “peculiar pleasure.” He forwarded it to Commissioner of Corporations Herbert Knox Smith for his judgement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Morgan G. Bulkeley

President Roosevelt tells Senator Bulkeley that when the position of Commissioner of Corporations becomes vacant, he intends to promote the position’s deputy (Herbert Knox Smith) to the job. Roosevelt asks Bulkeley how he feels about this possibility.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank B. Brandegee

President Roosevelt tells Representative Brandegee that when the position of Commissioner of Corporations becomes vacant, he intends to promote the position’s deputy (Herbert Knox Smith) to the job. Roosevelt asks Brandegee how he feels about this possibility.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Oscar K. Davis

Theodore Roosevelt discusses his recollection of the Bureau of Corporation’s investigation into the Harvester matter, and tells Oscar K. Davis that it is comparable to Charles J. Bonaparte’s remembrance. Roosevelt writes that he will not appear in a moving picture with Boy Scouts or anyone else as he feels it would be a cheap thing to do.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles McCarthy

Theodore Roosevelt suggests that Charles McCarthy write to James R. Garfield about the bill. He wants to put all big business concerns doing interstate traffic under an organization controlled by the federal government. Other businesses would be controlled by rigorously applied interstate law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-21

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Knox Smith

The Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt asks Commissioner Herbert Knox Smith to meet Roosevelt at Roosevelt’s office on May 12 at noon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hugh Gordon Miller

Theodore Roosevelt informs Hugh Gordon Miller that he is correct that Roosevelt is not running for mayor. Roosevelt is also pleased with Miller’s statement about the “Wickersham – New York, New Haven and Hartford” matter. Roosevelt had given the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad “permission” to buy a line of steamships to prevent Charlie Morse from having a monopoly. This in no way affects the actions of President William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gifford Pinchot

President Roosevelt writes to Gifford Pinchot concerning Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield. Garfield has been an “invaluable public servant,” excelling in all positions to which Roosevelt appointed him. Roosevelt notes that Garfield has “sacrificed much” for the good work he has done, and it will not be easy for him to resume a profitable law practice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Knox Smith

President Roosevelt advises Herbert Knox Smith, Commissioner of Corporations, that if he is asked to produce any papers in the “Steel Corporation inquiry” to state that he is required to report to the President first. After this, the President will give direction as to what should be made public “as the law requires.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Seth Low

President Roosevelt supports putting both planks Seth Low mentioned into the party platform, but does not know if it is possible. He will ask the Bureau of Corporations to carry out the investigation Low recommended.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. S. Sherman

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. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Knute Nelson

President Roosevelt tells Senator Nelson that his memory of the matter Nelson referred to was the same, and that during the discussions of the bill establishing the Department of Commerce and Labor they agreed that the bill in the House did not provide the department with enough power, leading to Roosevelt asking Attorney General Philander C. Knox to prepare an amendment for Nelson to introduce. No one involved with the bill, however, expected a decision like the recent one made by Judge J. Otis Humphry in the beef trust case. If Congress passes a law granting the government the right of appeal, Roosevelt assures Nelson that it will be used in this case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Gates Dawes

President Roosevelt tells Charles Gates Dawes he included the paragraph in his speech that mentioned railroad lines after two years of “slowly and reluctantly coming to the conclusion that it ought to be said” and discussing the paragraph with several cabinet members. The president also supports increasing the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt wishes to return Standard Oil Company’s campaign donation immediately, especially since it appears that the company’s “political attitude” is of great public importance. Additionally, Standard Oil is against the United States Bureau of Corporations, which Roosevelt considers one of his most important accomplishments. Roosevelt does not want any public announcement made about the situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Rudolph Garfield

President Roosevelt explains that the Department of Justice shall be responsible for enforcing laws such as anti-trust laws, and the Bureau of Corporations will collect information to provide the full knowledge necessary for law enforcement. Roosevelt would like to secure additional legislation to have better control over the corporations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Grant Edens

President Roosevelt thanks William Grant Edens for the editorial published in the Tribune. He wonders if it is possible to investigate the matter and receive a report. Roosevelt has no power to interfere in the Colorado, Chicago, or New York strikes, but he is watching the situation through the Department of Labor and Bureau of Corporations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-10

Letter from Eben Weaver Martin to Theodore Roosevelt

Eben Weaver Martin discusses Theodore Roosevelt’s idea of giving the Bureau of Corporations power to fix commodity prices and control output when unlawful monopolies control them. He believes there needs to be a thorough system of national control preventing monopolies from organizing while removing the “powers of evil” of existing ones.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-31

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt that he gave Herbert Knox Smith his opinion which will justify his refusal to produce “the papers.” Bonaparte predicts Smith will have no issues in court, and if he does, Smith has been instructed to call Bonaparte’s Boston office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22