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President Roosevelt expresses concern about his son Kermit Roosevelt’s health. He mentions the Brownsville matter, the opposition from the Senate over the battleships and offers his view on Native Americans. Roosevelt is pleased that Kermit has been reading and studying, and updates Kermit on recent family activities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-26
President Roosevelt has come to the conclusion that Chairman Knapp of the Interstate Commerce Commission has not come up with any legislation to address the complaints of car shortages and fears shippers are expecting immediate action. Roosevelt feels Knapp should make a statement on the matter explaining why legislation is not being introduced to Congress at the moment. Roosevelt believes the problem could be solved with administrative action by the Interstate Commerce Commission, rather than judicial action, and if it is not possible to work primarily as an administrative body then the Interstate Commerce Commission should be dismantled and replaced with another administrative body.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-24
President Roosevelt has given a letter to Charles D. Walcott and J. A. Holmes, both from the U.S. Geological Survey, to present to Senator La Follette to explain why he has chosen to withdraw coal lands from entry. Roosevelt states that there will be great opposition to La Follette’s bill because it will significantly impact the states that are affected. Roosevelt has given Walcott a draft of a bill to show La Follette which supports the essentials of La Follette’s bill and leasing natural resources in the public lands, but leaves some matters up to the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-23
President Roosevelt makes it clear to Representative Littauer that the appropriation he asked for relating to the immigration investigation is in addition to any bill the committee reports. Roosevelt hopes that there is immigration legislation during the current session and the appropriation for the investigation should be included.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of Commerce and Labor Straus to help the State Department by having Congress take the appropriate action regarding the Fulton Memorial Exhibition at Bordeaux. Straus’s department has been given the plan and they will need to assist the State Department to manage it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
President Roosevelt tells S. A. Clark that he would need to locate the request for Congress to appropriate money to monuments before he can answer his letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
President Roosevelt asks Richard Bartholdt what the chances are of passing a bill to investigate the facts related to the working conditions of working women and children. Roosevelt believes that there are likely abuses connected with these situations, and thinks that they should be investigated so that Congress can take any necessary further action.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock if he should write a letter which states the position the administration has taken on Native American lands and coal lands to present to Congress or Chairman of the Senate Committee dealing with Native American lands so they can deal with the issue put before them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-17
President Roosevelt was told by “various members of the Kansas delegation” that William Allen White supports Senator Robert M. La Follette in the same way that Roosevelt does: they both appreciate the the anti-trust stances that La Follette takes, but think he can go to extremes sometimes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-05
President Roosevelt lays out the facts as he understands them relating to the assets and relationship of the Southern Pacific Company and California Development Company. He requests that Edward Henry Harriman send him details of the situation so that he can report to Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-03
President Roosevelt thinks what Charles S. Mellen told him is very interesting, and will speak to senators about it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-01
President Roosevelt believes that the law described by Joseph C. Underwood regarding fencing in pasture lands would be wrong. However, if Congress will not pass a “proper” law, “the blame will rest upon the law” for issues in enforcing it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-26
President Roosevelt tells John Carter Rose, the US Attorney for District of Maryland, that he appreciates the editorial her forwarded from the Times, and was proud of the election of the Republican Congress. Roosevelt bemoans that the congressmen who have won their seats based on riding his coattails have later attempted to thwart him, but also notes that it has happened to every other president before him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-21
President Roosevelt tells Major General Wood that his recent letter impressed both Secretary of War William H. Taft and himself. Roosevelt is attempting to convince Congress to grant Wood the tract of land he desires at Fort McKinley, but he has a hard time convincing them on military matters. He informs the Major General that he will be stationed in the Philippines until after the elections when he will be brought back to America, and that Taft will visit the country in September.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt updates Director of the U.S. Geological Survey Walcott regarding the efforts to repair the break in the Colorado River at the California-Mexico border. He forwards a telegram from Director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company Edward Henry Harriman regarding his organizations efforts to repair the break, and he says that Secretary of State Elihu Root received permission from Mexico to perform whatever maintenance is needed. Roosevelt asks Walcott to prepare information that he can share with Congress when they reconvene from their winter break.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt telegrams President of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Washburn that he has already communicated with California Governor George C. Pardee regarding the break in the Colorado River at the U.S.-Mexico border. Roosevelt notes the break is on Mexican soil, and Congress cannot move forward until granted permission from that government. Roosevelt closes by saying the immediate repairs are the duty of the California Development Company, owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt updates Director of the U.S. Geological Survey Walcott regarding the efforts to repair the break in the Colorado River at the California-Mexico border. Roosevelt writes that Mexico will help however they can within reason with the repairs. He states that the Union Pacific Railroad Company and their director Edward Henry Harriman must conduct the repairs in the immediate, but that the U.S. government should be prepared to conduct all further maintenance. Roosevelt feels the government and California Improvement Company should share future maintenance responsibilities, and asks Walcott to formulate a plan that can be submitted to the State Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt updates Secretary Root regarding the Colorado River break in Southern California and Mexico, writing that Union Pacific Director Edward Henry Harriman had agreed to repair the break. Roosevelt says that he told Harriman that Congress will negotiate with Mexico on the issue as soon as their holiday break is over, and asks Root to tell the Geological Survey to take up the repair work. Roosevelt encloses a recent telegram sent to Harriman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt tells Governor Pardee that Southern Pacific Railroad chairman Edward Henry Harriman has given permission to his employees to immediately repair the break in the Colorado River. Roosevelt closes by saying he will bring the matter before congress when it reconvenes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt tells Union Pacific Railroad Director Harriman he appreciates the actions he is planning to take regarding the flooding of the Colorado River in Southern California. Roosevelt has instructed the Reclamation Service to contact Harriman. When congress reconvenes, Roosevelt will recommend laws to prevent a repeat of the disaster, and also hopes to provide “equitable distribution of the burden.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20