Your TR Source
Senator Platt writes to President Roosevelt regarding the service of Commissioner of Patents Frederick Innes Allen. Platt believes Allen has been a successful appointment and cites the opinions of Senators Orville Hitchcock Platt, Alfred B. Kittredge, and Louis E. McComas as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-27
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-09
President Roosevelt encloses a report to General Bingham, New York Police Commissioner. The New York Police Department is irritated with the Department of Commerce and Labor for supposed failure to cooperate. The State Department is upset with the New York Police Department for supposed laxness in criminal arrests in Central America. Roosevelt acknowledges such disputes occur between governmental departments and does not doubt there will be improvements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
President Roosevelt will ask Lawrence O. Murray to visit Arthur von Briesen and go over the matter with him personally. Roosevelt is sure the two men will get along.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-23
President Roosevelt tells Hannah Kent Schoff he has her letter and wishes to appoint someone from his “official family” whom he knows he can trust. He asks if she knows anyone meeting these standards who would be better than Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-20
President Roosevelt requests Attorney General Bonaparte review the matter of the investigation of the International Harvester Company with company official George W. Perkins and Commissioner of Corporations Herbert Knox Smith.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-22
President Roosevelt rebukes Edgar Williams for the criticisms of his administration, particularly William’s ignorance in blaming the recent economic fluctuations on Roosevelt’s policy of enforcing laws against the wealthy and corporations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-16
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
Acting Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Labor Murray received Attorney General Bonaparte’s letter concerning the Oklahoma and Indian Territory census. He contacted the acting director of the census for information and assures Bonaparte of his department’s continued aid.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-30
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on matters regarding United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick, the prosecution of the International Harvester Company, and affairs in Oklahoma. He is greatly concerned about reports of Secretary of State Elihu Root’s health. Territorial Governor of New Mexico George Curry intends to appoint David J. Leahy as assistant attorney general of the territory. Bonaparte feels obligated to inform Roosevelt of this appointment as Leahy is possibly “one of the persons about whom there has been complaint by the Interior Department.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
Director of the Census Bureau North does not see anything in the law as it currently reads to prevent Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill from taking charge of the investigation into woman and child labor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-05
Secretary of Commerce and Labor Straus is confident in his decision in the South Carolina labor case and does not believe that it will be damaging to the labor unions. However, Straus will consider President Roosevelt’s judgment on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Charles Stedman Hanks gives his opinion on what will make the Hepburn Act more successful and what constitutes a legal merger of railroads. Hanks cites various examples of suspicious stock prices, mergers, and rates of sales for land that indicate the Hepburn Act can be tightened to be more effective in regulating the railroads. He claims that a large percentage of Americans believe that railroad traffic rates are too high.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-10
Benjamin F. Sparhawk of the General Land Office testifies in court as to certain “wrong and irregular” acts by colleagues in his department, including improper approvals of land lieu selections and favoritism in the selection and promotion of employees. Sparhawk particularly implicates John McPhaul, his division chief.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-19
Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf discusses the procedures for implementing the Chinese exclusion law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-24
Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf issues instructions on how the Chinese exclusion laws shall be enforced including who may and may not enter the United States, how to verify status, and ramifications for improper enforcement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-24
Memorandum reporting on the attempt by the Department of Justice to enforce the anti-trust law and discussing possible methods by which “recalcitrant corporations” can be made to comply with the law. The memorandum asserts that more laws are necessary due to the expansion of interstate trade.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-24
Victor Howard Metcalf provides President Roosevelt with a series of correspondences regarding an immigration inspector, George C. Triick, who was accused of mistreating Mr. Chow Tszchi, a Chinese dignitary. The department agrees that the Government should provide the utmost courtesy to Chinese people but notes issues in proving citizenship or defining who could be classified as a Chinese laborer. Chinese merchants, teachers, students and bankers are welcome, but not laborers with falsified Chinese papers pretending to be of a higher class. A treaty written in 1904 sought to deal with falsified records but the Chinese thought it was too strict. Metcalf notes any concerns of harshness in the enforcement of exclusionary laws is necessary to combat those trying to skirt the system.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-07
Commissioner Williams asks President Roosevelt to provide the press with his resignation letter and Roosevelt’s response. Williams would like it timed so the news will appear in the Monday morning papers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-09
Memorandum details a number of recent legislative measures, including changes in appropriations affecting various executive departments, the establishment of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and procedures to be followed by the Secretary of State.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-1904