United States. Dept. of Commerce and Labor

President Roosevelt feels that Interstate Commerce Commissioner Prouty has made a strong case. He remarks that he wishes the Senators from Vermont could be convinced to take a stand for railway rate legislation. Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield’s report is complete, and Roosevelt hopes that the Interstate Commerce Commission will go into the case of railroad and oil transportation matters as thoroughly as soon as possible. In the meantime, he asks whether Prouty is going to look up the combinations involved in the anthracite coal business as well as those in bituminous coal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Bessie Van Vorst for her letter. He will communicate the contents to Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor Howard Metcalf and obtain his advice. Roosevelt mentions his delight in recently seeing Van Vorst.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks Attorney General Moody whether, in cases similar to the one that he encloses information about from the Department of Commerce and Labor, it might be possible for the department to have the authority to admit prisoners to bail. He feels that the current rules are very harsh.

The enclosed letter to which Roosevelt refers is from Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor Howard Metcalf regarding several french engineers who have been detained in Puerto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-24

President Roosevelt has read Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf’s report about the alleged misconduct of immigrant inspector George C. Triick toward the secretary of the Chinese legation. Although Roosevelt understands there are difficulties in administering the Chinese exclusion laws to make sure the right type of immigrants are in the United States, he does not find Triick’s conduct “justifiable.” Chinese individuals “should no more be molested in this country than any other foreigner.” Roosevelt agrees with Metcalf the best solution is to establish American officials in China to give certification to those coming here, and wonders if such a rule can be established independently of Congress. If new officials are not possible, Roosevelt suggests making an experiment with the consuls. The president closes by insisting Triick’s action was improper, and he should be punished or dismissed. Americans must treat the Chinese how they would like to be treated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is having the Department of Commerce and Labor report to him on the proposed investigation into the child labor matter. He advises Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Guild on how to respond if questioned again on the issue of Lieutenant General Nelson Appleton Miles.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has a high opinion of Charles Patrick Neill and asks Judge Gray his thoughts about Edgar E. Clark. Roosevelt promises to take up the Meigs matter at once.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt was astounded to read John N. Cobb’s letter to David Starr Jordan, and wrote to the Department of Commerce and Labor to ensure that John J. Coyle is not reappointed. Roosevelt promises to do all he can about the salmon fisheries and agrees the salmon tax should support the hatcheries. He encloses a copy of a letter he wrote to Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor Howard Metcalf for Jordan to read.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt believes good work could be done along the lines Robert John Thompson suggests, and will bring it to the attention of the Department of Commerce and Labor. Roosevelt thinks that the “Square Deal” pamphlet is the best political document.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt received the report from Commissioner of Labor Wright and has read it with the utmost care. The report will be reviewed by Attorney General Moody who will make a recommendation as to whether or not Roosevelt should take action. Roosevelt asks when the full report will be ready.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Gurney Cannon, Chairman of the Notification Committee, to formally accept his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and to approve the platform adopted by the Republican National Convention. In the letter, Roosevelt provides a comprehensive defense of his foreign and domestic policies and outlines what he believes are the major differences between the Republican and Democratic parties in the upcoming election. Roosevelt discusses, among other topics, his position on international relations, antitrust legislation, tariffs, the gold standard, pensions for Civil War veterans, the military, civil service, commerce, agriculture, taxation, and self-government in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Acting Secretary of State Adee that the collector of port in San Francisco should be his willing agent in the matter of the Russian ship, Lena. In view of Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich’s telegram, the Department of Commerce and Labor shall notify the collector and the United States Navy of Roosevelt’s decision to allow the Lena to stay in port. Roosevelt comments that the severity of repairs that the ship needs will determine how long it will need to remain, and that if it remains in port for an extended time, it will need to disarm. Roosevelt instructs Adee to inform the Japanese Minister of the United States’s action regarding the Lena.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Commissioner of Labor Wright that John H. Murphy, counsel for the Western Federation of Miners, alleges that by mob violence the miners are prevented from taking advantage of mineral land laws. Roosevelt asks Wright to have his representative in Colorado investigate the charge and report to the United States District Attorney at Denver.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Senator Allison that William F. Willoughby will not be appointed to fill the position of Commissioner of Labor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt offers Paul Morton the position of Secretary of Commerce and Labor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Senator Bard of the decision to appoint Victor Howard Metcalf as Secretary of Commerce and Labor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

It seems probable that George B. Cortelyou will be made Chairman of the National Committee, and President Roosevelt wants Victor Howard Metcalf to replace Cortelyou as Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Labor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt strongly desires Victor Howard Metcalf to accept the position of Secretary of Commerce and Labor and urges Metcalf to wire him with any difficulties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919