United States. Interstate Commerce Commission

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

Creator(s)

United States. Congress. Committee on Interstate Commerce

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Conrad Kohrs

In response to Conrad Kohrs’ letter regarding William H. Taft as a presidential candidate, President Roosevelt attests to Taft’s ability. Roosevelt thoroughly discusses what characterizes the leader of a healthy progressive movement and how Taft’s record demonstrates his embodiment of these characteristics. Simply put, the two qualities that made Taft a great judge–wisdom and moral courage–are the same qualities of a great president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to W. C. Brown

President Roosevelt has spoken to Wade Ellis about the matter. He hopes W. C. Brown understands the difficulty of making suggestions to the Interstate Commerce Commission. Roosevelt appreciates the letter from Brown’s brother, Charles Perry Brown.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. S. Temple

President Roosevelt knows nothing of the matter that J. S. Temple writes about, but will contact a friend on the Interstate Commerce Commission to ask about the matter informally.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Prouty

President Roosevelt inquires of Interstate Commerce Commissioner Charles A. Prouty, “is there anything I should know about this?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Martin A. Knapp

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Patrick Neill

President Roosevelt wants Commissioner of Labor Neill to report to him the specific charges made on the second page of Charles Stedman Hank’s letter so he can determine if Henry C. Adams has done anything “wrong in form or anything that is wrong in substance”. Roosevelt would also like to know the actions taken by the Interstate Commerce Commission if there has been any wrongdoing. He would like Neill’s report to inform him if any offenses discovered are trivial or serious in nature.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Interstate Commerce Commission

President Roosevelt requests that the Interstate Commerce Commission give their immediate attention to the enclosed letter from Brooks Adams, and take action at once, if any action is possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Allison

President Roosevelt seeks to clarify to Judge Allison the details of their recent conversation, specifically noting that he promised to consider Allison for a seat on the Interstate Commerce Commission if Judge Judson C. Clements was not reappointed. He writes that after investigation, he feels Clements should be given the job,. Roosevelt apologizes, but states that it would be unlikely for Allison to be given a position on the commission due to the fact that he is from the same region as Clements.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Porter J. McCumber

At the urging of Representative Gronna, President Roosevelt has already taken up an unnamed matter with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Interstate Commerce Commission

President Roosevelt asks the Interstate Commerce Commission if there’s any way to address the issue detailed in a letter from The Lakota American newspaper editor Avard McIntosh Beveridge to North Dakota Representative Asle J. Gronna. Beveridge’s letter concerns the coal and fuel shortages in North Dakota.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Henry Harriman

President Roosevelt tells Edward Henry Harriman that he had spoken to special prosecutor Frank B. Kellogg regarding Harriman’s request to defer the upcoming hearing regarding the Interstate Commerce Commission’s investigation of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. However, Roosevelt tells Harriman that deferring would interfere with the other duties of commission members, and regrets to inform him “that it is impossible to comply with your request.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Henry Harriman

President Roosevelt tells Edward Henry Harriman that subpoenas have already been sent out regarding the Interstate Commerce Commission’s investigation into Harriman and the Union Pacific Railroad. Roosevelt states that he cannot heed Harriman’s request of a delay under the circumstances, but that he will meet with special prosecutor Frank B. Kellogg as soon as possible to discuss the matter. Roosevelt thought that the delay beyond December 25^th would have been adequate, and regrets “extremely that you didn’t communicate with me in time” before the chain of events that “will now cause such dislocation of business to alter.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William P. Dillingham

President Roosevelt supports Charles A. Prouty’s reappointment to the Interstate Commerce Commission and is going to meet with him soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Charles G. Washburn to John W. Weeks

Charles G. Washburn writes to John W. Weeks about their mutual concerns related to the Department of Justice’s enforcement of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Washburn summarizes the history of the Sherman Act. He discusses the effect of the 1897 Trans-Missouri case and efforts by politicians, including Theodore Roosevelt, to amend the Sherman Act. Washburn also describes a number of cases which have gone to court under the Sherman Act. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-28

Creator(s)

Washburn, Charles G. (Charles Grenfill), 1857-1928

Letter from Herbert Knox Smith to Theodore Roosevelt

Herbert Knox Smith provides Theodore Roosevelt with the full name and address of Balthasar Henry Meyer of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Smith has been enjoying life in Farmington, Connecticut, and his wife is doing well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-27

Creator(s)

Smith, Herbert Knox, 1869-1931

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich’s statements regarding Marshal Ruel Rounds, and on the situation in Idaho. Bonaparte thinks the lumber men could appeal to the Interstate Commerce Commission about the railroad rates, but he will have to look into the matter further. Many of the employees involved in the land fraud cases think highly of District Attorney N. M. Ruick and feel Senator William Edgar Borah is guilty, but the secret service men dislike Ruick. In Oklahoma, Bonaparte is still waiting for the election and the results of the census, and will give Roosevelt his feedback on the constitution after he has more information. William Randolph Hearst and the financiers have taken up rumors of Bonaparte’s resignation in the press again, perhaps because of Republican National Committee member Frank B. Kellogg’s visit to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-01

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte recently met with Charles B. Morrison and Frank B. Kellogg regarding the suit against the Standard Oil Company. He summarizes the facts of the case for President Roosevelt and shares his thoughts. Bonaparte and Kellogg also discussed the Interstate Commerce Commission’s report on the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroad Companies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-22

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter to Edwin Walter Sims

The writer petitions United States Attorney Sims make a motion that the federal government repudiate its promise of immunity in the case of the United States vs. The Standard Oil Company of Indiana. The writer provides a thorough review of the case history beginning in June 1906.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-20

Creator(s)

Unknown