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United States. Interstate Commerce Commission

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Letter from Charles A. Prouty to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Charles A. Prouty to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles A. Prouty, in the absence of Interstate Commerce Commission Chairman Martin A. Knapp, writes to President Roosevelt regarding a letter from J. W. Midgley. The matter that Midgley raised is under investigation, and the committee will send Roosevelt a report in the near future. Prouty believes that the matter is one of practical importance, and that if Roosevelt becomes personally invested in the issue, “doing so could not fail to meet with public approval.” Midgley, while not instigating either of the investigations, is nevertheless well informed on the matters, and has been of great service to the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-24

Creator(s)

Prouty, Charles A. (Charles Azro), 1853-1921

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge responds to an earlier letter from President Roosevelt. Lodge comments that there is not much of a reason to include a comment on immigration in the platform as there is currently not a demand for it, and it may do more harm than good. Lodge also discusses some of the hearings that the Interstate Commerce Commission has held, and remarks that his only concern in the upcoming election is the reduction in force by the railroads.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-27

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Federal ownership of railroads will come, Prouty thinks

Federal ownership of railroads will come, Prouty thinks

Judge Charles A. Prouty, of the Interstate Commerce Commission, believes that “railroads must either obey the law as laid down by the Interstate Commerce Commission or they must pass into the hands of the United States Government.” Such a proposition does not alarm him, as “nearly every other civilized country in the world, except perhaps great Britain, has done so to its advantage, and what is done elsewhere can be done if necessary by the United States of America.” While Prouty prefers effective government regulation of railroads, if the railroads refuse to operate under these regulations, the government will have just cause to act.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-27

Creator(s)

Unknown

Our inefficient railroads

Our inefficient railroads

Chester Arthur Legg reports his view on the inefficiency of railroads. He declares that it is common knowledge that train passengers can expect to arrive hours late to their destination. However, he feels this pales in comparison to the issues surrounding railroad freight service resulting in economic impacts on businesses. He reports the negative impacts of car shortages and the determination of railroad presidents to run their businesses with the least amount of expenditures; even to the detriment of railroad employees. Legg suggests penalties for slow moving cars. He also discusses railroad accidents and safety, and the Interstate Commerce Commission’s lack of railroad experts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Legg, Chester Arthur, 1880-1975

Proposed amendment regarding interstate commerce

Proposed amendment regarding interstate commerce

This amendment first re-establishes the fact that the federal government has the ability to regulate interstate trade, and that such regulation may be delegated to commissions. “Due process of law,” in reference to these commissions, does not necessarily mean that the actions of the commissions must be reviewed by courts, except where such actions may conflict with the constitutional right to property. If every action of a commission to regulate railroad rates needed to be evaluated by the courts, it would, for all practical purposes, destroy the ability of the commission to operate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-28

Creator(s)

Moody, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1917

Dissent of Supreme Court Justice William R. Day

Dissent of Supreme Court Justice William R. Day

Justice William R. Day of the Supreme Court writes a dissenting opinion related to a number of appeals involving the Interstate Commerce Commission. He believes that the powers given to the Interstate Commerce Commission have been interpreted too narrowly by the court, and that the judgements of the Circuit Court should be affirmed. Justices John Marshall Harlan and Joseph McKenna concur in the dissent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-14

Creator(s)

Day, William R. (William Rufus), 1849-1923

Opinion of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Opinion of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Supreme Court Justice Holmes presents the opinion of the court regarding several appeals from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York involving the Interstate Commerce Commission, Edward Henry Harriman and Otto H. Kahn. Holmes rules that the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission to compel testimony is limited, and only applies when conducting investigations into specific breaches of the law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-14

Creator(s)

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr., 1841-1935

Speech by Daniel Davenport to the Chautauqua

Speech by Daniel Davenport to the Chautauqua

Daniel Davenport speaks to the Chautauqua society in Clarinda, Iowa, about the inadvisability of allowing the Interstate Commerce Commission to set railroad rates instead of the railroad owners. Davenport argues that this would lead to an increase in freight rates through a mileage tax, which would negatively impact the ability of western farmers to sell their goods throughout the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-16

Creator(s)

Davenport, Daniel, 1852-1931

Letter from John Byrne to William Loeb

Letter from John Byrne to William Loeb

Railroad executive John Byrne tells William Loeb that Canada’s “high government circles” have thoroughly discussed Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier’s reply to Senator Charles W. Fairbanks declining the invitation to reassemble the joint high commission. Byrne cautions it is useless for President Roosevelt to press the question. Upon his return, Byrne will advise Roosevelt on responding to the proposed bill on fixed freight rates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-12

Creator(s)

Byrne, John, 1842-1905

Address by Dr. Schurman

Address by Dr. Schurman

In excerpts from his speech, Jacob Gould Schurman discusses concerns with large corporations and ways to make competition fairer. He believes the solution is not socialism. Rather, he suggests the public should abolish special privileges to corporations. Schurman is glad President Roosevelt mentioned this issue in his annual message and agrees with his suggestion of giving the Interstate Commerce Commission more power. In addition, Schurman suggests other policies for reform, including an income tax and changes to the tariff and the Philippine policy. Schurman looks forward to when the Philippines will have an independent republican government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-20

Creator(s)

Schurman, Jacob Gould, 1854-1942

A startling [rumor] about postmastership

A startling [rumor] about postmastership

This newspaper article discusses the rumor surrounding President Roosevelt’s appointment of the Baltimore, Maryland, postmaster. It is believed that the Maryland delegation have not agreed on a recommendation, and that Roosevelt intends to make his own choice if they cannot come to an agreement. If so, the rumor suggests that Roosevelt might appoint a nonpartisan Democrat. Another article, which discusses Maryland Senator Louis E. McComas’s next position, follows. It suggests that McComas will replace Chief Justice Charles C. Nott of the Court of Claims after McComas’s term in the Senate expires because Senator Francis Marion Cockrell of Missouri chose a position on the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12

Creator(s)

Unknown

Shippers in grip of private cars: all “shameful”

Shippers in grip of private cars: all “shameful”

Many stories relating to preferential shipping rates and their adverse effects were presented to the Interstate Commerce Commission, centering around attempts by the Armour Car Line to destroy the credit of shippers “unless they submitted to the imposition of excessive charges in connection with the transportation of perishable commodities.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-13

Creator(s)

Unknown