United States. Interstate Commerce Commission

Letter from Paul Morton to Theodore Roosevelt

Now that he has retired as Secretary of the Navy, Paul Morton makes a statement concerning the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company and Colorado Fuel and Iron Company rebate case. Morton outlines the agreement between the parties and his own involvement in securing injunctions against the companies. Morton stresses his long history as a railroad man and his commitment to transparency and fairness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-05

Letter from John Sharp Williams to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Williams of Mississippi requests that President Roosevelt support his bill moving the date Congress first convenes to the first Monday after March 4 every year. Williams, a Democrat, hopes Roosevelt might cross party lines for this. Williams appeals to Roosevelt by explaining the current situation with the Townsend-Esch Bill that expands the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission, which Roosevelt is in favor of, and which Williams believes will pass the House but not the Senate before the current session ends. Williams outlines the benefits of his legislation, including starting sessions of Congress closer to elections and eliminating uneven sessions, lame duck sessions, and the need for dramatic rule changes and special sessions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-06

Letter from James R. Sheffield to Theodore Roosevelt

James R. Sheffield congratulates President Roosevelt on the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding the “beef trust matter” and suggests a commission of special experts might be more fit than the Interstate Commerce Committee to handle the issue of transportation rates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-31

Letter from William A. Kissam to Theodore Roosevelt

William A. Kissam informs Theodore Roosevelt about the troubles that he is going to encounter with the railroad matter. He states that the Interstate Commerce Commission does not need certain powers and that certain people need to come forward with all of the information that they have. Kissam continues on to state that there are some wrong doings going on within the different railroad companies and if these are not addressed then the President will have either anarchy or revolution on his hands with the workers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-20

Letter from John J. McCook to Theodore Roosevelt

Railroad official John J. McCook writes to President Roosevelt regarding an act controlling commerce and rebating. The act involved railroad officers and Interstate Commerce Commission members. McCook discusses former President McKinley’s efforts to ensure this law is enforced but suggests that some did not take this law seriously. McCook mentions that McKinley had put off handling this situation during his administration and suggests that Roosevelt should now take up this issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-09

Letter from Edward A. Alexander to Theodore Roosevelt

Edward A. Alexander encloses correspondence between himself and a representative of William H. Hearst, and tells President Roosevelt that Hearst is claiming Alexander’s ideas about the freight rate question as his own. Alexander suggests that the members of the railroads’ classification committee be subpoenaed and questioned about their methods for classifying freight. As a private citizen, Alexander offers to furnish information and suggestions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-20

Letter from Francis C. Travers to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis C. Travers has met with Major Byrne and feels there is an opportunity for reconciliation between the two sides of the interstate commerce issue. He encourages President Roosevelt to arrange a meeting with Byrne.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-18

Letter from Frank T. Campbell to E. P. Bacon

Frank T. Campbell congratulates Chairman Bacon on the progress he is making before Congress on the issue of railroad rates. Campbell believes it is important that corporate interests do not win out. He writes that the people strongly favor giving the Interstate Commerce Commission more regulatory power.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-16

Letter from Nathan Bijur to Theodore Roosevelt

Nathan Bijur discusses a convenient date for a luncheon with Israel Zangwill and President Roosevelt in Florida. Bijur relays a compliment regarding Roosevelt’s recommendations on the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-11

Letter from Francis C. Travers to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis C. Travers argues that claims of President Roosevelt’s Annual Message having a negative effect on the stock market are false. Travers wants Roosevelt to go ahead with his plans for the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-08

Letter from Edward Henry Harriman to Theodore Roosevelt

Edward Henry Harriman writes to President Roosevelt about possible regulations the Interstate Commerce Commission could impose on railroads. Railroads are having to spend capital on necessary improvements; regulations could affect profits and hinder economic interests across the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-02

Letter from Edward Henry Harriman to Theodore Roosevelt

Railroad executive Edward Henry Harriman is concerned that President Roosevelt will discuss the Interstate Commerce Commission in his upcoming speech. Harriman has asked for an advance copy of the speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-30

Letter from Charles Gates Dawes to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Gates Dawes asks President Roosevelt to refrain from discussing private railroad car lines in his upcoming speech. The Interstate Commerce Commission has not completed its investigation of the matter. Dawes worries that Roosevelt’s influence will affect legislation before all the facts are presented to the commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-30

Letter from Francis C. Travers to William Loeb

Francis C. Travers believes the new neighbor at Oyster Bay, New York, is a respectable man. Travers hopes Senator Cockrell will join the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-27

Letter from Francis Marion Cockrell to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Cockrell thanks President Roosevelt for considering him as nominee to the Interstate Commerce Commission. Cockrell asks to discuss the appointment with Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-19

Letter from Paul Morton to William Loeb

Secretary of the Navy Morton returns an Interstate Commerce Commission report that reviews ownership of railroad cars.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-15

Roads may drop Armour car deal

Article details final days of testimonies during hearings before the Interstate Commerce Commission delivers a ruling regarding businessmen who were charging exorbitant amounts of money to transport frozen goods while shipping their own goods at cost and creating an unfair advantage.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-14

Private car lines editorial

Editorial explaining the ramifications for producers and consumers of goods that are shipped via Armour and Company. There is a bleak outlook of the Interstate Commerce Commission’s ability to regulate the industry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-14

Announcement from E. P. Bacon

Chairman Bacon announces a convention of delegates to be held in Chicago, Illinois, which is intended to impress upon the United States Congress the need for railroad rate regulation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-18

Gives answer to Senator Long’s letter

C. L. Davidson responds to a letter published by Kansas Senator Chester I. Long regarding the Dolliver Bill, Hepburn Act, and decisions regarding the Interstate Commerce Commission and railroad rates, and how these decisions will affect Wichita, Kansas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-25