United States. Interstate Commerce Commission

President Roosevelt asks Fairfax Henry Wheelan to have formal letters for General Charles Albert Woodruff written to him and the Senators by people interested in army and West Point matters. He was very interested by Wheelan’s account of the San Francisco campaign. Roosevelt also asks if Wheelan knows anything about Franklin K. Lane, whom Benjamin Ide Wheeler “warmly” recommended be appointed to the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-02

President Roosevelt agrees with Minnesota Governor Johnson that if Congress is unwilling to act in the matter, the states need to take affirmative action regarding life insurance. Although Roosevelt believes that the national government should control companies that participate in interstate commerce, he is prepared to take action to encourage the states to act jointly if Congress will not.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-26

President Roosevelt explains why he is not in favor of Ray Stannard Baker’s suggestion that the Interstate Commerce Commission should be given the power to condemn railroad shipping rates. Roosevelt believes his maximum rate plan is the best option.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-20

Although President Roosevelt is willing to speak with Ray Stannard Baker about his thoughts on the bill establishing a maximum railroad rate, he believes that not much good will come of it. He explains to Baker why he prefers first trying to get legislation setting a maximum rate before adding a provision giving the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to set definite rates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-22

President Roosevelt tells Ray Stannard Baker that while he agrees that it would be better to give the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to fix definite, rather than maximum, railroad rates, Attorney General William H. Moody believes that this power is unconstitutional. Roosevelt believes it is better to pass a constitutional law allowing for maximum rates, and then, if it is a success, to pass the definite rate law as an amendment. Then even if the Supreme Court declared the amendment unconstitutional, the maximum rate law would still stand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-13

President Roosevelt would like to appoint Franklin K. Lane of California to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and asks Senator Flint for his opinion of Lane.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-06

President Roosevelt would like to appoint Franklin K. Lane of California to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and asks Senator Perkins’s opinion on Lane.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-06

President Roosevelt forwarded Frank Basil Tracy’s dispatch and accompanying articles to Martin A. Knapp of the Interstate Commerce Commission, who then shared them to other members of the commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-31

President Roosevelt was glad to receive John Henry Wigmore’s dispatch, because he has been considering nominating Franklin K. Lane to the Interstate Commerce Commission but was waiting for a statement like the one Wigmore just gave. He wants to be sure that the man he selects will “do exact justice,” wronging neither the public nor the railroads.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-15

President Roosevelt informs Paul Morton that he does not intend to appoint Sherman and believes that any man who has put forward as the result of a political deal is disqualified from the appointment. He is not sure yet how he will restructure the Interstate Commerce Commission; he may want a “clean slate” and only keep one or two current members.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-10

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

President Roosevelt has received Paul Morton’s letter concerning rebates given to the Colorado Fuel Company when Morton was vice president of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. As Morton’s letter indicates, he was “ignorant of the existence of such rebates” and had explicitly prohibited rebates. Roosevelt acknowledges that years prior, Morton alone was someone who gave testimony that helped stop “the system of rebates as it then existed,” and this showed Roosevelt he was “a man whose word could be trusted absolutely.” Because of this fact, the president wanted to have Morton enter his cabinet in the Navy Department, which he did serving the past year. Upon accepting Morton’s recent resignation from office, Roosevelt wishes him and former president Grover Cleveland success at the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Roosevelt believes Morton and Cleveland will do an excellent job.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-12

President Roosevelt accepts the resignation of James D. Yeomans from the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-06

President Roosevelt admits he likes the looks of William W. Wedemeyer, but tells Representative Townsend he cannot say if he could be appointed to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and that it would not be possible to send another Michigan man into the diplomatic service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-24

Attorney General Moody confirms that Representative Hepburn’s actions in the amendment to the Interstate Commerce Law is in line with President Roosevelt’s desires, and gives a detailed reasoning for his conclusion. In a typed addendum, Roosevelt agrees with Moody’s conclusions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

President Roosevelt commends the importance of Colonel McCook’s letter. He did not know of the incidents that McCook said happened under President William McKinley but has been assured that railroad and rebate law has been well-enforced in the 18 months of his own administration. Surprised to hear McCook’s opinion, Roosevelt strongly disagrees that there is no occasion for new legislation on the subject of railroad rates and rebates. Roosevelt says both he and Attorney General William Henry Moody believe that the problem cannot simply be fixed by ensuring existing penalties are enforced. Roosevelt asks for permission to share McCook’s letter with Moody.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-10

President Roosevelt informs James D. Yeomans that his successor on the Interstate Commerce Commission does not wish to join the commission quite yet, and that Roosevelt will therefore nominate Yeomans to serve until March 4th, with the understanding that Yeomans would resign on that day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-11

President Roosevelt asks Senator Knox if he has been paying attention to the Interstate Commerce Commission legislation, and suggests that Knox might consider drafting a bill for the Senate on the topic, as “it is right in your line.” Roosevelt believes it is “the greatest single service” a member of Congress could render at this time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-19

President Roosevelt tells Charles Gates Dawes he included the paragraph in his speech that mentioned railroad lines after two years of “slowly and reluctantly coming to the conclusion that it ought to be said” and discussing the paragraph with several cabinet members. The president also supports increasing the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-02

President Roosevelt apologizes to Benjamin Ide Wheeler for forgetting his promise to Franklin K. Lane. Roosevelt explains that when he made the promise, he had not appointed anyone from California to an important position, but since then, had appointed a member of his cabinet and a member of the Isthmian Canal Commission, both from California. Roosevelt had then dismissed his concern about recognition for California from his mind, but acknowledges Lane’s grievance and will do his best to rectify the error. Roosevelt cautions that while he hopes to enlarge the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission, he will need to be sure that Lane has the ability and fairness required to hold the position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-02