A group of 5 pamphlets by Nimmo, concerning railroad regulation in the United States, the development of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and other aspects of American internal trade, primarily statements to government committees and agencies, as well as offprints from periodicals.
Washington, DC: various publishers, 1904-1909. 8vo. Original printed wrappers and self-wrappers (some chipping and soiling); all with either a Library of Congress duplicate stamp or its small perforation on the title page. The group includes:
1) SENATOR KNOX ANSWERED. SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT IN REGARD TO THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE COMMON LAW, AS DEVELOPED OR AS IT MAY BE DEVELOPED IN ITS APPLICATION TO THE REGULATION OF INTERSTATE COMMERCE. [Oct. 29, 1904]. Self-wraps; 16pp. [printed statement by Nimmo at head of first page: "The following statement may be regarded as an insert at the end of page 26 of my recent pamphlet entitled "Certain Paramount Political issues."] [LC perf., plus rubber stamp "in Exchange Bureau of Railway Econ."].
2) JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF RAILWAY AFFAIRS. AN HISTORICAL ARGUMENT. February 8, 1908. [Washington, DC: Press of Judd & Detweiler, Inc., 1908]. Drab paperwraps; 56pp. [same stamping as above, plus LOC duplicate stamp].
3) GOVERNMENT BY LAW OR BY COMMISSION? SHALL THE DISCRETIONARY POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCE BE CONFERRED UPON AN ADMINSTRATIVE BOARD OR BUREAU OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT? A Paramount Political Issue not Discussed during the late Presidential Campaign. November, 1908. Drab paperwraps; x, (3)-23pp. [same stamping as above, plus LOC duplicate stamp].
4) THE POLITICAL STATUS OF RAILROAD REGULATION IN CONGRESS. January 20, 1909. [Washington, DC: Judd & Detweiler, Inc., Printers, 1909]. Selfwraps; 21pp. [same stamping as above, plus LOC duplicate stamp].
5) RAILROAD REGULATION IN ITS POLITICAL ASPECTS. May 4, 1909. Drab paperwraps; 35pp. [same stamping as above, plus LOC duplicate stamp]. Item #71046
Nimmo is best known for his Report in Regard to the Range and Ranch Cattle Traffic (Washington, 1885; Howes N-158), was a longtime employee of the United States government, working on various trade and commerce projects. He eventually established a firm on Long Island specializing in statistical studies of American commercial activities and was active in Interstate Commission politics from the agency's inception under the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. This pamphlet group reflects Nimmo's views on government regulation (e.g., one argues against the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890); several are marked "confidential," one is stamped " Compliments of Joseph Nimmo, Jr."
Price: $850.00