[149]

Prosecuted misconduct
During Roosevelt's second year in office it was discovered there was corruption in the Indian Service, the Land Office, and the Post Office Department. Roosevelt investigated and prosecuted corrupt Indian agents who had cheated the Creeks and various Native American tribes out of land parcels. Land fraud and speculation were found involving Oregon federal timberlands. In November 1902, Roosevelt and Secretary Ethan A. Hitchcock forced Binger Hermann, the General Land Office Commissioner, to resign from office. On November 6, 1903 Francis J. Heney was appointed special prosecutor and obtained 146 indictments involving an Oregon Land Office bribery ring. U.S. Senator John H. Mitchell was indicted for bribery to expedite illegal land patents, found guilty in July 1905, and sentenced to six months in prison.[150] More corruption was found in the Postal Department, that brought on the indictments of 44 government employees on charges of bribery and fraud.[151] Historians generally agree that Roosevelt moved "quickly and decisively" to prosecute misconduct in his administration.[152]

Railroads
Main article: Hepburn Act
Merchants complained that some railroad rates were too high. 