The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-05

TINS rlght exists Tor each country was eA-
| plicitly Acknowledged In the last treaty be-
| tween the two countries. But we must treat
| the Chinese student, traveller and business
man IN spirit Of the broadest justice and
| courtesy II we expect similar treatment TO
be accorded TO our own people Of similar rank
| who 20 to China. Much trouble has come
| during the prst summer from the organized
| boycott against American eo"ts which has
been started In China. The mail factor In
producing this boycott has been the resent
meDt isit by the students and business peo-
pie Of China. by all the Chinese leaders,
against the harshness Of our law toward edu-
Gated chinamen of the professional and busi-
ness classes.
This government has the friendlIest feel
ings for China and desires Chinas well-be-
ing We cordially sympathze with the an
nounced purpose OF Japan to stand for the
integrity OF China. Such an attitude tends
to the peace OF the world.
The Civil Service.
The civil service law has been on the stat
ute books for twenty-five years Every
President and a vast majority OF heads OF
departments who have been in ONCE during
that period have favored a gradual extension
Of the merit system. The moIs thoroughly
its principles have been understood, the
greater has been the favor with which the
law has been regarded by administrative Of
ficers. Any attempt to carry on the great
executive departments OF the government
without this law would inevitably result In
chaos. The Civil Service commissioners are
doing excellent work; and their compensa-
tlon is inadequate considering the service
they perform.
The statement that the examinations are
not practical In character Is based on mis-
apprehension OF the practice Of the commits
sion. The departments are invariably con-
culted as to the requirements desired and as
to the character OF questions that shall be
asked. General invitations are frequently
sent out TO all heads OF departments asking
whether any charges in the scope Or char
acter OF examinations are required. In other
words. the departments prescribe the re-
quirements and the qualifications desired, and
the Civil Service commission co-Operates with
them in securing persons with the qualihca-
tions and insuring open and Impartial COM
petition. In a large number OF examinations
(as for example, those for trades postions)
there are no educational requirements what
ever and person who can neither read nor
write may pass with high average. Vacan-
cles In the service are filled with reasonable
expedition and the machinery OF the commits
sion, which reaches every part OF the coun-
try, is the best agency that has yet been
devised for finding people with the most suit
able qualifications for the various ofnces to
be filled Written competitive examinations
do not make ideal method for filling po-
sitons, but they do represent an immeasur-
able advance upon the ''spOis' method,
under which outside politicians really make
the appointments nominally made by the ex-
ecutlve officers, the appointees being chosen
by the politicians In question, IN the great
majority OF cases, for reasons totally uncon-
public.
Statistics gathered by the Census bureau show
that the tenure OF office In the government SER
vice does not diner materially from that en-
inyed BY employees OF large business corpora
tons. Heads Of executive departments and
members OF the commission have called my
attention TO the fact that the rule requiring
a nling OF charges and three days notice be-
fore an employe could be separated from the
service for inefhciency has served no good pur-
pose whatever because that Is not matter
haa rfp mr.
to be inefficient be OF any value. and IN
practice the rule providing for such notice and
hearing has merely resulted In keeping IN
certain number Of ineompetents. because OF the
reluctance OF heads OF departments and bureau
chiefs to go through the required procedure.
Experience has shown that this rule Is wholly
ineffective TO save any man. II superior Tor
Improper reasons wishes to remove him, and
Is inlschievous because II sometimes serves to
keen IN the service incompetent men NOT guilty
Of specific wrong doing. Having these facts In
view the RUS has been amended by pro-
vIding that where the ineficlency or incapaclty
comes within the personal knowledge of the
head Of department the removal may be made
without notice. the reasons therefor being MED
and made a record of the department. The
absolute right al removal rests where 1t al
ways has rested with the head Of depart
ment; any limitation Of this absolute right
results in grave injury to the public service.
The change Is merely one OF procedure; 1t was
much needed and 1t Is producing good results.
The civil service law Is belag energetically
and impartially enforced and IN the large ma
iority OF cases complaints OF violations OF either
the law or rules are discovered to be unfounded.
In this respect this law compares very favor
ably with any other Federal statute. The
question OF politics In the appointment and re-
tentlon OF the men engaged in merely ministerial
work has been practically eliminated Ia almost
the entire field Of government employment COW
cred by the civil service law. The action of
the Congress IN providing the commission with
It's own force instead OF requiring 1t to rely on
detailed clerks has been Justified by the In
creased work done at smaller cost to the gov
ernment | urge upon the Congress careful
Consideration Of the recommendations contained
In the annual report OF the commission.
Copyright Laws.
Our copyright laws urgently need revision.
They are imperfect In definition confused and
Inconsistent In expression they omit provision
for many articles which, under modern repro
ductive processes are entitled TO protection;
they impose hardshps upon the copyright pro-
prietor which are not essential to the fair pro-
lection OF the public; they are difficult for the
courts to Interpret and impossible for the Copy
right Office TO administer with satisfaction to
the public. Attempts to improve them by
amendment have been frequent. no less than
twelve acts for the purpose having been passed
since the Revised Statutes To perfect them by
further amendment SENS impracticable com
plete revision Of them Is essential Such re-
vision to meet modern conditions, has been found
necessary in Germany, Austria, Sweden: ana
other foreign Countries and bills embodying II
are pending In England and the Australian col
onies Ii has been urged here, and proposals for
a commission to undertake 1t have, from time
to time been pressed upon the Congress. The
incopveniences OF the present conditions being
so great an attempt to frame appropriate legis
lation has been made by the Copyright office,
which has called conferences Of the various In
terests especially and practically concerned with
the operation Of the copyright laws. II has
secured from them suggestions as to the changes
necessary; II has added from Its own expert
ence and Investigations. and 1t has drafted a
bill which emb0dies such OF these changes and
additions as after full discussion and expert
criticism appeared to be sound and safe. In
form this bill would replace the existing In
sufficient and inconsistent laws by one general
copyright statute. II win be presented to the
Congress at the coming session. 1t deserves
prompt consideration.
AduIteration Of Foods.
recommend that law be enacted TO regu-
late interstate commerce in misbranded and
adulterated foods, drinks, and drugs. Such law
would protect legitimate manufacture and com
merce and would tend to secure the health and
welfare Of the consuming public. Tratic In
foodstuffs which have been debased or adul-
terated so as to injure health or to deceive pur-
chasers should be forbidden.
Smoke Law.
The law forbdding the emission Of dense black
or gray smoke in the city Of Washington has
been sustained by the courts Something has
been accomplished under IT, but much remains
to be done IL we would preserve the Capital
city from DETACHMENT by the smoke nuisance
Repeated prosecutions under the law have not
had the desired effect. ! recommend that 1t be
made more stringent by incyeasing both the
minimum and maximum dne; by providing for
Imprisonment IN cases Of repeated violaton and
by anording the remedy Of injunction against
the continuation OF the operation Of plants which
are pereistent Offenders. I recommend also, an
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