Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-12-05

81 my dltenClOn 70 the fact that the
rule requiring a fling Of charges and
three days notice before an employees
could be separated from the service for
inefac cheney has served no good pur-
pose whatever, because that Ii not d
matter upon which q hearing Of the
employee found to be inefiicient can
be Of any value, and IN practice the
rule providing for such notice and
hearing has merely resulted In keeping
In q certain number Of incompetents
because Of the reluctance OF heads OF
departments and bureau chiefs to 60
through the required procedure. Expe-
Renee has shown that this rule is who'll
" ineffective to save any man IL a su-
perior for improper reasons wishes to
remove him and Is mischievous because
It sometimes serves to keep in the serv-
Ice incompetent men not guilty of spe-
cific wrongdoing. Having these facts
IN view, the rule has been amended by
providing that where the ineficiency
or tncapacity comes within the person
al knowledge Of the head Of depart
ment the removal may be made with
out notice, the reasons therefor being
filed and made record Of the depart
ment. The absolute right Of removal
rests where 1t always has rested, with
the head Of q department. Any limita-
ton OF this absolute right results in
grave injury to the public service. The
change is merely one Of procedure. It
was much needed, and it is producing
good results. Z ..G
The civil service law ID being ener-
geHcally and impartially enforced, and
in the large majority Of cases COM
plants Of violations OF either the law
or rules are discovered to be unbound
ed. In this respect this law compares
very favorably with any other federal
statute. The question Of politics in the
appointment and retention Of the men
engaged In merely ministerial work
has been practically eliminated in al
most the entire field Of government en-
ployment covered by the civil service
law. The action OF the congress in pro
viding the commission with it's own
force instead Of requiring It to rely on
detailed clerks has been justified by
the increased work done at smaller
cost to the government. I urge upon
the congress q careful consideration Of
the recommendations contained in the
annual report OF the commission.
+ Copyright Laws.
Our copyright laws urgently need re-
vision. They are imperfect in defni-
ton, confused and inconsistent in ex-
preston. They omit provision for
many articles which under modern re-
productive processes are entitled to
protection. They impose hardships
upon the copyright proprietor which
are not essential to the fair protection
Of the public. They are difficult for
the courts to interpret and impossible
for the copyright Office to, administer
with satisfaction to the public. At.
tempts to improve them by amend
ment have been frequent no less than
twelve acts for the purpose having
been passed since the revised statutes.
To perfect them by further amendment
seems impracticable. A complete re-
vision Of them is essential. Such a
revision to meet modern conditions has
been found necessary in Germany,
Austria, Sweden and other foreign
countries, and bills embodying it are
pending in England and the Australian
colonies. It has been urged here, and
proposals for commission to under
foLa A. no ~, fvr,y,, <f,,, Z, - %;,,,o boox,
pressed upon the congress. The incon-
veniences Of the present conditions be-
ing so great, an attempt to frame ap-
propriate legislation has been made hy
the copyright Office, which has called
conferences Of the various interests es-
pecially and practically concerned with
the operation Of the copyright laws. It
has secured from them suggestions as
to the changes necessary, 1t has added
from its own experience and investi-
cations, and 1t has drafted bill which
embodies such Of these changes and adj
ditions as after full discussion and ex-
pert criticism appeared to be sound and
safe. In form this bill would replace
the existing insufficient and inconsist-
ent laws BY one general copyright stat
ute. It will be presented to the CON
gress at the coming session. It de-
serves prompt consideration.
Adultsration Of Foods.
& I recommend that a law be enacted
to regulate Interstate commerce In mis-
branded and adulterated foods, drinks
and drugs. Such law would protect
legitimate manufacture and commerce
ana would tend To secure the health
and welfare of the consuming public.
Traffic In foodstuffs which have been
lsbased Or adulterated % as to injure
health or to dsceivs purchasers should
be forbidden. VI ID 4 I, 4 n
5sa 8moks Lavf. 4. y; II
The law forbidding the emission Of
dense black or gray smoke fl the city
Of Washington has been sustained by
the courts. Something has been accom-
plished under It, but much remains to
be done II we would preserve the Cap
ital City from DETACHMENT BY the smoke
nuisance. Repeated prosecutions I'M
der the law have not had the desired
affect stpros11nnnnd thar n Ia s11odo