Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-12-05

served no good purpose whatever, be
cause that Is not a matter upon
which a hearing OF the employe found
10 be inefficient can be OF any value
aud In practice me rule providing
for such notice and hearing has mere.
~ resulted In keeping In a certain
number OF incompetents, because OF
the reluctance of heads OF depart
ments and bureau chiefs to go through
the required procedure. Experience
has shown that this rule Is wholly In
effective to save any man, II a su'
perior for improper reasons wishes IL
remove aim, and Is mischievous be-
In the service incompetent men mol
guilty OF specific wrong-doing. Hav-
ing these facts In view, the rule has
been amended by providing that
where the ~inelficiency or incapacity
comes within the personal knowledge
OF the head OF a department the re.
moval may be made without notice,
the reasons therefor being filed ana
made "A record OF the department.
The absolute right of removal rests
where 1t always has rested, with the
mead OF a department; any limitation
OF this absolute right results in grave
injury to the public service. Tn,
change Is merely one OF procedure;
1t was much needed, and 1t Is pro.
ducing good results.
The civil service law is being en-.
ersetically and impartially enforced,
and in the large majority OF cases
complaints of violations of either the
by the civil service law. The action
founded. In this respect, this Law
compares very favorably with any 9th
er federal statute. The question OF
politics in the appointment and re
tention OF the men engaged in merely
ministerial work mas been practically
eliminated in almost the entire field
OF government employment covered
or rules are discovered to be un
OF the congress in providing the com
mission with it's own force instead OF
requiring 1t to rely on detailed clerk
has been justified by the increased
work done at a smaller cost to the
government. urge upon the congress
a careful consideration of the recon-.
mendations contained in the annual
report of the commission.
Copyright Laws.
Our copyright laws urgently need
revision. They are imperfect in de
finitiOn, confused and inconsistent In
expression; they omit provision for
many articles which, under modern
reproductive processes. are entitled t.
protection; they impose hardships
upon the copyright proprietor which
are not essential to the fair protec-
ton of the public; they are difficult
for the courts to interpret and i'm
possible for the copyright office to
administer with satisfaction to the
public. Attempts to improve them by
less than twelve acts for the purpose
having been passed since the revised
statutes. To perfect them by further
amendment seems impracticable. A
complete revision Of them is essen
tial. Such a revision, to meet mod
ern conditions, has been found ne
cessary in Germany, Austria, Sweden
and other foreign countries, and bills
embodying it are pending in England
and the Australian colonies. 1t has
been urged here, and proposals for a
commission to undertake it have.
from time to time, been pressed upon
the congress. The inconvenience o.
the present conditions being so great,
an attempt to frame appropriate legis-
lation has been made by the copy
right office, which has called confer
ences OF the various interests eSpec.-
ally and practically concerned Will
the operation of the copyright laws.
has secured from them suggestions
as to the changes necessary; it has
added from its own experience and
Investigations, and it has drafted a
bill which embodies such of these
changes and additions as, after full
discussion and expert criti-
cism, apeared to be sound
and safe. In form this
bill would replace the existing INSULT
Gent and inconsistent laws by n
general copyright statute. 1t will be
presented to the congress at the com.
ing session. 1t deserves prompt con.
s%ideration.
Adulteration Of Foods.
recommend that a law be enacted
to regulate interstate commerce in
misbranded and adulterated foods,
drinks and drugs. Such law would
protect legitimate manufacture ana
commerce, and would tend to secure
the health and welfare of the con
Stunning public. Traffic in foodstuffs
which have been debased or adulter
ated so as to injure health or to de-
ceive purchasers should be forbidden.
The law %forbidding the emission of
lense black or gray smoke in the city
OF Washington has been sustained by
the courts. Something has been ac-
complished under it, but much re
mains to be done if we would preserve
the capital city from DETACHMENT by
the smoke nuisance. Repeated prose.
cutions under the law have not had
the desired effect. | recommend tina,
1t be made more stringent by increas-
ing both the minimum and maximum
fine; by providing for imprisonment
In cases of repeated violation; and
by %affording the remedy of injunction
the continuation of the opera |
ton Of plants which are persistent of.
tenders. l recommend, also, an in
crease in the number of inspectors, !
whose duty it shall be to detect viola. |
of the act.
National Parks.
! call your attention to the generous |
of the State of California In con. |
upon the United States govern
ment the ownership of the Yosemite
Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree
Hax~ H.. 1.. - /