The Topeka state journal., 1905-12-05

rested, with the head of a depart
ment; any Limitation of this absolute
right results in grave injury to the
public service The change is merely
one OF procedure: it was much need
ed: and it is producing good results.
The civil service law is being ener-
getically and impartially enforced, and
in the large majority Of cases COM
plants of violations Of either the law or
rules are discovered to be unfounded-
In this respect, this law compares very
favorably with any other federal stat
ute. 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
employment covered by the civil ser
vice law The action of the congress
in providing the commission with It's
own force instead of requiring it to
rely on detailed clerks has been justi-
fed by the increased work done at a
smaller cost to the government. urge
upon the congress a careful consld-
GRAFTON Of the recommendations con-
tanned in the annual report of the COM
mission.
Copyright Laws.
Our copyright laws urgently need re-
vision. They are imperfect in defin1-
ton, confused and Inconsistent in ex-
preston; they omit provision for many
ar tlCleS WHICH, uuQeI I1O06Tn repro
ductive processes, are entitled to pro-
lection; 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 sat
isfactiOn 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 seems inn
practicable. A complete revision of
them is essential. Such a revision, to
meet modern conditions has been
Sweden, and other foreign countries,
and bills embOdying it are pending IN
England and the Austrian colonies. 1t
has been urged here, and proposals for
commission to undertake it have,
from time to time, been pressed upon
the congress. The inconVeniences OF
the present conditions being SO great,
an attempt to frame appropriate Iegis-
latiOn has been made by the copyright
office, which has called conferences of
the various interests especially and
practically concerned with the opera
ton of the copyright laws. 1t has Sc
cured from them suggestions as to the
changes necessary; it has added from
its own experience and Investigations,
and it has drafted a bill which en-
bodies such of these changes and addi-
pert criticism, appeared to be sound
and safe In form this bill would re-
place the existing insufficient and IN
consistent laws by one general copy
right statute. 1t will be presented to
the congress at the coming session. 1t
deserves consideration.
I recommend that a law be enacted
to regulate interstate commerce in
misbranded and unadulterated foods,
drinks, and drugs. Such law would
protect legitimate manufacture and
commerce, and would tend to secure
the health and welfare of the consum-
ing public. Traffic in foodstuffs which
have been debased or adulterated so
as 10 injure health or to deceive pur-
chasers should be forbidden.
The law forbidding the emission of
dense 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. 1 recommend that
it be made more stringent by increas-
ing both the minimum and maximum
fine; by providing for imprisonment
ins cases of repeated violation; and by
affOrding the remedy of injunction
against the continuation of the opera
ton of plants which are persistent Of
tenders. recommend. also, an in
crease in the number of inspectors,
whose duty it shall be to detect viola
tions of the act
National Parks.
call your attention to the generous
act of the state of California in con-
ferring upon the United States govern
ment the ownership of the oSemlte
valley and the MaripOsa Big Tree
grove. There should be no delay in
accepting the gift, and appropriations
should be made for the including
thereof in the Yosemite national park,
and for the care and policing of the
park. California has acted most wise
" as well as with great magnanimity
in the matter. There are certain
mighty natural features Of our land
which should be preserved in perpet-
uity for our children and our chill
dren's children. In my judgment the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado should
be made into a national park. It is
greatly to be wished that the state Of
New York should copy as regards
Niagara what the state of California
has done as regards the Yosemite
Nothing should be allowed to inter
fere with the preservation of Niagara
Falls in all their beauty and majesty
If the state can not see to this then it
is earnestly to be wished that she
should be willing to turn it over to the
national government, which should in
such case (if possible, in conjunction
with the Canadian government) as
sumo the burden and responsibility of
preserving unharmed Niagara Falls;
just as it should gladly assume a sim
liar burden and responsibility for the
Yosemite national park. and as 1t has
already assumed them for the Yellow
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