The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-06

urged here. and proposals for a com- mission 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 Iegisla- tion has been made by the Copyright Office, which has called conferences of the various interests especially and practically concerned with the opera tion of the copyright laws. It has se- cured from them suggestions as to the changes necessary; 1t has added from it's own experience and Investigations, and it has drafted bill which enl- bodies such of these changes and addi- tions as, after full discussion and ex- pert criticism, appear to be sound and safe. Tn form this bill would replace the existing insufficient and incomsist- 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.
 Adulteration of Foods.
 I recommend that law be enacted to regulate interstate commerce in mis- branded and adulterated foods, drinks, and drugs. Such law would protect legitimate manufacture and commerce, and would tend to secure the health and welfare of the consuming public. Traffic in foodstuffs which have been debased or adulterated so as to injure health or to deceive purchasers should be forbidden.
 Smoke Law.
 The law forbidding the emission of dense black CT gray smoke in the city of Washington has been sustained by the courts. Something has been ac- complished under it, but much remains to be done if we would preserve the Capital City from defacen1ent by the smoke nuisance. Repeated prosecu- tions under the law have not had the desired effect. recommend that it be made more stringent by increasing both the minimum and maximum fine; by providing for imprisonment in cases of repeated violation; and by affordina the remedy of injunction against the continuation of the operation of plants which are persistent offenders. I rec- ommend, also, an increase in tn enuna- Der of inspectors, whose duty 1t shall be to detect violations of the act.
 National Parks.
 call your attention to the generous act of the State of California in con- ferring upon the United States Gov- ernment the ownership of the Yose- mite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree nroITa TTIara S11n JnotS 1nf. Al iyN8 accepting the gift and appropriations should be made for the including there- of in the Yosemite National Park, and for the care and policing of the park. California has acted most wisely as we'll as with great magnaninlfty in the matter. There are certain mighty nat ural features of our land which should be preserved in perpetuity for our children and our children's children. Tn my judgment the Grand Canyon of the Colorado should be made into Iiation- al park. It is greatly to be wished that the State of New York should copy as regards Niagara what the State of Cal ifornia has done as regards the Yose- mite. Nothing should be allowed to irl- terfere with the preservation of Mi
 
 jesty. If the state cannot see to this then it is earnestly to be wished that she should be wiling to turn 1t over to the National Government, which should in such case (if possible, in con- junction with the Canadian govern ment) assume the burden and respon- sibility of preserving unharmed Nil agara Falls: just as it should gladly assume a similar burden and respOn- sibility for the Yosemite National Park and as it has already assumed them for the Yellowstone National park. Ad- equate provision should be made by the Congress for the proper care and sups ervision should be made by the Con- gress for the proper care and super- vision of all these national parks. The boundaries of the Yellowstone National Park should be extended to the south and east to take in such portions of tha abutting forest reservation as will en, able the Government to protect the elk on the winter range.
 The most characteristic animal of the western plains was the great shaggy- maned wild OK, the bison, commonly known as buffalo. Small fragments of herds exist in donesticater state here and there few of them in the Yel- lowstone Park. Such herd as that or the Flathead Reservation should not be allowed to go out of existence. Eith- CT on some reservation or on some for- est reserve like the Wichita reserve and game refuge provision should ba made for the preservation of such herd. I believe that the scheme would be of economic advantage, for the robe of the buffalo is of high market value, and the same is true of the robe of the cross-hred animals.