The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-06

lian colonies. II haS been urged here, and proposals for commission to under take it have, from time to time. been pressed upon Congress. The inconven- fence of the present conditions being so great an attempt to frame appropriate legislation has been made by the copy right office, which has called conferences for the various interests especially and practically concerned with the operation of the copyright laws. It 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 criticism, appeared to be sound and safe. In form this bill would replace the existing insufficient and inconsistent laws by one general copyright statute. It will be presented to the Congress at the coming session. It deserves prompt consideration.
 Audulteration 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 legit- innate manufacture and commerce. and would tend to secure the health and wei fare of the consuming public TrSsfic in foodstuffs which have been debased or adulterated so as to injure health or to deceive purchasers should be forbidden.
 Smoke Law.
 The law forbiddlng the emission of dense black or gray smoke in the city of Washington has been sustained by the courts. Something has been accom- plished under it, but much remains to be done if we would preserve the Capital City from defacement by the smoke nuis- . .ance. Repeated prosecutions under the Ia VI ha m desired effect. I rec ommend that 1t be made more stringent by increasing both the minimum and maximum fine; by providing for impris- onment in cases of repeated violation, and by affording the remedy of injunction against the continuation of the operation of plants which are persistent offenders. I recommend, also an increase in tho number of inspectors. whose duty 1t shall be to detect violations of the act.
 National Parks.
 I call your attention to the generous act of the state of California in con- ferring upon the United States govern inent the ownership of the Yosemite Val ley 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 po- fleeing of the park. California has acted most WlSely dS we'll dS Wltn bltdt iii6 nanimty in the matter. There are cer- tain mighty natural features of our land which should be preserved in perpetuity for our children and our childrens chll- dren. In my judgment the Grand Can yon 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 Call fornio has done as regards the Yosemite Nothing should be allowed to interfere with the preservation of Niagara Falls in all their beauty and majesty. IT the state cannot see to this then 1t is earnest ly to be wished that she should be willing to turn 1t over to the nationaA govern ment, which should in such case of possl- ble. in conjunction with the Canadian government assume the burden and re- sponsibility of preserving unharmed Ni- agara Falls just as it should gladly as- sume a similar burden and responsibility for the Yosemite National park Aue- ouate provision should be made by the Congress 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 tho abutting forest reservation as will en- able the government to protect the elk on their winter range.
 The most characteristic animal of the western plain was the great shaggy named wild OK, the bison, commonly known as buffalo. Small fragments ol herds exist in a domesticated state here and there, a few of them in Yellowstone park. Such a herd as that on the Flat head Reservation should not be allowed to go out of existence. Either on some reservation or on some forest reserve like the Wichita reserve and game retugc provision should be made for the preser-
 al I ho1f scheme would be of economic advantage, for the robe of the buffalo is of high market value and the same Is true or the robe of the cross-bred animals.
 Life Saving Service.
 I call your especial attention to the de- sirability of giving to the members of the life-saving service pensions such as are given to firemen and policemen in all our great cities The men in the life-saving service continually and in the most mat ter of fact way do deeds such as make Americans proud of their country. They have no political influence; and they live in such remote places that the really he roic services they continually render re- eeive the scantest recognition from the public. 1t is unjust for great nation like this to permit these men to become totally disabled or to meet death In the performance of their hazardous duty ana yet to give them no sort of reward. 1T one of them serves thirty years or ms life in such a position he should sureiy pc entitled to retire on half pay, as a fire- man Or policeman does, and if he be- comes totally incapacitated through ac- cident or sickness or loses his healtn m the discharge of his duty he or hls family should receive a pension Just as any sol dier should. I call your attention With especial earnestness to this matter pe- cause 1t appeals not only to our Juus ment but to our sympathy; for the peo- nle on whose behalf I ask 1t are com paratively few in number, render incai- culable service of particularly danger ous kind and have no one to speak TOT them.
 Indians.
 During the year just past the phase of the Indian question, which has been most sharply brought to public attention, Is the larger legal significance of the In dian's induction into citizenship. rms has made itself manifest not only In n great access of litigation in which the citizen Indian figures are party defendant and in q more widespread disposition to levy local taxation upon his personality, but in decision of the United States su- preme court which struck away the main prop on which has hitherto rested the governments benevolent effort to protect him against the evils Of intemperance. The court holds in effect, that when an Indian becomes. by virtue of an allot- ment of land to him, citizen or the state in which his land Is situated he passes from under federal control In such ma tters as this, and the acts of the Con gross prohibiting the sale or gift to him of intoxicants become substantially ln- operative. It Is gratifying to note that the states and municipalities of the wess Io,. at cts n W4ltAEN