Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-05

health or to deceive purchasers should
be forbidden.
Smoke Law.
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 accom-
plished under ii, but much remains to
be done if we would preserve the Cap
ftai City from DETACHMENT by the smoke
nuisance. Repeated prosecutions I'M
der the law have not had the desired
effect. l recommend that it be made
more stringent by increasing both the
minimum and maximum fine, by pro-
viding for imprisonment in cases of re-
peated violation and by affording the
remedy of injunction against the con-
tinuation OF the operation of plants
which are persistent offenders. l rec
ommend also an increase in the number
of inspectors. whose duty il shall be 10
detect violations of the act.
National Parks.
call your attention TO the generous
act of the state of California i'll confer
ring upon the United States govern
ment the ownership of the Yosemite
valley and the MaripOsa big tree grove.
There should be no delay in accepting
the gift, and appropriations should he
made for the including thereof in the
Yosemite National park and for the
care and policing of the park. Califor-
mia has acted most wisely as we'll AZ
with great magnanimity in the matter.
There are certain mighty natural fea-
lures Of our land which should be pre-
sevved in perpetuity for our children
and our children's children. In my
judgment, the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado should be made into a ma
tional park. 1t is greatly 10 be wished
that the state of New York should copy
as regards Niagara what the state of
California has done as regards the Yo-
semitic. Nothing should be allowed TO
interfere with the preservation of Nj
agara falls in all their beauty and maj
esty. If the state cannot see to this.
then it is earnestly to be wished that
she should he willing to turn it over to
the national government. which should
in such case Of possible in conjunction
with the Canadian government assume
the burden and responsibility of pre-
serving unharmed Niagara falls. just
as il should gladly assume a similar
burden and responsibility for the Yo-
semitic National park and as il has al
ready assumed them for the Yellow
stone National park. Adequate provi-
sion should be made by the congress
for the proper care and supervision of
all these national parks. The bounda-
ries of the Yellowstone National park
should be extended to the south and
east to take in such portions of the
abutting forest reservation as Will en-
able the government to protect the elk
on their winter range.
The most characteristic animal of the
western plains was the great shaggy
named wild OK. the bison. commonly
known as buffalo. Small fragments of
herds exist in domeSticated state
here and there. a few of them i'll the
Yellowstone park. Such herd as that
on the Flathead reservation should not
be allowed to go out of existence. Ell
Their on some reservation or on some
forest reserve like the Wichita reserve
and game refuge provision should be
made for the preservation of such a
herd. / 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 bred animals.
Life Saving Service.
/ call your especial attention to the
desirability 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 matter OF fact way do deeds
such as make Americans proud of their
country. They have no political intlu
ence, and they live in such remote
places that the really heroic services
they continually render receive the
scantiest recognition from the public
| 1t IS unjust for a great nation like this
| TO permit these men to become totally
| disabled or to meet death in the per
| Torrance of their hazardous duty and
Yet TO give them no sort of reward. IL
| one of them serves thirty years of his
| life in such position he should surely
be entitled TO retire ON half pay. as d
| fireman or policeman does. and if ht
| becomes totally incapacitated through
/ Nttluent OT SlChItSS VI lpSt> Ills HtdilA
in the discharge OF his duty he or his
| family should receive a pension just a:
| any soldier should. l call your atten
| ton with especial earneStness to thi:
matter because it appeals not only t.
/ our judgment, but TO our sympathy, TO
the people on whose behalf l ask it arr
| comparatively few in number. rende
| incalculable service of a particular!
dangerous kind and have no one 4
| speak for them.
Indians.
During the year just past the phas'
of the Indian question which has beer
most sharply brought to public atten
ton is the larger legal significance o
the Indians induction into citizenship
| This has made itself manifest not onl,
in a great access OF litigation in whicl
the citizen Indian figures a. a part.
| defendant and in more widespread
| disposition to levy local taxation upol