The civil service law is being energetically and impartially enforced, and in the large majority of cases complaints 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 statute.  The question of politics in the appointment and retention of the men engaged in merely ministerial work has been practically eliminated in almost the entire field of Government employment covered by the civil service law.  The action of the Congress in providing the commission with its own force instead of requiring it to rely on detailed clerks has been justified by the increased work done at a smaller cost to the Government.  I urge upon the Congress a careful consideration of the recommendations contained in the annual report of the commission.

Our copyright laws urgently need revision.  They are imperfect in definition, confused and inconsistent in expression; they omit provision for many articles which, under modern reproductive processes are entitled to protection; 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 satisfaction 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 impracticable.  A complete revision of them is essential.  Such a revision, to meet modern conditions, has been found necessary in Germany, Austria, Sweden, and other foreign countries, and bills embodying it are pending in England and the Australian colonies.  It has been urged here, and proposals for a 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 legislation has been made by the Copyright Office, which has called conferences of 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.

I recommend that a law be enacted to regulate inter-State commerce in misbranded 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 food-stuffs which have been debased or adulterated so as to injure health or to deceive purchasers should be forbidden.