EEPOET OF THE SOLlCITOK. ' 331 



The number of violations reported of each of the other regulatory 

 acts with which this department is concerned varied somewhat from 

 the number reported during the previous year, but in the aggregate 

 was practically the same. 



This office examined all the evidence gathered by department 

 inspectors and communicated to it under these several regulatory 

 statutes, and advised that prosecutions could not be maintained in a 

 considerable number of cases. 



Reports coming to the office from various sources which disclosed 

 apparent violations of the postal laws and regulations, as hertofore, 

 Avere referred to the Postmaster General for investigation. 



Many memoranda on legal questions were furnished in cases re- 

 ported to the Department of Justice for prosecution. Among the 

 important cases in which this office assisted in the preparation of 

 briefs were the Pittsburgh Melting Co. v. Baltimore & Ohio Rail- 

 road Co. and George E. Totten, inspector, still pending; Chicago, 

 Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R. Co. v. United States (218 Fed., 288) ; 

 live cases in the district of Utah against the Utah Power & Light 

 Co. and three other companies (unreported) ; United States v. Col- 

 orado Power Co., still pending; Boise Lumber Co. v. Pacific & Idaho 

 Northern Railroad Co. and the Oregon Short Line R. R. Co., United 

 States, intervenor (33 I. C. C, 109) ; and United States v. Hodges 

 (218 Fed., 87). 



The practice of reporting to the Attorney General cases under the 

 food and drugs act, animal quarantine acts, plant quarantine act, 

 and insecticide act, in the form of proposed informations, already 

 completely drafted, for use by the United States attorneys, was con- 

 tinued and extended during the year to cases under the Lacey act 

 and the virus act. It has been demonstrated that this plan is of 

 great assistance in quickly disposing of prosecutions. 



Further to facilitate prosecutions under the food and drugs act, a 

 representative of the office was detailed to confer with United States 

 attorneys. Visits were made to nearly all districts where food and 

 drugs cases were pending. The conferences resulted in the termina- 

 tion during the year of a number more than 23 per cent in excess of 

 the number closed during the fiscal year 1914. Except in two dis- 

 tricts, practically all such cases not terminated by the close of the 

 fiscal year 1915 were reported during that year. 



Thirty-nine cases involving questions of irregularity or miscon- 

 duct by employees in the performance of their official duties were 

 reviewed. In each the facts were investigated. In 22, formal 

 charges were prepared; after the employees concerned had had full 

 opportunity to reply, the charges, the answers, and the evidence 

 received consideration, and the matters were reported to the Secre- 

 tary for his decision. 



Seven applications for letters patent on inventions of employees of 

 the department for dedication to the public were prepared and 

 filed. 



' Twenty claims for balances due estates of employees of the depart- 

 ment who died intestate were examined, the necessary papers pre- 

 pared for their payment, and advice furnished administrative offi- 

 cers of the department relating to the same. 



At the instance of committees of Congress, or upon instructions 

 of the Secretary, aid was given in drafting or in drawing the de- 



