344 ajstnual kepobts of department of ageiculture. 



pared. A public hearing held in Washington on these, and on the 

 regulations of the Treasury Department under this act, was attended. 

 Assistance was also given in the preparation of amendments to the 

 regulations and in the draft of the Secretary's certificate promulgat- 

 ing official cotton standards for white cotton. Forms made necessary 

 by the various provisions of the act were prepared. Numerous letters 

 were prepared or reviewed in answer to questions propounded by per- 

 sons whose business is affected by the act. Personal conferences were 

 had at New York and New Orleans with members of the cotton 

 exchanges in those cities in regard to the administration of the act. 

 The rules of these exchanges and rules of the Carolina mills and the 

 New England terms governing the purchase and sale of cotton were 

 carefully examined and criticized from the standpoint of the act. 



Near the close of the fiscal year two suits were filed in the United 

 States District Court for the Southern District of New York in 

 which the constitutionality of the cotton futures act is drawn in 

 question. 



Several drafts of proposed State laws providing for the organiza- 

 tion of cooperative associations, submitted to the department for 

 comment and suggestions, were studied and advice given in reference 

 thereto. The incorporation laws of a large number of States, affect- 

 ing banking and building and loan associations, were extensively in- 

 vestigated, in order to ascertain whether or not under these laws 

 farmers' cooperative banks and other cooperative organizations might 

 be created. A digest was prepared of the statutes and decisions of the 

 courts of California bearing on cooperative associations, monopolies, 

 and restraints of trade. With a view to advising the Office of Markets 

 and Rural Organization, the advertising matter and contracts of 

 certain companies operating farmers' loan schemes were reviewed. 

 At the request of Members of Congress, examinations of, and sug- 

 gestions with reference to, proposed legislation in furtherance of 

 emergency loans on cotton were made. 



GENERAL STATUTES. 



At the close of the previous fiscal year there were pending 4 cases 

 of violations of the general criminal laws of the United States re- 

 ported to the Attorney General. During the present year 29 such 

 cases were reported to the Attorney General. Of the cases reported 

 this year, together with those coming over from previous years, 17 

 were disposed of. Nine of these were abandoned for lack of suffi- 

 cient evidence; in 3, grand juries refused to indict; in 1, the defendant 

 was fined $200 ; in 1, the defendant was fined $10 and costs upon a 

 plea of guilty; in 1, the defendant was fined 2 cents; in 1, the defend- 

 ant, upon a plea of guilty, was fined $60; and in 1, a case of con- 

 spiracy to violate the food and drugs act, 4 defendants were sentenced 

 to 1 year and 1 day each in prison, 2 received sentences of 6 months, 

 and 1 was sentenced to 3 months in prison. At the close of the year 

 16 cases were pending in the courts. 



PATENTS. 



Seven applications for letters patent on inventions of employees of 

 the department for dedication to the public were prepared and filed. 

 During the year, 4 were allowed and 1 disallowed. 



