696 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



was detailed to Grand Forks, N. Dak., to aid the administrative 

 officials of the department. This work involved a large volume of 

 correspondence \vith attorneys, banks, and individuals and necessi- 

 tated the rendering of many opinions and the preparation of numerous 

 releases and other papers and the filing of claims in behalf of the 

 Government in bankruptcy proceedings resorted to by numbers of 

 borrowers. 



Aid was given the advisory committee on finance and business 

 methods in drafting orders and memoranda of the Secretary for the 

 general administration of the department and to the office of inspec- 

 tion in the consideration of a number of claims for reimbm-sement for 

 property lost or destroyed while being used for official work in the 

 national forests. 



• Assistance was given the Interdepartmental Board of Contracts 

 and Adjustments in the preparation of a standard form of lease for 

 the use of the various departments and independent establishments 

 of the Government and in the preparation of a tentative form of 

 building and construction contract. 



Compilation of laws applicable to the Department of Agricultm-e 

 was completed and submitted to the Public Printer during the year. 

 Editing of the printer's proof of the text, comprised in 680 pages, 

 was completed and the preparation of an index was undertaken. 

 The design of the work is to consolidate and present in a single volume 

 all existing laws relating or applicable to the work of the department 

 as a convenient som'ce of reference for the officials of the department 

 and others interested in its activities. 



Release of several department employees charged with violation 

 of traffic regulations of the District of Columbia was secured. 



Members of this office frequently participated in hearings and 

 conferences touching the various activities of the department. 

 Notable among these were hearings accorded the representatives of 

 the rosin and turpentine industry relative to the scope and character 

 of the naval stores act, and conferences with the officials of certain 

 railroads and of the Department of Justice relative to the settlement 

 of 28-hour-law violations in which suits for the recovery of the 

 statutory penalties had been instituted by the Government against 

 the carriers. These conferences resulted in the paynient into court 

 of $149,300 by the carriers in settlement of the violations. 



Conferences were also attended relative to the preparation of a bill 

 authorizing the registration of certain seeds and for o^her purposes; 

 the preparation of regulations governing the interstate transactions 

 of naval stores; regulations governing meat inspection; and regula- 

 tions under the cotton standards act, the grain futures law, the 

 cotton futures act, the food products inspection law, the tea inspec- 

 tion act, and the plant quarantine act. Almost daily conferences 

 were had with attorneys and shippers interested in goods seized under 

 the provisions of section 10 of the food and drugs act and in criminal 

 cases arising under that law. Numerous conferences were also had 

 wdth attorneys and others interested in matters arising under the 

 various other regulatory laws of the department. 



Many regulations, orders, proclamations, forms, specifications, and 

 schedules required in the administration of the various statutes com- 

 mitted to the department for enforcement were prepared or assist- 

 ance given in their preparation. Among the more important of 

 which mav be mentioned regulati( ns to carry into effect the grain 



