18 ANMAI, IIKPORTS Ol- I )i;PAHT.M KXT (K A( ; IMCr I/IT UK. 



aiul live-stock estimates (luring- (lie next 10 years, and the expansion 

 should be provided for without delay. The crop and live-stock re- 

 portin<j: service should be i^reatly enlarged; farm surpluses should be 

 ascertained periodically, and essential data should be published more 

 promi)tly and in such form that they may be readily understood 

 and utilized. Estimates of the funds required to enable the depart- 

 ment to accomplish these purposes will be submitted to the Congress. 



SUrERVlSION OF LIVE-STOCK MARKETS. 



The supervision of the live-stock markets, authorized by the 

 President's proclamations of June 18 and September 6, 1918, issued 

 under the provisions of the food-control act of August 10, 1917, has 

 been continued by the Bureau of Markets, but the work has been 

 greatly handicapped by the lack of funds. Definite proof was 

 obtained that certain firms were exacting overcharges in the feed 

 accounts of their shippers, and they were given an opportunity to 

 refund the overcharges. Some did so, but six of them sought and 

 obtained from the district court at Chicago an order restraining 

 the Secretary of Agriculture from revoking their licenses. These 

 cases are still pending, and further action on all similar cases involv- 

 ing such overcharges is necessarily deferred, awaiting the decision 

 of the court. 



In July and August, 1920, commission men in Chicago, Kansas 

 City, Omaha, and East St. Louis put into effect new schedules of 

 commission rates, providing increases ranging as high as 25 per 

 cent on cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, and goats shipped in car lots bj' 

 single owners. After careful consideration of the evidence and data 

 in the possession of the department, the conclusion was reached that 

 these increased rates were unjust and not warranted by trade condi- 

 tions. Orders were issued, therefore, to all commission men in the 

 cities named to refrain from exacting the increased rates or charges. 

 They not only did not comply with the orders, but some of them 

 instituted suits in the Federal courts to restrain the department and 

 the United States attorneys from proceeding against them for failure 

 to do so. Temporary restraining orders Avere granted by the courts 

 and dates w^ere set for the Government to be heard. At the hear- 

 ings ih Chicago and Kansas Cit}', the department cooperated with 

 the United States attorney in the argument of the legal questions 

 involved, and the Avhole matter is now before the courts for deter- 

 mination. At Kansas City, under an order of the court, the com- 

 mission men are depositing with the clerk of the court, to abide the 

 results of the litigation, all receipts by them which represent the 

 difference between the commissions they were ordered to discontinue 

 ;nid those found to be just and reasonable. A similar practice is 

 beinir followed at Omaha and East St. Louis. 



