REPORT OF THK SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 57 



applicable to such feeds, it has been impossible under its provisions 

 to prevent some of the worst forms of adulteration and misbranding. 

 This matter should receive careful consideration, and a comprehen- 

 sive law which will prevent the shipment in interstate and foreij!;n 

 commerce of worthless, adulterated, or misbninded feeds should be 

 enacted as promptly as possible. In framing the measure, it would be 

 highly desirable to give the department authority to establish stand- 

 ards which will adequately protect the purchaser against articles that 

 have little or no feeding value. 



There is need also of similar legislation dealing with the adultera- 

 tion, debasement, and false labeling of fertilizers and naval stores. 



ROADS. 



Provision should be made, at the next session of the Congress, for 

 the continuance of the highway program along the lines recom- 

 mended on pages 51 and 52. 



MARKETING OF LIVE STOCK. 



Many measures designed to regulate and control establishments 

 encaired in the handling of live stock and in the manufacture and 

 preparation of meat and meat food products have been under public 

 discussion. Several bills dealing with the problems involved are 

 now pending in the Congress and are in various stages of considera- 

 tion. Undoubtedly, it Avould be desirable, not only in the interest of 

 the producer but of the consumer as well, to enact legislation which 

 would make it impossible for those dealing in live stock and its 

 products to exercise undue control over marketing facilities or to 

 impose unfair or unreasonable charges for their services. 



THE NEED OF NEW BUILDINGS. 



Immediate consideration should be given to improving the housing 

 conditions of the department in Washington. The existing situa- 

 tion makes for waste and inefficiency in many directions. Forty-two 

 buildings or parts of buildings, including both Government owned 

 and rented structures, are noAv occupied for office, laboratory, stor- 

 age, and other purposes. They are in widely scattered locations, 

 many of them considerable distances away from the administration 

 building, and several are antiquated, unsuitable, and nonfireproof. 

 The cost of maintenance, upkeep, and operation under such condi- 

 tions is unavoidably large and will grow year by year. 



Recently some branches of the department, at the direction of the 

 Puljlic Buildings Commission, which has full control over the 

 allotment of all space occupied by the Government departments in 

 Washington, have been placed in the temporary frame structures 

 erected during the war. It is difficult to conceive of any type of 

 24435— AGR 1020 5 



