OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 579 



War to turn over to agricultural fertilizer distrihutors or users a 

 supply of nitrate of soda. Assistance was given in hearings and 

 conferences and in the drafting of correspondence with fertilizer 

 manufacturers. Representatives of the office conducted various 

 hearings throughout the country and otherwise assisted in the pro- 

 ceedings relating to live-stock commission and yardage rates and 

 other ciuirges for service at stockyards. Consideration was given to 

 complaints submitted against members of the Chicago Live Stock 

 Exchange, and against live-stock commission companies for over- 

 charges in feed accounts. Action b}' the department on such com- 

 plaints and hearings resulted in several suits in Federal courts to 

 enjoin the Secretary of Agriculture from revoking licenses for failure 

 of the licensees when ordered by the department to distribute to the 

 shippers sums of money ascertained by the department to be in excess 

 of amounts to which such licensees were entitled. This office spent 

 considerable time and effort in preparation for and in participation 

 in the trial of these cases. Six indictments under the Lever Food 

 Control Act were also prepared and transmitted to the Attorney Gen- 

 eral with the recommendation that criminal proceedings be insti- 

 tuted. Much time and effort were spent in conferences and corre- 

 spondence with members of the Bureau of Markets and with repre- 

 sentatives of the wool trade relatiA'e to the payment by wool dealers 

 to the Bureau of Markets, under regulations promulgated by the 

 War Industries Board, of certain excess wool profits made by them 

 on the 1918 avooI clip. Assistance was also given in the preparation 

 of regulations to carry into effect the food products inspection law 

 and in the preparation of a bulletin under that laAV and the regu- 

 lations. 



Under the Saulsbury resolution and the Ball amendment to the 

 antiprofiteering law, effective in the District of Columbia, the office 

 advised and handled in court the cases of a number of department 

 employees threatened with eviction from their rented premises. 



Under your direction and pursuant to requests of committees or 

 Members of Congress, this office prepared or assisted in the prepara- 

 tion of several bills or revisions of bills of a comprehensive nature 

 for regulating cold storage of food products (H, R. 9521, 66th Cong., 

 and vS. 3868, 66th Cong.), together with a compilation of State laws 

 relating to cold storage of articles of food (Part IX, Appendix I, of 

 hearings before the House Committee on Agriculture, Aug. 11, 1919) ; 

 and for standardization of hampers and round-stave baskets (H. R. 

 12350,66th Cong.). 



Lawyers of the office also appeared before committees of Congress 

 and conferred with members thereof, and the office made written 

 comments relative to provisions of the various bills to regulate the 

 packing industry (including S. 2199, 66th Cong. ; S. 2202. 66th Cong. ; 

 and II. R. 5310, 66th Cong.). Consideration was given to the matter 

 of regulating dockage of live stock. A bill to provide for State 

 farmers' mutual insurance was revised and amended and a pro- 

 posed grain grading and inspection law of Oregon was considered 

 and couunonts made thereon. Amoudments to tlie North Carolina 

 State warehouse act were prepared, after conferences with the officials 

 of the State and representatives of the Bureau of Markets, and a bill 

 to be introduced in certain State legislatures ]>roviding for coopera- 

 tion on the part of the States with the Biological Survey' in the 



