OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 585 



States V. Albert C. Krumm, all involvin<T violations of the food and 

 driif^s act; Kuenster Live Stock Commisison Co. v. Meredith, a suit 

 to restrain the Secretary of Afjricultiire from revoking the company's 

 license under the Lever law for failure to return to shippers of live 

 stock sums of money found to be due them on account of certain 

 charges for feed ; United States v. Rockefeller, involving violation of 

 the migratory bird treaty act; and United States v. Parke, Davis & 

 Co., involving a violation of the insecticide act. 



In addition to the opinions expressed in letters and memoranda to 

 the various officials, bureaus, offices, and divisions of the department, 

 frequent daily conferences Avere had with them with reference to 

 legal questions involving their work. The work of the office consid- 

 ering its nature was current at the end of the year. 



A more detailed statement of the work of the office during the year, 

 without reiteration of what has been fairly covered by the foregoing 

 summary, follows. 



THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



LAND CLAIMS. 



At the commencement of the fiscal year there were pending 344 

 cases. During the year there were added 108 cases, and 130 were 

 closed, leaving 322 pending. A total of 452 Avere handled, involving 

 land claimed under the homestead, timber and stone, mineral, rail- 

 road, lieu selection, and other general and special laws. 



One hundred and eleven decisions were rendered, including those 

 of the registers and receivers and the Commissioner of the General 

 Land Office, subject to revieAv, respectively, by the Commissioner of 

 the General Land Office and the Secretary of the Interior. The 

 registers and receivers decided 13 for and 17 against the United 

 States; the commissioner 31 for and 29 against the United States; 

 and the Secretary 4 for and 17 against the United States. 



Of the 130 cases closed during the* year, 27 were by decisions in 

 favor of the Government and 35 by decisions for claimants. In 21 

 cases the claims were canceled or relinquished. In 40 the Forest 

 Service protest was withdrawn (in nearly all of the cases the com- 

 missioner or the Secretary reduced the required amount of cultiva- 

 tion to that shown by the entryman), and in 7 cases the proof was 

 Avithdrawn after protest. As a result of the 27 decisions in favor of 

 the Government, api)roximatelv 4,320 acres of land, supporting a 

 stand of 22,235,000 feet of timber, valued at approximately $88,840, 

 were saved to the (lovernment. 



The remaining 322 cases receiA^ed attention varying in degree Avith 

 their progress in the Forest Service and in the Department of the 

 Interior. Hearings Avere attended in 44 cases. Depositions Avere 

 taken in 9 cases. Briefs were filed in 21 cases. Tavo cases were 

 orally argued before the Secretary of the Interior and one motion for 

 rehearing, supported by brief, AA*as filed. One appeal to the Secre- 

 tary of the Interior, accompanied by brief, Avas prosecuted and one 

 petition for the exercise of supervisory authority, accompanied by 

 brief, was made to the Secretary. 



The assistants to the Solicitor in the field examined and passed upon 

 the evidence in many cases in addition to the 108 ncAv cases in Avhich 

 protests were prepared to be filed in the local land offices by the 



24435— AOB 1020 38 



