602 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The office participated in the consideration of 10 disputes under 

 the act in settlement of contracts entered into before tlie amendments 

 of March 4, 1919, became effective. 



UNITED STATES GRAIN STANDARDS ACT. 



(39 Stat. 482.) 



Assistance was given to the Bureau of Markets in the preparation 

 of tentative standards for rice, and hearings were attended in seven 

 markets in reference thereto. Aid was given in the preparation of 

 amendments of the regulations under the act. Consideration was 

 given to a general revision of the regulations, and a conference of 

 grain supervisors at Chicago was attended. 



Consideration was given to 57 possible violations of the act, of 

 which 4 were reported to the Department of Justice for prosecution, 

 resulting in 2 convictions and the imposition of fines amounting to 

 $100 in one case and $200 in the other. Aid was given the United 

 States attorney in the trial of one of the cases. Findings of fact 

 were published in 6 cases. Consideration was given to the suspension 

 and cancellation of a number of licenses under the act. In proceed- 

 ings in alleged violations of the act by shippers and against inspectors, 

 the records were reviewed and notices and letters were prepared upon 

 request of the Bureau of Markets. Two hearings held in connection 

 with such alleged violations were attended. The records in 540 ap- 

 peals involving the grading of shelled corn, wheat, and oats, under 

 the act, were reviewed. 



Consideration was given to a change in the method of handling ap- 

 peals under the act and to a revision of a number of forms used in 

 such appeals; also to the suggested form of grain inspection certifi- 

 cates to be used by inspectors licensed under the act. 



In cooperation with the Bureau of Markets, a method of handling 

 intrastate '' appeals " was devised. 



The office participated in conferences with the Secretary, the Bureau 

 of Markets, and committees representing the northwestern and south- 

 western grain interests regarding a possible revision of the official 

 wheat standards of the United States, and aid was given in plans for 

 the cooperative demonstration of the wheat grades in Kansas, Okla- 

 homa, and other States. 



Various opinions on questions arising in the administration of the 

 act and regulations, such as inspection requirements for Canadian 

 grain passing through the United States, seaboard inspection require- 

 ments of export grain, and whether or not milled rice is a grain within 

 the meaning of the act, were prepared, revised, or approved. Four 

 service and regulatory announcements and various bulletins of the 

 Bureau of Markets containing opinions and information relative to 

 the act were examined and changes suggested when necessary. 



UNITED STATES WAREHOUSE ACT. 



(39 Stat, 486, as amended; 41 Stat., 266.) 



Assistance was given to the Bureau of Markets in the preparation 

 of regulations for grain and for wool warehouses under the act. Hear- 

 ings were held in 16 markets in connection with the regulations for 

 grain warehouses and in 10 markets in connection with the regula- 



