396 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



During the fiscal year 31 bonds, 341 renewals, and 44 terminations 

 were prepared. 



Eleven hundred and fifty-two written opinions, including the 484 

 above mentioned for the Forest Service, were rendered. In addition 

 140 written opinions upon questions arising in the administration of 

 the United States grain standards act were drafted, and 24 Service 

 and Regulatory announcements and information bulletins of the Bu- 

 reau of Markets, containing opinions and information relative to the 

 act, were examined and changes suggested when necessary. 



Forty-nine applications for letters patent on inventions of em- 

 ployees of the department for dedication to the public were prepared 

 and filed. During the year 34 applications were allowed and 3 

 disallowed. 



Project statements for 663 projects under the Federal aid road act 

 were reviewed and 218 project agreements, under that act, with cer- 

 tificates of approval of plans, specifications and estimates, involving 

 a total estimated expenditure of $14,239,939,15, were examined. 

 There w'ere also examined 49 original and supplementary cooperative 

 agreements under section 8 of the act relating to roads and trails in 

 national forests. 



Forty claims for balances due estates of employees of the depart- 

 ment who died intestate were examined, the necessary papers pre- 

 pared for their payment, and advice furnished administrative officers 

 of the department relating to the same. 



Nine cases involving irregularities or misconduct of employees in 

 their official clujties were reviewed, the necessary investigations made, 

 and appropriate papers prepared. In addition advice was given on 

 special features of several other personnel cases, no record of which 

 was preserved in this office. 



Aid was given the advisory committee on finance and business 

 methods in drafting a revision of the administrative regulations 

 various amendments of the fiscal regulations, and orders and memo- 

 randa of the Secretary for the general administration of the depart- 

 ment, and to other bureaus and offices of the department in drafting 

 regulations, amendments of regulations, and orders required in the 

 administration of the acts of Congress administered by them. 



Many documents of various kinds, including statements of issues, 

 briefs, and memoranda on legal matters were prepared on behalf of 

 the officials of this department for submission to the Attorney Gen- 

 eral, the Secretary of the Interior, the Comptroller of the Treasury, 

 and the officials of other departments. Among the questions were 

 whether section 5 of the pending bill to carry into effect the migratory 

 bird treaty with Great Britain, so far as it provided for searches 

 and seizures without warrant, would be constitutional; whether a 

 department employee may be compelled to testify in behalf of a 

 litigant upon matters coming to his knowledge through his official 

 position; whether the department might accept a gift of lots in 

 Colorado for use rs headquarters of forest officers; whether the de- 

 partment might pay the cost of advertising required by the Colorado 

 statutes as a condition precedent to the execution and delivery of a 

 deed to the Government of certain lots of land; and whether the 



