BUEEATJ OF MABKETS. 485 



also by its own extensive experience gained in supervision work. 

 Some changes, also, have been made in the rules and regulations 

 under which the act is enforced. 



SUPERVISION OF INSPECTION. 



The actual supervision of the inspection and grading of grain per- 

 formed by inspectors licensed under the provisions of the act is car- 

 ried on through 35 offices of Federal Grain Supervision located at 

 points accessible to the great grain markets of the country. Thi'ough 

 these offices compliance with the provisions of the act by shippers is 

 insured, and the work of licensed inspectors at different inspection 

 points is checked for accuracy. 



The experience of this bureau demonstrated the necessity for 

 devising a plan to secure uniformity of inspection in the various 

 markets and such a plan was made effective in April, 1918. Steps 

 are taken to ascertain, by a system of monthly reports, the degree of 

 accuracy with which the gi-ain standards are applied by licensed 

 inspectors. In order to secure imiformity the several districts of 

 Federal Grain Supervision which include markets handling grain of 

 similar kinds and classes have been grouped into divisions (six in 

 number), and a competent supervisor has been assigned to each 

 division. 



A series of meetings was held at 36 markets, in the course of which 

 representative committees of the principal gram exchanges in the 

 United States conferred with representatives of the bureau. As a 

 result a permanent committee of each exchange has been appointed 

 to deal with the Bureau of Markets in all matters pertaining to the 

 enforcement of the grain standards act. This should insure close 

 cooperation with the grain trade. 



INVESTIGATION OP CASES INVOLVING VIOLATIONS OF THE ACT AND COMPLAINTS AGAINST 



THE WORK OF LICENSED INSPECTORS. 



f 



Investigations were made of 17 cases of apparent violations of 

 section 4 of the act regarding the shipment of grain without inspec- 

 tion; 13 cases involving improper representation as to grade of grain 

 under section 5 ; 1 1 cases of misgrading grain under the provisions of 

 section 6; 8 cases of apparent violations of section 7; 18 cases in- 

 volving action against licensed inspectors; 1 case involving apparent 

 violation of section 9, in impropeily influencing a licensed inspector; 

 and 1 case involving a violation of section 10. 



During the year 50 examinations were held of persons desiring 

 licenses, 5 of whom were refused licenses. A total of 374 licenses 

 were issued, and 261 were superseded by others. 



APPEALS AND DISPUTES AND INSPECTION PROCEDURE. 



In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918, 1,457 appeals and 12 dis- 

 putes were filed with the offices of Federal Grain Supervision. Sixty- 

 nine appeals were dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and 1,388 were 

 entertained, of which 766 were sustained. 



Assistance has been rendered to licensed grain inspectors and to 

 members of the grain trade in order to bring about the correct appli- 

 cation of the official grain standards and the emploj-ment of proper 

 methods of procedure in sampling, testing, and grading grain. 



