778 ANNUAL. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The tendency of the courts to assess hirger penalties during the 

 fiscal year 1911 is noteworthy. In the fiscal j^ear 1910 in only 19 

 eases out of 139 disposed of during the year was the ])enalty over 

 SlOO, the minimum fixed by the act. During the fiscal year 1911, 

 however, in 46 cases out of 254 closed, the penalty was more than 

 IllOO. In 1910 the maximum fine assessed was SlOO in 1 case; there 

 were fines of $300 in 2 cases, $250 in 8 cases, and $200 in 8 cases; $100 

 Was assessed in the rest. In 1911 the maximum fine of $500 was 

 assessed in 3 cases, $350 in 1, $300 in 5, $250 in 6, $200 in 17, $150 

 in 11 cases, and $125 in 1 case; $100 was assessed in the remaining 

 cases. The record of penalties is particularly noteworthy because, 

 owing to the decision of the Supreme Court in Baltimore & Ohio 

 Southwestern R. R. Co. v. United States, a number of cases had to be 

 consolidated on which separate penalties would otherwise have 

 probably been secured. 



At page 106 of this report will be found a table setting forth the 

 details of cases arising under the 28-hour law (act of June 29, 1906; 

 34 Stat., 607), and finally disposed of during the period covered by 

 this report. 



ACTS REGULATING THE INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OF LIVE STOCK FROM 

 QUARANTINED DISTRICTS AND PROHIBITING THE INTERSTATE MOVE- 

 MENT OF DISEASED LIVE STOCK. 



The work consisting in the enforcement of the act of Congress 

 approved March 3, 1905 (33 Stat., 1264) entitled, "An act to enable 

 the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and maintain quarantine 

 districts, to permit and regulate the movement of cattle and other 

 live stock therefrom, and for other purposes," and the act of Congress 

 approved May 29, 1884 (23 Stat., 31) entitled, "An act for the estab- 

 lishment of the Bureau of Animal Industry, to prevent the exporta- 

 tion of diseased cattle, and to provide means for the suppression and 

 extirpation of pleuropneumonia and other contagious diseases 

 among domestic animals," have been systematically and unremittingly 

 prosecuted during the past fiscal year. 



During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, 90 alleged violations 

 of the act of March 3, 1905, and 10 alleged violations of the act of 

 May 29, 1884, were reported to the Attorney General. 



In addition to the work and time devoted to examining and col- 

 lating evidence of alleged violations and reporting the same to the 

 Attorney General, the Office of the SoUcitor has continued the prac- 

 tice of keeping in touch with the prosecution of the cases in the United 

 States courts of the various judicial districts, and through the cour- 

 tesy of the respective United States attorneys has thus been enabled 

 to keep informed as to the status and issue of the proceedings. By 

 reason of special experience in the enforcement of these statutes and 

 long familiarity with the interpretation of their provisions, the Office 

 of the Solicitor has been able to be of material assistance to United 

 States attorneys in questions of law arising in the course of the pros- 

 ecution of cases thereunder. Rulings and decisions of courts in pro- 

 ceedings in cases that were pertinent or of value in similar cases pend- 

 ing in other districts have been brought promptly to the attention of 

 United States attorneys in such districts. The office has also re- 

 sponded to requests for further investigation or additional evidence 

 in a number of cases. 



