EEPOET OF THE SOUCITOK. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Office of the Solicitor, 

 Washington, D. C, October 1, 1912. 



Sir: I submit herewith the report of the work of the Office of the 

 Sohcitor for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1912. 

 Very respectfully, 



Geo. p. McCabe^ 



SohciioT. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary oj Agriculture. 



OUTLINE OF OFFICE WORK. 



New duties devolving upon the office in connection with the exami- 

 nation of titles to lands recommended by the National Forest Reser- 

 vation Commission for purchase under the Weeks Forestry Act of 

 March 1, 1911, and the approval of claims for rehef arising out of serv- 

 ices rendered in suppressing forest fires in 1910, presented under the 

 deficiency act of March 4, 1911, together with the normal growth of 

 the department's business, increased the volume of work of this 

 office during the fiscal year 1912 beyond that of any previous year. 

 The vigilance of the department's inspectors and other officers en- 

 gaged in detecting A^olations of the acts for the protection of the 

 National Forests, of the food and drugs act, the meat inspection law, 

 the twenty-eight hour law, the animal quarantine laws, the insecti- 

 cide and Lacey Acts, has resulted in the preparation by this office of 

 a much greater number of cases for prosecution by the Department 

 of Justice. With the greater number of cases there has been a corre- 

 sponding increase in the preparation of briefs and in correspondence 

 with the Attorney General and the United States attorneys on the 

 legal quastions involved. The numerous requests for assistance in 

 the preparation and prosecution of cases have been complied with 

 prornptly, and cordial cooperation with the prosecuting officers of 

 the Government has produced gratifying results. 



F'requent advice has been given to the several bureaus, divisions, 

 and offices on questions of law relating to the discharge of the varied 

 duties intnistea to them. 



The Solicitor attended all the hearings conducted by the House 

 Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Agriculture as the 

 -representative of the department. 



Notwithstanding the increase in the business of the office, the force 

 in Washington was not augmented during the year. All the em- 

 ployees were required to work beyond the customary hours from 



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