THE SOLICITOB. 893 



The office system of files and indexes was revised during the year. 

 The files are now arranged on a subjective basis, and card indexes 

 have been discontinued, with the exception of record indexes of 

 cases reported to the Department of Justice for prosecution. The 

 new system has proven both economical and efficient. The handling 

 of the work of the office by sections has been continued, and the work 

 has been kept current. All the employees in the office maintain a 

 live interest in the performance of their duties, and each of them is 

 entitled to a share of credit for the expeditious transaction of the 

 legal business of the department. 



The tabular statements appended to this report show in detail the 

 facts and status of the principal prosecutions originating in the 

 department in which the United States attorneys have begun pro- 

 ceedings, and of the claims and other matters affecting the admmis- 

 tration of the National Forests, with which the office is concerned. 



ADMINISTRATION OF THE ACTS OF CONGRESS. 

 THE FOOD AND DRUGS ACT. 



During the first quarter of the fiscal year just ended the method of 

 handling the food and drugs cases was prescribed by General Order 

 140 of tlie Secretary, and under this order 364 cases were considered 

 as to whether they should be prosecuted or abated and 655 cases were 

 considered as to whether or not the interested parties should be cited 

 to hearing, and 1,367 analytical cards were examined for the purpose 

 of determining whether or not further action should be taken thereon 

 looking to the institution of proceedings under section 2 of the act. 



On October 3, 1011, General Order 140 was modified by General 

 Order 147, which transferred to the Board of Food and Drug Inspec- 

 tion of the department the duty of determining whether citations for 

 henring should be issued to interested parties and as to whether 

 cases after hearings had been held should be reported to the Attornev 

 General for prosecution or abated. The order prescribed that all 

 cases in which a majority of the board decided legal proceedings 

 should be instituted were to be prepared for prosecution by the 

 Solicitor's office and reported -to the Attorney General. All cases 

 which the Board of Food and Drug Inspection has recommended for 

 prosecution since the date of the order nave been carefully prepared 

 for reference to the Department of Justice, and all questions relating 

 to the prosecution of cases before reported have been submitted to the 

 board for decision. 



This office has, in addition to the preparation and reporting of said 

 cases, conducted a large volume of correspondence with the various 

 United States attorneys relative to pencling proceedings and has, 

 upon roquost, in several instances prepared briefs upon legal points, 

 and in several cases wherc^ r(H|uests have been made by United States 

 attorneys have assisted in taking testimony for dej)ositions. 



Investigation by the department into the milk sup])ly of St. I^ouis, 

 Mo., the source of which was neighboring towns in the State of Illinois, 

 showed that lar^e quantities of milk contaminated by filth and other- 

 wise adulterated under the act were being shijiped interstate. As a 

 result of this investigation 238 cases involving the adulteration of 

 milk were prepared against various shippers in the State of Illinois 

 and reported to the Attorney General for prosecution. 



