No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 65 



in relation to a particular case, and in so doing expressed certain 

 principles tbat should govern the interpretation of this opinion as 

 applied to other cases. This decision has lead to considerable difference 

 in the judgments of various legal authorities, and lor the guidance 

 of the Dairy and Food Bureau the question was referred to the At- 

 torney General's Office for an opinion, which was prepared by Deputy 

 Attorney General William M. Hargest. These two opinions are pre- 

 sented in full as papers Nos. I and II of the appendix to this report. 

 The matter of the latter opinion is so important in its relation to 

 the general question of the police powers of the State, that it should 

 interest every citizen. 



SUMMAKY OF THE BUKEAU'S ACTIVITIES DURING 1915 



The organization of the Bureau has been little changed during the 

 past year, and the methods of operation found successful in the early 

 years of the service, have been continued with little modification. 



In the immediately following paragraphs is presented a summary 

 of the Bureau's operations during 1915. Such matters of detail as 

 require mention will be reserved for a later section of this report. 



During 1915, the chemists of the Department analyzed 8,939 sam- 

 ples of various food stuffs and there were 1,165 prosecutions ter- 

 minated for violations of the food laws. The several classes of 

 materials on account of whose adulteration or misbranding these 

 prosecutions were instituted are as follows: Milk, 625; Coffee and 

 Chicory, 2; Cold Storage foods, 76; Eggs, 17; Food, 176; Ice Cream. 

 41; Lard, 8; Non-Alcoholic Drinks, 76; Oleomargarine, 16; Renovated 

 Butter, 2; Sausage, 25; Vinegar, 101. 



There was a large increase in the number of oleomargarine licenses 

 during the year, due to the vigilance of the field agents in prosecuting 

 dealers selling without license. 



The receipts* of the Dairy and Food Bureau for the past year 

 were $279,055.40, as against 1225,910.78 in 1914. This money has 

 been deposited with the State Treasurer for the use of the Common- 

 wealth and is shown to be |193,154.04 in excess of the expenditures, 

 which are provided for by special appropriation. 



In the following table the numbers of samples analyzed and of 

 cases terminated, and the receipts and expenditures during the 

 period beginning with 1907 and ending 1915 are stated: 



*For a classified statement of receipts and expenditures, see Appendix V. 



