470 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



with stockyards, and the office prepared, in whole or in part, the 

 schedules to be used in food, fertilizer, farm implement, and seed 

 surveys. Assistance was rendered in the preparation of various 

 forms for administration of the proclamations requiring the licensing 

 of persons, companies, and corporations engaged in the operation of 

 stockyards, and the manufacture and sale of fertilizers and farm 

 implements. Assistance was also given in developing a plan for the 

 allotment, sale, and delivery of approximately 140,000 tons of nitrate 

 of soda to farmers, and in the preparation of a circular of informa- 

 tion, application forms, and letters of instruction to bankers and dis- 

 tributors. One hundred and fifteen nitrate shortage claims were re- 

 viewed to determine the liability of the Government therefor. As- 

 sistance was given in hearings and conferences and in the drafting of 

 correspondence with fertilizer manufacturers, through which they 

 were induced to permit the farmers to purchase fertilizers in lots of 

 30 tons or more for the same price paid by dealers, and aid was given 

 at conferences and in correspondence in securing reductions of ap- 

 proximately 30 per cent in the prices of mixed fertilizers for the fall 

 season of 1919. Representatives of the office conducted various hear- 

 ings throughout the country and otherwise assisted in the proceedings 

 relative to live-stock commission and yardage rates and other 

 charges for service at stockyards, the vaccination of stock hogs, com- 

 plaints submitted by the Farmers' Union Livestock Commission 

 against the Omaha Livestock Exchange, and complaints against 

 live-stock commission companies for overcharges in feed bills, etc. 



LTncler the Saulsbury resolution the office advised, and handled in 

 court, the cases of a number of department emplo3^ees threatened with 

 eviction from their premises. 



Aside from the war work, partly mentioned above, under your 

 direction, upon requests of committees or Members of Congress, the 

 office prepared or assisted in the preparation of several bills of a 

 comprehensive nature, including bills to regulate the packing in- 

 dustry (S. 2199, 66th Congress), interstate commerce in fertilizers 

 (H. 11. 15327, 65th Congress), interstate commerce in commercial 

 feeds (H. K. 16224, 65th Congress), the grading of fruits and vege- 

 tables (H. E. 5309, 66th Congress), the promotion of rural health 

 (H. R. 13342, 65th Congress), and the standardization of hampers 

 and round stave baskets. Amendments of the United States cotton 

 futures act, the United States warehouse act, and the United States 

 grain standard act were also drawn, of which the first two were 

 enacted. Advice and suggestions were given with reference to a 

 uniform State credit bill, and a bill to provide for State farmers 

 mutual insurance was drafted. A weights and measures bill for the 

 District of Columbia and a proposed New Jersey cooperative banking 

 law were reviewed and changes suggested. Proposed grain grading, 

 inspection, and marketing laws of Colorado, Idaho, North Dakota, 

 Oklahoma, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin were con- 

 sidered and comments made thereon. A bill drawn for introduction 

 in the Tennessee Legislature, granting to the United States the State's 

 title to land in areas proposed to be acquired by the Government 

 under the Weeks forestry law, was enacted. Numerous special items for 

 inclusion in the agricultural appropriation bill were drafted or re- 

 viewed, including an amendment of the plant-quarantine law to regu- 

 late movement of nursery stock and other plants and plant products 



