OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 471 



into the District of Columbia: amendment of the meat-inspection law. 

 to cover horse meat; amendment of the act of March 3, 1917, relat- 

 ing to the cooperative activities of the department ; a provision for the 

 eradication of tuberculosis in animals and authorizing the Secretary 

 of Agriculture to pay part of the value of animals destroyed in co- 

 operation with the States in the eradication of tuberculosis; and an 

 item authorizing payment of rewards for evidence of fire trespasses 

 on the National Forests. 



A substantial part of the time of the oflice was consumed in ap- 

 pearance of its members before committees of Congress in hearings 

 held pn various bills affecting in whole or in part the work of the 

 department. 



The office prepared, or assisted in the preparation of, the depart- 

 ment's reports upon various bills referred by committees of Congress 

 having tliem in charge. Among the bills reported upon were 56 

 affecting the National Forests, one prohibiting the sale of game in 

 the District of Columbia, another authorizing the establishment of 

 game refuges in the National Forests, another authorizing the accept- 

 ance by the Secretary of Agriculture of gifts of lands to be devoted 

 to the conservation of wild life, and one to amend the Alaska game 

 law. The office was frequently called upon during the year to hold 

 or participate in hearings and conferences in Washington and else- 

 where relative to the various activities of the department. Among 

 the hearings held, additional to those relating to war emergency 

 measures heretofore mentioned, were 14 regarding disparities between 

 quotations of the " future" and "spot'' exchanges and utilization of 

 low-grade cotton; disputes between buyer and seller under the cotton 

 futures act; in 15 markets on the oat standards; at Minneapolis, 

 !Minn., and Fargo, N. Dak., relative to the grain-grading law of 

 North Dakota: 16 on the proposed gi*ain warehouse regulations; on 

 tlie proposed revocation of the license of a fertilizer manufacturer in 

 Massachusetts; on terms and methods of sale of fertilizers; and on 

 the operation of stockyards. Conferences were attended with the 

 Bureau of Markets and the Railroad Administration relative to the 

 loading of grain cars; with the Railroad Administration relative to 

 licensing as inspectors railroad elevator employees and to demurrage 

 charges on grain cars; with the trade and others interested relative 

 to various grain standards problems; with ti^de representatives 

 relative to proposed regulations for grain warehouses; with the 

 IJureau of Markets, the War Finance Corporation, the Farm Loan 

 Board, State Boards of Agriculture, and insurance rating bureaus 

 relative to the administration of the warehouse act; with manufac- 

 turers, producers, and sellers relative to the terms and methods of 

 sale of fertilizers ; with various operators and patrons relative to the 

 operation of stockyards; with various State agencies relative to 

 cooperative work with the Department of Agriculture involving 

 marketing and similar activities; and with the United States game 

 wardens relative to the administration and enforcement of the 

 migratory bird treaty act and the Lacey Act. 



The office prepared, or assisted in the preparation of, numerous 

 regulations, orders, forms, specifications, and schedules required in 

 the administration of various statutes committed to the department 

 for execution. Some of the more important of these were regula- 

 tions to carry into effect the migratoiy bird treaty act; regulations 



