ADMINISTRATION OF IMPORTANT REGULATORY LAWS 83 



function of this bureau. That part of the organization 

 which is directly engaged in the enforcement of the act 

 includes : ( i ) Field inspectors who procure samples for 

 analysis and information regarding the manufacture and 

 sale of drugs; (2) chemists and clerks in the laboratories 

 in Washington and branch laboratories in a few other large 

 cities; and (3) the Board of Food and Drug Inspection, 

 whose duties are to consider all questions arising in the 

 enforcement of the act upon which the decision of the Sec- 

 retary of Agriculture is necessary, and to conduct all hear- 

 ings based upon alleged violations of the law. 



At first there were about twenty branch laboratories. 

 This number has recently been reduced to four, experience 

 having shown that the work can be done more effectively 

 and economically where specialization can be introduced. 



Each of these laboratories is the center or central "office 

 of a district. All of the workers within a district are under 

 the immediate direction of a district supervisor, who is in 

 turn under the direction of the Chief of the Bureau of 

 Chemistry. 



Information secured by inspectors or from analyses is 

 reported to the Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, who 

 places it before the Board of Food and Drug Inspection. 

 If the information indicates a violation of the law, the 

 Board makes recommendations to the Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture regarding the exclusion of adulterated or misbranded 

 imported articles, or prosecutions for the shipment or sale 

 of domestic goods in violation of the law. All persons 

 charged with any violation of the statute are afforded a 

 hearing at which testimony may be offered, before prosecu- 

 tion is commenced in the courts or before any other action 

 is taken. 



In the case of imported foods and drugs no prosecutions 

 are made. The efforts of government officials are confined 

 to preventing the importation of illegal goods, and causing* 

 their rcshipnient or destruction. The Secretary of the 

 Treasury is instructed to deliver to the Secretary of Agri- 



