The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-12-18
WILL INTEREST the FARMERS.
Report of the Secretary of Agriculture for 1913 Contains
Much Valuable Information.

dIudDIc Information.
able locations the funds thus saved,
will be taken. The crop and flood
warning service designed to enable
crop growers or those along certain
waterways to have notice in time to
take protective measures will be
siren gthened. The scientific work
of the bureau will be emphasized,
especially in fields having direct
bearing on agriculture, commerce,
navigation, and aviation.
POST OFFICE TO AID IN CENCUS
OF CROP ACREAGE.
Changes have been made in the
organization and work Of the Bureau
of Statistics to effect economies and
increase efficiency. 1t is recommend
ed that the designation Of this bu-
reau be changed to the Bureau of
Agricultural Forecasts which more
accurately defines it's functions. Co.
operation with the post Office to test
the practibility of an annual census
of acreage and stock through the
rural route carriers has been effect
ed. A committee on cooperation
composed of representatives of var
ious branches of the department and
of other federal departments will, it
is believed, eliminate duplication of
work and improve statistical results.
Increased accuracy of crop forecasts
will be secured through improvement
in the field forecast agents, special
crop reporting system and the field
service
COUNTRY TO BE RECONSTRUCTED
TO ENFORCE FOOD AND
DRUG ACT.
Certain reorganizations have been
effected in the Bureau of Chemistry
looking toward more effective ad-
ministration of the food and drugs
act and to greater constructive tech
biological assistance to manufacturers
in avoiding waste, reducing cost of
manufacture and to help them devel-
op purer products which will COM
ply with the law. The country will
be divided into several districts each
under the direction of competent
Official All branch laboratories and
food inspectors will be under single
direction and will work together in
stead Of being independent of each
other. a condition which led to lack
Of coordination in the past. Certain
branch laboratories will be consoli-
dated because the work can be done
more effectively and more cheaply in
the larger central laboratories which
are provided with complete equip
ment and specializing chemists. Ell
fort will be made to make the act
more of hygienic measure through
increased attention to milk, eggs.
oysters, and fish, which are subject
to organic contamination and may
become carriers of disease.
To bring about greater harmony
in the work of the state food officials
and the department in food and drug
work, the secretary called a confer
ence which was attended by repre-
sentatives of 80 states, the District of
Columbus, and Porto Rico. 1t is be-
lieved that this conference has pro-
NOTED much better understanding.
An Office which will act as a clear
ing house of information among the
state and federal food and drug Of
ficials will be established to prevent
OF work and promote har-
monious action and cooperation. Ex-
perience has revealed certain weak
nesses in the food and drugs act
notably the lack of provision for le-
gal standards, and it's failure to ap-
ply to certain external remedies. The
secretary will ask that authority be
granted to prepare and submit such
to this law as may be
deemed needful to safeguard the
health of the people, establish stan
dards, better define drugs, improve
the food supply, and promote uni
formity in the matter of food legis-
lation.
AND DRUGS ACT AND 9TH
Err REGULATORY ACTS.
Prosecutions under the food and
drugs act and other regulatory stat
utes will be expedited and made still
more effective through cooperation
with the Department of Justice
the solicitor will prepare
cases in the form of criminal infOr-
and place at the service of
the U. S. District Attorneys in the
trial of cases the departments at
IOl ASyo WIZ al IAOAou6AAy
with the highly technical and tech
biological aspects of many of these
causes. Under the food and drugs
act, 1913 cases were transmitted to
the department of justice. Fines
to $23,463.5O were i'm
posed in 500 criminal cases. and de-
crees of condemnation and forfeiture
entered in 365 other cases. Eight
hundred and sixty seven Notices of
Judgment were published. The
courts have evinced a disposition to
impose more severe penalties in food
and drug cases. Under the Meat
Inspection Act, 81 seeming VIOLA
tons were reported and convictions
secured in "a cases, in seven carry
ing sentences of Imprisonment. I'm
der the Live Stock Quarantine Acts,
fines aggregating $10,275 were i'm
posed in SO cases. Under the Lacey
Act regulating interstate traffic in'I
game, 154 cases were submitted, and
secured in 70 actions
Under the insecticide act of 1910,
1O8 cases were reported and SO cases
in fines or condemnation.