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But provided, however, that the Commissioner shall not distribute to any senator, representative, or delegate seeds entirely unfit for the climate and locality he represents, but shall distribute the same so that each member may have seeds of equal value, as near as may be, and the best adapted to the locality he represents."

11. Division of Agricultural Statistics. For collecting foreign and domestic agricultural statistics, and compiling, writing, and illustrating matter for monthly, annual, and special reports.

12. Library. For entomological and botanical works of reference, works on chemistry and mineralogy, charts, current agricultural works for library, miscellaneous agricultural periodicals, and the completion of imperfect series.

13. Bureau of Animal Industry.— The Act of 29th May 1884, c. 60, authorised the Commissioner of Agriculture to organise in his department a bureau of Animal Industry, the chief thereof to be a competent veterinary surgeon, whose duty it should be to investigate and report upon the condition of the domestic animals of the United States, their protection and use, and also inquire into and report the causes of contagious, infectious, and communicable diseases among them, and the means for the prevention and cure of the same, and to collect such information on these subjects as should be valuable to the agricultural and commercial interests of the country. He was authorised to appoint two competent agents, who should be practical stock-raisers or experienced business men familiar with questions pertaining to commercial transactions in live-stock, whose duty it should be, under his, the Commissioner of Agriculture's, instructions, to examine and report upon the best methods of treating,

transporting, and caring for animals, and the means to be adopted for the suppression and extirpation of contagious pleuro-pneumonia, and to provide against the spread of other dangerous, contagious, infectious, and communicable diseases. It is the duty of the Commissioner to prepare such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary for the speedy and effectual suppression and extirpation of said diseases, and to certify such rules and regulations to the executive authority of each state and territory, and invite said authorities to co-operate in the execution and enforcement of said Act. Whenever the plans and methods of the Commissioner are accepted by any state or territory in which pleuro-pneumonia or other contagious, infectious, or communicable disease is declared to exist, or such state or territory has adopted plans and methods for the suppression and extirpation of said diseases, and such plans and methods are accepted by the Commissioner, and whenever the governor of a state, or other properly constituted authorities, signify their readiness to co-operate for the extinction of any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease, in conformity with the provisions of said Act, the Commissioner of Agriculture is authorised to spend so much of the money appropriated as may be necessary to prevent the spread of the disease from one state or territory into another. In order to promote the exportation of live-stock from the United States, the Commissioner makes special investigation as to the existence of pleuro-pneumonia or any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease, along the dividing lines between the United States and foreign countries, and along the lines of transportation from all parts of the United States to ports from which live-stock are exported, and makes report of the results of such investigations to the

Secretary of the Treasury, who from time to time establishes such regulations concerning the exportation and transportation of live-stock as the results of said investigations may require. To prevent the exportation from any port of the United States of such diseased live-stock, the Secretary of the Treasury takes such steps and adopts such measures, not inconsistent with said Act, as he may deem necessary. No railroad company within the United States, or the owners or masters of any steam, or sailing, or other vessel or boat, shall receive for transportation or transport, from one state or territory to another, or from any state into the District of Columbia, or from the district into any state, any live-stock affected with any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease, and especially the disease known as pleuro-pneumonia ; nor shall any person, company, or corporation deliver for such transportation to any railroad company, or master or owner of any boat or vessel, any live-stock knowing them to be so affected; nor shall any person, company, or corporation drive on foot, or transport in private conveyance, from one state or territory or said district to another, any livestock, knowing them to be so affected: Provided that the so-called splenetic or Texas fever be not considered a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease within the meaning of these provisions, as to cattle being transported by rail to market for slaughter when the same are unloaded only to be fed and watered in lots on the way thereto. It is the duty of the Commissioner to notify in writing the proper officials or agents of any railroad, steamboat, or other transportation company, doing business in or through any infected locality, and by publication in such newspapers as he may select, of the existence of said contagion; and any person or persons operating

any such railroad, or master or owner of any boat or vessel, or owner or custodian of, or person having control over, such cattle or other live-stock within such infected district who knowingly violate the provisions as to transporting affected live-stock, are guilty of a misdemeanour, and, upon conviction, are punished by a fine of not less than $100, nor more than $5000, or by imprisonment for not less than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Whenever any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease affecting domestic animals, and especially pleuropneumonia, is brought into or breaks out in the District of Columbia, it is the duty of the commissioners of said district to take measures to suppress the same promptly, and to prevent the same from spreading; and for this purpose they are empowered to order and require that any premises, farm, or farms, where such disease exists or has existed, be put in quarantine; to order all or any animals coming into the district to be detained at any place or places, for the purpose of inspection and examination; to prescribe regulations for, and to require the destruction of, animals affected with contagious, infectious, or communicable disease, and for the proper disposition of their bodies and carcasses; to prescribe regulations fer disinfection, and such other regulations as they may deem necessary to prevent infection or contagion being communicated, and to report to the Commissioner of Agriculture whatever they may do. It is the duty of the several United States district attorneys to prosecute all violations of this Act brought to their notice or knowledge, by any person making the complaint under oath; and the same are heard before any district or circuit court of the United States, or territorial court, holden within the district in which

the violation of this Act has been committed. The Commissioner of Agriculture reports annually to Congress at the commencement of each session a list of the names of all persons employed, an itemised statement of all expenditures under this Act, and full particulars of the means adopted and carried into effect for the suppression of contagious, infectious, or communicable diseases among domestic animals. By the Appropriation Act of 1886, the sum of $100,000 was appropriated for the purposes of this bureau, including the expenditure in the purchase and destruction of diseased animals whenever, in the judgment of the Commissioner, it was essential to prevent the spread of pleuro-pneumonia from one state into another.

14. Quarantine Stations for Neat Cattle. To establish and maintain quarantine stations, and to provide proper shelter for and care of neat cattle imported, at such ports as may be deemed necessary.

15. Division of Forestry. "For the purpose of enabling the Commissioner of Agriculture to experiment, and to continue an investigation and report upon the subject of forestry, and the collection and distribution of valuable economic forest-tree seeds and plants."

16. Reclamation of Arid and Waste Lands. To aid in sinking an artesian well in Eastern Oregon or Eastern Washington territory, with a view to reclaim arid and waste public lands, such well to be located and money expended under the direction of the Commissioner, in conjunction with the expenditure of any appropriation made, or which may be made, by said state or territory, and contributions by individuals for such purposes $5000. Provided that no part of this money be used in sinking any well, except the same be located on lands owned by the United

States, and the 160 acres of land on which the same may be sunk be reserved from sale till otherwise provided by law.

17. Tea-Culture. -For the distribution of the tea-plants on the Government tea-farm in South Carolina, or such number of them as are in proper condition for transplanting, and to preserve the property and close out the interests of the Government at that place.

Animals brought into the United States temporarily, and for a period not exceeding six months, for the purpose of exhibition or competition for prizes offered by any agricultural or racing association, are admitted free, but a bond has to be first given in accordance with the regulations; and animals specially imported for breeding purposes are admitted free upon proof thereof satisfactory to the Secretary of the Treasury, and under such regulations as he may prescribe.

The Commissioner of Agriculture annually makes a general report in writing of his acts to the President and to Congress, in which he may recommend the publication of papers forming parts of or accompanying his report, which also contains an account of all moneys received and expended by him. He also makes special reports on particular subjects whenever required to do so by the President or either House of Congress, or when he thinks the subject in his charge requires it. On or before the 15th day of December in each year, he makes a report in detail to Congress of all moneys expended by him or under his direction. He has also to account and report to the proper accounting officers of the Treasury, in the same manner and at the same time as the heads of executive departments of the Government are required by law to account and report.

The sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as might be necessary, was appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the cost of printing 400,000 copies of the annual report of the Commissioner for Agriculture

for the year 1886. 300,000 copies were for the use of members and delegates of the House of Representatives; 75,000 copies for the use of members of the Senate; and 25,000 copies for the use of the Department of Agriculture.

COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES.

The President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints, from among the civil officers or employees of the Government, a Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, who is a person of proved scientific and practical acquaintance with the fishes of the coast, and who serves without additional salary. There is also an assistant commissioner. The Commissioner prosecutes investigations and inquiries on the subject, with the view of ascertaining whether any and what diminution in the number of the food-fishes of the coast and the lakes of the United States has taken place, and if so, to what causes the same is due; and also whether any and what protective, prohibitory, or precautionary measures should be adopted in the premises; and reports upon the same to Congress.

The heads of the several executive departments cause to be rendered all necessary and practical aid to the Commissioner in the prosecution of his investigations and inquiries. The Commissioner may take, or cause to be taken, at all times, in the waters of the sea-coast of the United States, where the tide ebbs and flows, and also in the waters of the lakes, such fish or specimens thereof as may in his judgment, from time to time, be needful or proper for the conduct of his duties, any law, custom, or usage of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. The appropriations for the year 1886-87 were $130,000 for the introduction into and the increase

in the waters of the United States of food-fishes, and other useful products of the waters, including lobsters, oysters, and other shell-fish, and for continuing the inquiry into the fisheries of the United States and their subjects, and for such general and miscellaneous expenditures as the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries might find necessary to the prosecution of his work, including salaries; $10,000 for the establishment of a fish - hatchery on Lake Superior, at or near Duluth, Minnesota, provided the city of Duluth should furnish without charge a suitable site; $2040 for rent of rooms in the city of Washington; $45,000 for the preparation and maintenance of fish-ponds in Washington and elsewhere, and the distribution of the eggs and young of the whitefish, salmon, shad, cod, carp, and other useful inhabitants of the waters, including salaries; $45,000 for the maintenance of the vessels of the United States Fish Commission, and for boats, apparatus, machinery, &c., including salaries.

The public printer is instructed to print and stereotype from time to time the regular number of 1900 copies of any matter furnished him by the Commissioner relative to new observations, discoveries, and applications connected with fish - culture and the fisheries, to be capable of being distributed in parts, and the whole to form an annual volume or bulletin not exceeding 500 pages.

The edition of this annual work consists of 5000 copies, of which 2500 are for the use of the House of

Representatives, 1000 for the use of the Senate, and 1500 for the use of the Commissioner.

PUBLIC PRINTING.

There is a joint-committee on public printing, consisting of three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, who have power to adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary to remedy any neglect or delay in the execution of the public printing; but no arrangement entered into by them takes effect until it has been approved by that House of Congress to which the printing belongs, or by both Houses, when the printing delayed relates to the business of both.

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The President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints a suitable person, who must be a practical printer and versed in the art of bookbindery, to take charge of and manage the Government printingoffice, and he is deemed an officer of the United States, and is called the "public printer. He gives bonds for the faithful discharge of his duties in the penal sum of $80,000, with two sureties approved by the Secretary of the Interior. It is his duty to purchase all materials and machinery necessary for the Government printing-office; to take charge of all matter which is to be printed, engraved, lithographed, or bound; to keep an account thereof in the order in which it is received, and to cause the work to be promptly executed; to superintend all printing and binding done at the Government printing-office, and to see that the sheets or volumes are promptly delivered to the officer who is authorised to receive them. At the beginning of each session of Congress, he submits to the joint-com

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mittee on public printing estimates of the quantity of paper of all descriptions which will be required for the public printing during the ensuing year, and the joint-committee fix upon standards of paper for the different descriptions of public printing, and the public printer, under their direction, advertises in certain newspapers for sealed proposals to furnish such paper. No contract for furnishing paper is valid until it has been approved by the joint-committee, if made under their direction, or by the Secretary of the Interior if made under his direction. Whenever it is necessary for the public printer to make purchases of material, he prepares a schedule of the articles required, showing the description, quantity, and quality of each article, and invites proposals for furnishing the same, either by advertisement or circular, as the joint - committee directs, and makes contracts with the lowest responsible bidder, making a return of the same to the joint - committee, showing the number of bidders, the amounts of each bid, and the awards of the contracts. The joint-committee may authorise him to purchase material in open market, not exceeding $50, for any particular article required. Whenever any charts, maps, diagrams, views, or other engravings are required to illustrate any document ordered to be printed by either House of Congress, such engravings are procured by the public printer, under the direction and supervision of the committee on printing of the House ordering the same. The public printer may contract for the lithographing of the maps of the several

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