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Show mntely $162,000,000, and that he Bnds this to he not only a just obligation to the Nation's taxpayers but a pmof to the world of the way to recover from war excesses. It is confidently assumed that the Indian Service will give united assurance to save its full proportion of the propused reduction. No other response to the suggestion of the Chief Esecutlre can be entertained. Our past retrench-ment work as a wllole is not under criticism. Rather, it was done so well as to prove that we can do a little hetter hereafter. Let us rally our forces to that effort. Blast of you can prohably recall how a saving mlght have heen made in some transaction or n~utine duty. Every corner of your experience should be searched for an instance to be corrected next year. Do not be surprised at a reduction of suhmltted estimates. This must he done in some cases to keep step with the forward peace-time movement. Do not feel that maximum appropriations can be used, if a saving is practicable under the strictest rules of economy. The keynote has been sounded from which there is no retreat: "Greater ecnn-omy and greater efficicency in the conduct of routine Government business." The cost of major or special undertakings will, as a rule. be properly controlled It is in the minor, daily uses of money, time, supplies, labor, and like factors, and in the vigilant calculation of contemplated outlay that supervision and loyal support by snbclrdinate workers can roll up from 150 jurisdictions an aggregate of savings that will keep our service henceforth in the front rank of economic achievement. There is not the slightest question that we can do thls, if we go about it willingly, conse:entiously, and patriotically; nor is there any doubt that by this process of cost cutting we can improve indlvldual and institutional efaciency the field over. These suggestions are, therefore, offered as an earnest appeal to all Indian Service workers, and through them to every Indian ward-pupll or parent-to revive enthusiastically the thrift idea and pledge themselves to the sound principle of prudent spending and careful savlng. Through such an aggressive campaign the reduction of public expense would be merely incidental to the last-ing benefits accruing to the personal, social, and civic life we deal with. The inclosed pamphlet is a splendid treatise on civil Government, and you are requested to make an effectively educational use of it. Please acknowledge the receipt of this circular after yon have read the pamphlet. Sincerely yours, Cm8. H. BURKE, cowsiolE€.T. Approved : El. C. Bram, Acting Necretary. I OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS: .Notwithstanding the overproduction of crude oil and low prices, leasing for oil and gas o erations on restricted Indian lands was active and very successfu ?' last year, due considerably t o the policy adopted during the depression of the oil industry of permitting lessees to hold their leases without drilling, except where existing conditions require wells to be drilled. Over 300,000 acres were leased for oil and gas mining purposes. The gross oil production for the year was approximately 54,000,000 barrels,. a n d t h e revenue received by the Indians from existing leases approximated $37,000,000. In >he Osage Reservation alone 67,864 acres were offered for oil mining lease, 48,031 acres selling for a bonus of $14,246,600. Several 160-acre leases sold for more than $1,000,000 each, the hi hest price paid for any one tract being $1.325.000. and t h e tota7 revenue to the Osa-ee s f r om oi l and -ga s leases was'$30,572,111.14. A high-grade oil was discovered on the Hogback structure of the Navajo Treaty Reservation, N. Mex., from a well with an estimated |