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Show 48 - COMMIBSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 1910, held that under the act of June 26,1910 (36 Stat. L., 855), the Secretary of the Interior had exclusive jurisdiction to determine heirship and descent as they may affect allotted lands during the trust period, said act operating by implication to repeal the act of February 6,1901 (31 Stat. L., 760), with the result that the authority of Federal courts to adjudicate cases of this nature had immediately ceased. During the year the Comptroller of the Treasury has rendered several decisions which facilitate the use in beneficial ways of tribal moneys, usually referred to as "Indian moneys, proceeds of labor." On August 6, 1910, the assistant comptroller held that the use of such moneys derived from the sale of timber on unallotted lands, under section 7 of the act of -June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. L., 855), was authorized for the purpose of aiding and enlarging the school serv-ice on the respective reservations. September 15,1910, the comptroller held that the Secretary of thi Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to use "Indian moneys, proceeds of labor" for the purchase of supplies or the payment of employees when no appropriations are available and the Govern-ment is not bound by law, treaty, or agreement to defray the expense. On June 24,1911, the acting comptroller gave a similar decision con-cerning the case where a specific appropriation is not su5cient to meet the needs of the Indian Service and the appropriation is not exclusive by reason of obligations of the Government. On June 24, 1911, the acting comptroller also held that the appro-priation in the act of March 3,1911 (36 Stat. L., 1061), for the sup-port and civilization of the respective tribes is specifically for the purpose named, and the appropriation for contingencies in the same act can not be used for the same ends. The decision of the assistant comptroller, of April 12, 1911, is im-portant in connection with the work of the office in suppressing the liquor tra5c. It was held that the Secretary of the Interior has au-thority to use the appropriation in the act of March 3, 1911 (36 Stat. L., 1059), in procuring evidence of the tra5c among Indians to whom the United States owes protection for use in prosecuting cases in State courts for violation of State laws prohibiting the traffic, if the Secretary is of the opinion that he can in this way best effectuate the purposes of the act. ATTITUDE IN ADMINISTRATION. A policy which I have pursued undeviatingly since my first day as Commissioner of Indian Affairs is to welcome +ithout reserve in the Indian O5ce and throughout the field proper publicity. The Indian Ofice, like all other human organizations, has its faults, makes even serious mistakes, and sometimes does things wrong. |