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Show 46 ' REPORT OF THE C4)MbIISBIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. , investigation of certain cl&ms oilly, and ,the appropriation could not be Iawful l~us ed in investigating any others. Thus, when all sortsof claims not within the purview of the act were placed iu this division, its work was mpterially increased, and its progress in investigating the class of claims pr~videdfo r mas much retarded thereby. Tbe appropriation of $10,000 for the inrestigation of certain claims created no new obligation, neither did it cancel any already existing, hence ciaims previously cognizable under the acts of June 30,1834, February 28, 1839, and Kay 29, 1572, are still as much subject to inves- .tigation and report as thes ever were, the only diflerence being that they can not receive present investigation, as the appropriation under which such work is performed does not provide therefor. Inaddition to the embarrassments caused by having to hindle so many claims not subject to investigation, there are other dravbacks to a rapid prosecution of the work in hand. Questions involving the right of a clainl to present consideration oau not, in many instances, be con-clusively settled. . In alarge number of oases there is no reliable record of the date when each claim was filed, as the record of filing frequently has an earlier date than theoldest paper found on fileiii the ease; nor has them been kept a complete list of the various Indian tribes holding treaty relations with the United States, especially of their subdivisions and local names, which oooasious much difficulty in determining whether .or not the particular Indians charged are bound by treaty. The rtp-propriation for this service is so small, and the work is of such a diver-sified character, that rapid progress is not attainable with the force em-ployed, the appropriation only warranting the employment of four clerks in the office and five special agents in the field. The number of the special agents being limited by the appropriation, ' their territory is uccesnarily large, so that much of their time is taken up in traveling, and conseqneutly, even with a high degree of rapidity and accuracy, progress commensurate with the importance of the work cannot be made. As most of these claims are for losses sustained many years ago, and as the proof GO support or impeach thein becomes manifestly more difficult to obtain with the passage of time, justice to the claimants and the Government requires that whatever may be done, to be available, should be done while it is yet possible for testimony to bwobtained. With the present limited facilities every effort possible is being made to expedite the work, and, with a better understanding of what, is necessary on the part of the claimants and their attorneys as to the preparation of their claims, more satisfactory results may be ,expected. REDUCTION IN THE NUXBEB OF AGENOIES. Consolidation of Misnion Tule River (consolidated) Agmcy, e~i thE oopa Valleg Agwtq.-Since 1577 the Hoopa Valley Agency in California has been managed by an officer of the Army, no provision having been made for the pay of an agent. In the last annual estimate made by this office, |
