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Show REPORT OF THE COMhlIBSIONER OF IBDIAN AFk'AlBS'. 1X cqrred since. Were it not for the aid gencronsly cxte~~dcbdy the War Department during the gear past the office mould have been extremely embarrassed in several cases where surveys were absolutely reqnired to prevent threatened conflicts betmeen Indians and whites. Agents at the different agencies are urgiug the necessity of having the boundaries fixed, and it is to he hoped that this matter mill not be neglected at the approaching session of Congress. Where it has not already been done arable lands within the reservatio~ls should be subdivided, to enable the agents to allot lands in severalty to Indians as fast as required. APPROPRIATIONS COVERED INTO THE TREASURT. I u refereuce to the a~nounto f a~~propriationfos r the Indian service, I wish to call attention to the fact that ruany thousitnds of dollars are annually appropriated, which, on account of the peculiar character of the law governing these al~propriations, cannot be and nerer are used; and Chis fact ooght to be considered in making the appropriations. The books in this bureau show that $228,170.22 have been returned to the Treasury for the last year, for which t,l~ea ccounts are made up. And con~~ectedwiththfiasc t is another kinrlredone, to wit: snpplies a ~ ~ o u n t - ing in some il~staucest o many thonsands of dollars are purchased and paid for out of money appropriatedfor the Indian service, but before these supplies ale consumed the Indial~sa re removed to somc distant locality, the supplies are sold, and coery dollar realized from the sale goes back into the Treasury; but all the expense of care and sale must be paid from the contingent. fund, for which no calculation was made when the con-tingent fund was appropriated. The law should he so amended as to allow all expenses of this kind to be paid tkom proceeds of the sale of the property. For proof and illustration of this condition of affairs I refer to the recent operations on the Jlalheur Reservat,ibn. CONSOLIDATIOX OF AGENCIES. There are at present fifty-nine Indian agencies, fifty-eight of them in cbarge of agents whose salary is provided for by Congress, and one ia charge of a military officer acting as Indian agent. A reduction of eight agencies has been made during the fiscal year. Reduction in thenumber of agencies has been the aim of this office for several years past, and has been frequently recommended by luy predecessors. The objects sought have been, (1) reduction in the cost of maintaining agencies; (2) the consolidation of the Indians upon reservations where they may be bcst protect~din their personal and property rights, and (3) the sale of the lands vacated by the consolidation and the use of such portion of the funds arisinmtherefrom as may be necessary in the settlement of the Ir~diausu pon the reservations to which they may be removed, the balance of the money to be f~~~icflocrd th eir use, and theintercst thereon to be expended in lieu of direct approl>riatious for their benefit. This |
