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Show XI1 REPORT OF THE COhIXISYIONER OF IKDIAN AFFAIRS. taken up with this kind of work, and conseqnently to the neglect of the work for which they are employed and paid. The same nlle, it seems, to me, that is practiced by other bureaus ought to be allowed in this. The law nor tixes the number of clerks and the compensation of each, and no change can in any ca,se be allowed. This is done ou a basis of what is sopposed to be absolutely necessary for the performance of the duties. of the office. If uo work for outside parties had to be performed, this rule might answer; but if (as is frequently the case) the t,ime of three or four of the best clerks is occupied for days in making examina-tions and preparing copies of papers not belonging to the regnlar work of the office, it follows as a consequence that the regular work of the bureau must to that extent be neglected and the public business suffer. The remedy for this oan be found in one of two ways: either make the. appropriations sufficiently large to meet these calls from ontsirle par-ties, or allow the usual charge for this class of work, and the use of the inoney thus realized for extra clerical labor. Either of these plai~sw ill accomplish tbe desired object, and if, in addition to this, it was alloa.. able to eluploy clerks at what they are worth, instead of the iron rule now ill force, more work could be done, more people employed, and money saved. This bureau is allowed one messenger, one assistant messenger, and onelaborer. The rooms occupied by the different divis-ions are a long distance apart. Many times every day chiefs of di~is-ions and the higher grades of clerks are compelled to leare their desks to seek or give information, which could just as well be performed by a messenger boy at $1 per day. Good bnsiness men do not condnct their business in this manner. The appropriation of $4,000 wisely given by Congresss at t.he last session for the employment of clerical labor for a special purpose was not trammeled by any restriction as to the compensation which should be paid to clerks, and as a consequence I am able to say what could not have been truthfully saidin thelast ten years, to wit : That there are no agents'acconntx unset,tled in this office outside of the present fiscal year. DEFICIENCIES IN APPROPRIATIONS. The funds appropriated by Congress in the regular appropriation bill for the support of the Indians during the fiscal year proved to be en-tirely insufficient, mainly owing to the high price of beef and flour; and had it not been for the additional appropriation in the sundry civil bill of $200,000 for the purchase of beef, and $25,000 for the support of the Jicarill* and Mescalero Apaches, this office would have been greatly embarrpssed and serious difficulties been the result. The amount ap-propriated for the subsistence oEthe Sioux under agreement made Peb-ruary 28,1877, was insufficient by $500,000. Article 5 of this agree-ment provides for furnishing each individual with a daily ration of 1+ pounds beef, one-half pound of flour, one-half pound of corn, and for elTery 100 rat,ions 4 pounds of coffee, 8 pounds of sugar, and 3 pounds |
