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Show XXXVI REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. &issioner, who shall also perform the duties of chief Gerk. To that of-ficer could then be referred much of the routine work which may be performed equally well by another, but which now involves a large ex-penditure of time and labor on tbe part of the Cbrnmissioner, and to just that extent lessens his ability to devote his energies to the more important mattdrs which relate to the general administration of Indian affairs. By reference to my estimates for the next fiscal year it will be seen that some reduction has been proposed in the number of clerks allowed this office. An increase in a few salaries has been asked, according to my judgment of what is right and necessary; hut even with thiskin-crease the total amount asked for the clerical force of the Bureau is about $5,000 less than the amount appropriated for the current fiscal year. INDIAN MONEYS KNOWN A8 "MIBOELLANEOUS RECEIPTS." .Unt.il a comparatively recent date the Indians of several reservations have had the benefit of certain funds heretofore technically known as "miscellaneons receipts." These funds are derived from various sources, bnt principally from tax for pastorage of cattle upon the reservations, from right of way for cattle herds across reseroations, from sale of dead and down timber cut on reservations by other than Indians ; in short, f ~ omsa le of the natural products of the reserves not the result of In-dian labor. Prinr tn 1%7A, funds of this character were not reported to the Indian Ottiua. Uur~ug that year, however,. certain agents having received funds from the sources above enumerated thequestion arose as to their ownership, disposition, and application. The matter was submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury, who, concurring with the First Comp-troller, gave it as his opinion that the funds in question were not public moneys within the meaning of section 3618, Revised Statutes, which are to be corered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, and that while no law provided for such a course it was probable anoh moneys could be expended for the benefit of the Indians under the direction of the Department of the Interior. Acting upon this view of the case, the Secretary of the Interior authorized that this class of funds might be expended under the per-sonal directiou of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the benefit of .the Indians. From that time until about a year ago miscellaneous fnnds of the kind in question, coming into an agent78 hands, were dis-burned by him for the benefit of the Indians under the direction of the Indian Office according to the authority abovequoted. For the better protection of the Indians, agents are compelled to account for all mis-cellaneous funds in the same manner as for the public money intrusted to their care. , |