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Show XXXVIII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS In one instance, according to an inspector's report, the diss:btisfaction has reached such a degree that the Indians, is order to evade the law and get the use of the money, hare resorted to the expedient of appointing one mong them, other than the regular Indian agent, as their fiduciary, to collect the money due for grazing, hay, &c., from farmers, herders, and others, and to hold the amount so collected to be &vided among them when their annuity payments are made. As the person appointed by the Indians is probably not bonded, they have no other security for the safe-keeping of their money than his .personal-integrity. Indian agents, on the other hand, are bonded officers, and as such are held to as strict an accountability for rniscellaneoua funds coming into their bauds as for public money intrusted to their care. At the date of my last report the aggregate amount of Indian moneys in the Trm~n r yw as $1d,096.81. Since then it has been constantly ao-cumulating until at the present writing the aggregate probably reaches treble that amount. The legislation asked for is not new legislation, nor does it appmpri-ate a single dollar of public money. It is simply intended to give effect to what is believed to have beed the plain intent of Congress by the passage of the act of March 3,1883, but which intent has so far been frustrated by the oonstruction put upon that law by the T r w u r ~. officials. Under these circumstances, and in common justice to the In-dians interested, I respectfully bat earnestly renew the request already made by both my predecessor and myself that Congress be urged to afford relief to the Indians and allay whatever dissatisfaction may exist among them on account of these moneys by passing the bill presented, or suuh other bill as will permit this money to be drawn from the Treasury and used for the benetit of the tribes to whom it rightfully belongs. CASH PAYXENTS TO INDIANS. Daring the year $244,680.38 annuity'or treaty money was paid per capita to Indians, and $266,565.44 was paid for interest on funds in-vested for them, or held in trust in lien of investment; altogether about $511,246, or some $11,000 less than during the previous fiscal year. Thus over half a million dollars, principally in small sums and in half-yearly payments, have been diibursed, with entire satisfaction to the Indians, so far as I can learn, and without incident worthy of special note, except it be the action of the Uncompahgre Utes at Ouray Agency, referred to elsewhere, page LI. The agent cannot be blamed for his action in paying these Indians $3.31 more per capita than they were entitled to, as he had no power to ' protect himself in case the Indians resorted to violence. But the extra payment must be suspended against him by this office, at least until the officers of the Treasury Department have had an opportunity to con-sider it. Now that a military post has been established in that imme- I |