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Show ' XLIV REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Central Railway Company, several1.y mentioned in my previous annual reports, also still remain unconfirmed by Congress. In some of thesc cases moneys paid by the railway companies, upon faith of the agree-ments, are lying idle in the Treasltry, and the Indians can not under-stand why it is that payment is withheld. This is doubtless the caosc of the opposition of the Sioux to the construction of railroads on their reserve.; a feeling that they have already sold a portion of their lauds to two railroad companies for which they have not been paid causing them to be suspicious of any more 'enterprises of a similar character. It is to be hoped that Congress will take some action in these matters at an early date. Within the past few yews the work of this office has been largely increased by reason of the extension of the railroad system through Indian reservations. At the present writing there are between forty and fifty railroad cases, in diflerent stages of progress, before this office, involvi~~a gla rge amount of correspondence and ineidental de-tail work. C A S ~PA YMENTS TO ~ D I A N S . In the way of cash payments to Indians there has been disbursed during the past year a little over $592,000. This includes annuity or treaty money, interest on trust funds, proceeds of sales of Indian Iandn, and tlie Ute gratuity of $1,210.04. The disbursements have been made at sixteen different agencies and to over forty different tribe8 or bands, at ~a r ioutsi mes, usually quarterly. No dissatisfaction or disturbance has attended any of the payments, the Indians in all instances being apparently well pleased with the manner in ~ h i c hth e distribution was made. While it is the desire and practice of this office to provide for tlie prompt payment of annuities, unforeseen contingencies sometimes de-mandapostponement oftbepayment, which givesrise tomuchcomplaint on the part of traders or merchants in the vicinity of the rewvations with whom the Indians deal and have oredit, at the delay thus forced upon them in the settlement of the indebtedness incurred by the In-dians. Such delays arise principally fromohanges of agents, involving interregnums while thenew agent is awaitingacceptance of his bond and the old one is settlingup his accounts and transferring his charge to his successor.; or from temporary or ad inter6m appointments when the filing of new bonds occasions the withholding of remittances to agents. Also every payment calls for more or less care ill the revision of old and preparation of new rolls, and questions constantly arise requiring the examination and allowance of individual claims for enrollment which nsually have to be submitted to the office and sometimes to the Depart-ment for adjudication. In the mean time the Indians grow restless and their creditors besiege the office with complaints. Reference waa made in my last report to an enforced overpayment made nnder hostile demonstrations by the agent at Ouray agency to the |