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Show . . 136 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. sion is shown by the f a t that the number of pages of letters sent out by that division for the three years 1886,1887, and 1888, was 13,059, while ibe number sent out by the same division for the three years ending June 30.1892, amounted to 23,050, a81most double. Anotl~ere ason for the increase of business is the breaking up of res. ervations and the allotment of lands. During the past three yews more thau 24,000,000 acres of Indian lands have been restored to the public domain, a.nd the amount of office work involved in preparing instruc-tions for commissions, examining their accounts, and reporting upon their labors, as well as in allotting lands, has been very great. During the first three years of the last administration 4,125 individual allot-ments o'f lands were made to Indians, whiie during the three years of the presierlt admirristration 12,273 allotments have been made, or nearly three times as many. This work involves the closest attention t,o de-tails in order that each Indian may receive a patent for the exact piece of land to which he is entitled. ADDITIONAL CLERICAL FORCE NEEDED. There arc other reasons for this increase of business which I need not Bnumerate. The fact is that the work thrown upon this office at pres-ent is greater than it can properly attend to. The time of the Commis-sioner is unavoidably largely taken up with personal interviews with people who call to see him on business and with the consideration of a multitude of things that completely engross his time, thought, and en-ergies to such an extent that he can not give to the details of the work of the ofice that careful attention which is in a high degree necessary. Under the present lam the Assistant Commissioner performs the duties of a chief clerk. Aside from such work his duties are so uumerous and exhausting that he shonld be relieved entirely of this extra work which now practically devolves upon both him and the Commissioner. The office needs and ought to have a chief clerk who can attend to all this part of the work, thus not only relieving the Commissionerand Assist-ant Commissioner, which, perhaps, is a minor matter, but also, which is the main thing, facilit,ating the work of the office and insuring greater acuray, thoroughness, and efficiency. There is also needed an addition to the force of clerks. Some of those who are now here are simply overwhelmed with work, and are not only suffering from it but are in danger of permanent disability by reason of the anxiety and burden of their duties. I asked, and you cordially approved it, that the last Congress should dlow this office a chief clerk, and also an additional clerk; and I was strongly in hopes that this reasonable and urgent request might be granted. I was greatly disappointed, therefore, when not only was the request denied, and both the chief clerk and additional clerk withheld, but Congress took away frorn theofficefour clerks whom it already had, |
