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Show 4 REPORT OF THE COMMIEBIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Department it was finally concluded to take advantage of the discretion given by the act just quoted for the fiscal year I900 at least. Conse-quently all bidsfor transportation were rejected and the authority of the Department requested to ship in open market by common carrier at tariff or better rates. This was readily granted and the office at once proceeded to carry out the new system. The machinery of the old system with comparatively few changes was applied to the new, and, notwithstanding the inexperience of the office, with comparatively little friction. The result of a year's experience of the new method is now before the office and may be said to be entirely satisfactory. Goods have been handled and transported at considerably less wst than before, and what is of much greater benefit to the Indians, time has been gained in the delivery of goods. Under the old system goods would not be delivered for six months after they were purchased, while under the present system no delay whatever has occurred. The socounte for last year's transportation are nearly all in and paid and the oftice is in a position to make a fair comparison. The accounts so fir settled show that 13,973,645 pounds of freight were transported during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900. Under the old system, at the rates o f f e ~ db y bidders in April, 1899, it would have cost to tmnaport this. ................. $182,025.39 Under the new system it has wtually coat ................... 135,432.91 Apparent saving ..................................... 46,692.48 The old method had its advantages, one of which was the absolute responsibility of contractors. As they received goods so they had to deliver them. The Government was at no risk whatever for loss or shrinkage or breakage. All that had to be made good. Now, how ever, as the Government ships at owner's risk and does not insure, it runs the risk of losses. But one loss of any conaequencs happened last year. In November, 1899, the steamer Conestoga, of the Western States Line, sank at the mouth of the Chicago River laden with Indian goods valued at $7,646.24. Many of the goods were saved and for-warded to destination, but the remainder, valued at $3,937.37, were lost. Whether the loss will fall upon the carrier or the Government has not yet been determined. The matter is now before the proper officers of the Government for adjustment. The new method has added somewhat to the clerical work of the warehouses, while the settlement of transportation accounts under the new system necessitates an increased clerical force at the seat of Gov-ernment. Making allowance, however, for all of this, for hauling from railroad stations, for occasional storage charges, and other simi-lar expenses, which were heretofore borne by the contractors, the fact still remains that a material saving has been effected. A conservative astimate is that this saving will amount to 20 per cent. |