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Show COMMI~IONEBO. F INDIAN AFFAIRS. 87 nothing we have gaineg and ~f~prepar inangd pointing the way for new prograss. I t is essential that the supervisors, in a most whole-hearted fashion; should cooperate with one another and should have a distinct unity of purpose in putting into operation each policy of the o5ce. To make the teamwork the supervisors have already shown still more powerful, they met in conference at Denver in September, 1910. The benefits of that meeting were so obvious that they were again called together at Washington in June, 1911, in order that the office, too, might have the advantage of their exchange of criticisms, experi-ences, and ideas. The result was that all parts of the service were subjected to the keenest analysis, and faults and excellencies were dis-cussed in most intimate ways. The supervisors are chosen for their experience, their breadth of view, and their initiative. In their rounds the coming year it can be confidently expected they will heighten the esprit de corps they have already helped to arouse and encourage, and that every employee in the service will in some degree feel the influence of these two conferences. OFFICE METHODS. Because of the large interests involved and the multiplicity and complexity of financial transactions, the high efficiency of the Finance Division of the office is of the utmost importance. This division and the Division of Methods are indispensable and often unrecognized aids to the o5ce and the whole service in producing tangible results. The bookkeeping section has besn completely reorganized during the year and many obsolete methods discarded. The President's Commission on Economy and Efficiency made an extended examina-tion of our system in bookkeeping and have used our system of accounting as the basis of their Circular No. 14. The section of accounts examinm all disbursing officers' accounts. The fact that there are 217 disbursing officers will somewhat indicate the amount of work this section has to accomplish. To facilitate relations with the field officers, the practice of taking exceptions to mere technicalities has been stopped. This has not only eliminated a great deal of irritation on the part of officers who were honestly striving to perform their duties, but has also done away with much waste of time and effort in the offiw without any lowering of high business standards. Because of increased work in this section in examining the constantly growing collections and depwits of indi-vidual Indian money a new form of handling these funds has recently been submitted to the officers of the Treasury Department. In the claims sections, too, efforts are being made to expedite rou-tine and to lessen expense. In this section claims for contract sup-plies, transportation, and the like, not paid by disbursing officers, are 11356"-IRT 1911-VOL U |