OCR Text |
Show 1909. While the greater number of these Indians are employed in minor positions excepted from examination, there are over 300 em-ployed in the more important places. The automatic promotion of teachers has been continued and is proving a success. The system of granting educational leave to school employees in order that they may he given an opportunity to attend summer courses in educational institutions has resulted in a marked improve-ment in their teaching methods. Until recently a practice prevailed in the field service of em-ployees resigning when unable to procure a requested transfer and soon thereafter requesting reinstatement, which resulted in a large number of needless resignations and reinstatements. All employees have been notified that they will not be considered for reinstatement until six months shall have elapsed after the date of their resigna-tion, unless the resignation contained definite information as to their intention to request reinstatement and giving a satisfactory reason therefor. This has resulted in a marked decrease in the number of resignations and reinstatements. A very careful study is now being made of the capabilities of each e.mployee with a view to ascertaining the proper branch of the service in which the qualifications and abilities of the employee may best be utilized. In the early part of May, 1914, a letter was directed to each super-intendent requiring that each positionrecommended for continuaticn during the ensuing fiscal year be fully justified. This resulted in the abolishment of 45 unnecessary positions, carrying salaries aggre-gating $23,229. In the exercise of further justifiable economy and to prevent what often was a mere abuse, Sunday work is discouraged as much as pos-sible. No employee receiving a per diem rate of compensation is permitted to receive pay for work performed on Sunday unless the services are actually necessary. The urgent deficiency act, approved April 6, 1914, prohibits the payment of a per diem in lieu of subsistence unless expressly pro-vided by law, and limits the amount that may be paid for actual expenses to $5 per day. This provision of law made necessary the modification of the commissions of a great number of persons in this service then receiving a per diem in lieu of subsistence, and while the act referred to permits subsistence charges not exceeding $5 per day, I have set the maximum at $3 for most of the employees. This will, it is believed, effect further economics. An innovation recently inaugurated requires that all employees in the Indian Service submit to the office a photograph taken within the last two years, which is filed with the status record of the employee. |