OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONEB OR INDIAN AFFAIRS. 43 extended. Accordingly, under the date of December 17, 1909, the department issued an order calling the attention to section 561 of the Regulations of the Indian Office, effective April 1, 1904, in which persons doing business with Indians were warned that when credit was extended to them the creditor must take the risk and that no assistance whatever would be given by the superintendent of this office in the collection of alleged claims against Indians. Attention was invited to the step taken by this office on April 30, 1909, when notice was given to all interested that credit accounts against Indians subsequent to July 1 following would not be settled from funds in its custody unless authority for the purchases had previously been granted through the agent. This latest order laid upon the office the additional restraint that hereafter no assistance, direct or indirect, should be extended to creditors of Indians in the collection of claims. Henceforth the settlement of debts of this nature from funds in the custody of this office lies entirely with the Indian debtor. The office merely acts as custodian of the funds for the Indian, who may ask permi;;sion to apply th'e funds for the liquidation of a just debt. If the Indian is sufficiently competent, the funds will be turned over to him on his written request, accompanied by the favorable recom-mendation of the superintendent, in an amount su5cient to cancel his obligation. Basing its action on this order of the department, the office called upon superintendents and agents on February 16, 1910, to proceed at once to collect and transmit the claims of all traders and others against every single Indian having land funds to his credit. The object of these instructions was to make a final clean-up of all claims recently contracted or of long standing against Indians for whose funds the office might, in a measure, be held responsible. Due notice has been given that all claims contracted subsequent to the date of the departmental order referred to will not be allowed unless previously authorized. Many of the claims filed with the superintendent are now in the office, and final action is being expediled in every way. When these are disposed of the administra-tion of Indian-land money will be considerably simplified and the financial resources of the Indians held in readiness for application to present necessities and future needs, instead of being obligated in advance to meet extravagant bills. A circular issued April 2,1910, exemplifies the policy of the depart-ment as carri~do ut by the office in regard to the application of money derived froiu the sale of lands. Under its provisions much of the responsibility for the proper handling of individual Indian funds is placed in the hands of the officer immediately in charge. This is manifestly an advantage, as the man on the ground is best acquainted with the conditions and best able to judge where the Indian's perma-nent advantage lies. This circular provides for the expenditure of |