5 33255o A PENSION APPEALS AND PURCHASE OF INDIAN SUPPLIES. TE, IETE O TER, T. OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY B USS EY / TO THE ZO z-z-i- SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR EOR 2. 2/23 18O2. 14, 20% Q & e-gº” REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 1, 8 9 2 . g WASEHDNGTON: G. O. WE R N MENT PRINT IN G OFFIC E. 1892. The SECRETARY: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the work done by the Board of Pension Appeals, under my supervision, from the beginning of the fiscal year com- mencing July 1, 1891, to the present time, together with such recommendations as my observation has led me to believe to be necessary and proper. * The amount of work accomplished, including decisions prepared and current cor- respondence, is summarized in the following tabulated statements: TABLE I—ORIGINAIL APPEALS. Disposition of pension claims from July 1, 1891, to June 30, 1892. R E PO R.T. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, d Washington, Nov. 1, 1892. ##, #4 ## | ## | P: # | * .: (E"S.; rc ºs p4 to P+ bD º re: ; +2 + re; 3 GD do qo gº rt º e 3 * 35 ºf E. § 3 tº º , 3.9 § 3.5 r: H & C 5, H 9 . F. 8 . H 3:5 § ad rº, to 35 Gº) Month. GD H SP Q &H tº ‘Ed * rº-3 E. P. • tº: 㺠& E go dº o Orº o S-'rº || 3 ad is & .3 ... º. 3 *:::, ; ; ; ; : | E = ? E = ? #8 ºf 2'3 T * : Qº) +º CO º: .# 85 £ 3 # É's gº º -- a P. F. st- 5, tº --> 3.3% 3.33 + 3 + 3 + •4-2 ſº G G AE.E. Ç So dº -- & a P- a 35 “P. P. ſº © 2. tº : : p: > E- H H 1891. ! July.------------. 317 7 324 26 -------. 1 -------- 27 1,245 +, 180° August.---------. 297 -------- 297 34 5. 7 ; 47 594 738 September........ 250 30 280 12 | 2 --------|------ ºr e. 14 | 1, 202 | 1, 194 October... tº gº tº gº & tº me a 266 5 271 12 4 s sº tº º ſº dº its sº I dº is ſº º s” sº º mº 16 909 l, 089. November........ 255 10 265 17 --------|------- * | * * * * * * * 17 f 781 , 126 December......... 248 20 268 14 1 --------|-------- 15 857 1, 165 January ---------. 253 16 269 36 3 I 1 4.i 920 1,240 February --------.p 228 10 238 16 1 * l I 19 720 1,030 March ...------ ----| 219 28 247 29 3 -------- 2 34 1, 140 | 1, 180 April------------- 213 22 235 31 5 1 -------- 37 915 I, 120 May ----------, ---| 198 24 222 38 4 1 |-------- A3 925 1,205 June-------- * = • * are 179 25 # 204 21 1 --------|-------- 22 | 1,055 1, 355 July ----. * * * * * * ºn gº ºn 182 * * *s is lºs as a e s - a e s is e ] e = s. p = • * = 1 = < * * * * * **_1 * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * • * ~ * - - - - - - - - - - - - s & me • * = * * Total -------|-------- 197 ------- 286 29 12 5 332 || 11,263 || 13,622 * 4 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. TABLE III.-FEE APPEALS. Disposition of appeals relating to attorneyship and fees from July 1, 1891, to June 30, 1892. ſ F. --> be gº tº tº u º n \, t tº gº # # # # |*śā # #5 㺠3 | ... à | 3 g | 33 1?33 as ### +3 º Tº go # ºf $5 ſº #5 '. q) 3. E Months. 3×3 dº.c. tº-4 × . $35, & 5 # # º? g- pº 8 Cre: © S- rº ESP 3 Pt. 92 º E: 3.33 ºbſ? E - 9 E. L.; 3P+ 5. : ää | * #5 3. cd P. tº 3 5.5 ! 3, 5 # | #d gº | * a 5'80 sº ‘E º: $.3'3: ; ;.8 3 3.; 5 § §3 º 3.5 ± 35 $. $'; 3 §§§ 3:54: 5, 3 #3.5 {r * Fºrd § QX QQod º 5 ..., † ğon *# .. •ță ğ š, J. № | §-ſ 8 bpŌ ©©rc: №ſ 38 | 92§ &={ | 30�� {-{£ º lo ſ±ſ-*: №§ 5º? Eſ！!!=}5 #5&+-+~{<} !§ 55 3 ſă 5，5. || $55,5 |ğTI.2.3 | 55§§§ 58°5£{ Month. §ğË Ëſºğ#4§ğ„ |#|## ####|#|#|#|#ğă ſăğ„| } £«…• p {|-QŒ• ğ$ $š|5;&##| _ | ¡ ¿ | Ă Ğ ğ İſă șģ| šË ģ Į į Ķ ķ ļģĒ Ģ ģ| ģ šř ŠĶĒRĒ Ē Ē Ē || ?§ E TE | $3 $ | 3 ſă º º） | '5' : '$ $ $ $ 53,5|| $ ĢĒĖĘĘ Ę Ė Ė Ė Ę Ę Ė Į Ķ Ķ ĶĒŠ#| ??? |# Ēģē ļģgăț| # 2.±ÈH |×Çąſå>£ +HH July.-------------| 182 #1719914 | --------8 |------|- •37815 † 1,155 August.---.-.-.-.---| 182118317 •1 | -----• • • J • • • •• • • •18640885 September ......., [ 16584199938 | --------15 | 1, 295 | 1,720 October.....• • • • • •184 | --------• • • • • • • •• • • • • ► • • I • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • ¶ • • • • • • • • I • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • H • • • • • • • • Total- ------|--------| 52 |------„Í 4046 | ........ | 50 | 2,750 | 3,760 TABLE, VI. Disposition of appeals relating toattorneſand fees from July 1, 1893, to October 1, 899,∞ rė ?,！} | ''; }| }} &± &Ë$_.|## # . ĒĒĒ | ĢĒ Ē$ $ | #º | ºff | ff || №ë） ºko 8Q©© ®resº ſº,© ·§§-ſ º 58 H | .ſg 5# $ | Ă Ă | ğ 5. §, | # # | 5' º £ rī£ © ®"№ 35*į 5§ 85#3.2 5§ 5 #E Month,§ 25Ģ5 „EſŒ{E&= C .&? §§© ®Goºg ž5$ | §§2C-3 [ 2 * # | # 5Ēģ Į šį# §. 3& pă•5 - Ř | 5 = žĢĒ:5c385 §§§ | ¡ ¿ $ | §§§ | §§§ | §§ğ | g§§§ šāč | Ē Ē Ě | & = & | & = * | $5 # | & | & =- July --------+* – w • • • •75361111639 |----- ----28 August ------- --• •886 }8981210 |--+-------43 September .........4661 i10729610146 October→ → → → →• • • • • • •61= - e- - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ || • • • • •\> • • • • I • • • • • • • • • • I • • • • • •• • • • I • • • • • • • •→ • • I • • • • • • • • • • I • • • • • • • • • • Total --------|----------108 |--------± •7611291117 …Q ++ 6 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. RECAPITULATION. Original appeals. Appeals pending July 1, 1892 ---------------------------------------------- ------------ 4, 349 Appeals filed from July 1, 1892, to September 30, 1892 ---.. 4 - e s = < e < * * * * = • = = * s = * = -------- 1,213 Total- * * * * * -------------- s = • * = • * * * * sh-e S = * * * * * sº e = * = - e s = • * = * * = -s as w - - - - - - - - * = * * * * * * = * * * - - - - - - - 5, 562 Appeals wherein Pension Office was sustained ------...--- + - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = is s = = ** 801 Appeals wherein Pension Office was reversed.------------- * * * * * * * * * * * & as w w \m º as a me a e s is sº º sº sº 128 Appeals reconsidered by Pension Office pending appeals----------------- * * - - - - - - - - - - - ves 49 Appeals dismissed.----.. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * * * * * * * * * ~ * - - - -* = = --- - - - - - - * * * 39 Total -----as we s tº ºr e º se sº tº ºn ------------------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - * - - - k < * * * * * * * * * * an e s s a s a s dºe, 1,017 Appeals pending October 1, 1892.------** = ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * . . . . . 4, 545 Motions for reconsideration. Motions for reconsideration pending July 1, 1892- - - - - - - - - re s ºf s tº e s = e s = * = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 182 Motions for reconsideration filed from July 1, 1892, to September 30, 1892......... ------ 52 '*-* Total = tºe - r s = • * ~ * w = • = * = = s = = = * * * * * * * * * * * * • * ~ * - - - - - - - * = * *** * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - tº se e = w w w = • ** - - - 234 Motions for reconsideration overrüled ------------- rº, a & m e. nº me as tº a ºn be us e e is H------------------- 40 Motions for reconsideration sustained -------------. ---------------------------------- 4. Motions for reconsideration allowed by the Pension Office......... * n w = * * * * * * * = = - tº a de m = e 6 Motions for reconsideration dismissed.-----------. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >{} Total ------------ y - - - - - - * * * * * * is sº- * * * = - - - - - ºr - - - - - - - - - - p = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s • * R = w = • * * * * * 50 Motions for reconsiderations pending Octºber 1, 1892.................. ------------ tº es sº m is tº 184 Fee appeals. Fee appeals pending July 1, 1892...... • -- + - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * = e = |* * * * * * * * * * B = e s = * * * * * * * * * 75 Fee appeals fiſed from July 1, 1892, to September 30, 1892......... * * * * * * * = = * * * * * * * * * * * * s ... 103 Total - N -- * - - - - - - - - - - * = * * * * *-* * * * * * * fº = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = u = - * * * * * * = * * * r = r s - - - - - - - - * -- w s = e = * * * * 178 Tee appeals wherein Pension Office was sustained ----...... d = - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - F - H - w w = • 76 Fee appeals wherein Pension Office was reversed. ------...... * - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11 Fee appeals reconsidered by Pension Office pending appeal...... * s = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 29 Fee appeals dismissed.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = • * = = ~ * * * * * * # * ~ - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * = 1 Total -------------- * * * * * * * * * = s. • e º sº e s = • -* - - - - - - tº se - ºn sº us as sº as * * * * * * * * * * * * d e = e s a -a as as ºr a s e s m = -a as a s * * 117 Fee appeals pending October 1, 1892 ----------------------------------------------------. 61 Correspondence. t Letters referred to the Commissioner of Pensions... ------------------ * - - - - - - - d = • = * *** = • = - ... . . . 2, 750 Letters sent * * * * ºn gº gº ºs º is gº sº tº gº ºs º ºs ºs º º ſº, º is º ºs * = k = * * * * * * |-- at s m ms tº m as ºn up ºn e º sº e s tº me us us ºn an es * e s \ a, e = w w = * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3,760 TEIE WORK. The business transacted, as indicated by the foregoing tabulated statements, has been done with considerable thoroughness, bearing testimony to the industry, effi- ciency, and cheerfulness with which the members of the board and employés of the, same have seconded and furthered my efforts to disposé of the number of appeals and motions for reconsiderations on the docket. A noteworthy fact appears in the com- paratively few instances wherein the action of the Commissioner of Pensions has been overruled in proportion to the whole number of claims considered, showing, as it does, the care with which the rulings of the Department are observed by the Bureau of Pensions. The appeals sustained are in cases, chiefly, wherein the evi- dence was more or less complicated and doubtful, or in which arose certain ques- tions of law the solution of which required an expression of opinion from this office. The decisions prepared since June 30, 1891, exclusive of fee appeals, embrace about 24,000 typewritten pages, averaging about 297 words to the page. During the past year the undersigned has frequently conferred personally with REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 7 the Commissioner of Pensions relative to the work and practice of his Bureau. These conferences have resulted in expediting and simplifying the work and the methods employed in the Bureau in bringing attorneys and claimants into closer re- lations to the Bureau, thus permitting a more careful supervision over the conduct of those engaged in the prosecution of pension claims and bringing into closer harmony the Bureau and the Department. As an evidence of this it is only necessary to point to the fact that during the past year 179,927 more pension claims were passed upon and allowed than during the preceding twelve months, and more than in any previous year in the history of the Pension. Bureau. $ Since submitting to you my former report the fifth volume of “Decisions of the Department of the Interior Relating to Pensions” has been published, embracing *xclusively selected cases relating to pensions and bounty land claims on appeal to the Department from the Commissioner of Pensions, and I am pleased to note that they have been received with cordial approbation among claimants and attorneys and those interested in the faithful administration of the pension laws. These decisions, prepared under my direction by the Board of Pension. Appeals embrace nearly every phase of the pension system, the construction of new statutes, and the application of the principles of law to the adjustment of pension and bounty land claims. Tn the last volume the subjects discussed embrace the following: Special acts, pension agents, right of attorneys and agents, fee contracts, legitimacy of children, adulterous cohabitation, pleading and practice, pensionable dependence, desertion, specific disabilities, origin of disabilities, discharge, line of duty, medical examina- tions, evidence, guardianships, insanity, marriage and divorce, land warrants, militia (statuts of), minors' pension, accrued pension, prisoners of war, rates of pension, rerating, rebellion (when it began as applied to pensions), reimbursement, restoration of pension, contract surgeons, widows' pensions, etc. The sixth volume is in course of preparation. In conclusion, I am gratified to be able to say that the pledge of the nation (ex- pressed a century ago) that “if any person, whether officer or soldier,” militia or regular, “called into the service of the United States, be wounded or disabled while in actual service, he shall be taken care of and provided for at public expense,” has been redeemed with fidelity. In compliance with the provisions of the various pen- sion laws, on June 30, 1892, there were borne on the pension rolls the names of 856,087 pensioners, 179,927 more pensioners than were earried on the same rolls at the end of the preceding fiscal year, and 457,050 more than were on the rolls June 30, 1887. In my report for 1891 I had occasion to call attention to several defects in pension. legislation, some of which have since been remedied by Congressional action, but others have not as yet been favorably acted upon, and I respectfully resubmit them to you. For instance, from an early date in the history of our pension system, there have prevailed under different administrations conflicting opinions as to the power to enforce the reimbursement of money paid in ercess for pensions in con- formity with either inaccurate or illegal certificates issued through mistakes, either of fact or of law, in the adjudication of claims by the Bureau of Pensions; and, con- sequently, in the absence of a clear legal provision on the subject, the Government, having no authority to plead a past overpayment as an offset to current payments of pension, has been compelled to submit to serious losses of money, which, having been once improperly paid either to claimants or pensioners, were irrecoverable under any established rule of departmental practice. A memorable illustration of this fact was given in a large number of applications for rerating and for increase that were filed in the Bureau of Pensions during the years 1887, 1888, and 1889, upon which considerable sums of money were paid im- properly to certain pensioners by the authority of the Commissioner, in violation of 8 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. both law and practice, but without either the knowledge or the consent of the Sec- retary—losses for which there should have been a reimbursement of the Treasury, under the same law in pursuance of which the pension itself was granted. The means employed, whether by claimants or by attorneys,..to procure these excessive allowances will not be here discussed; but the evil itself confronts the Department, and the need, for a legal remedy is emphasized not only by consideration of justice to the great mass of honest pensioners, but by the proper requirements of the pen- sion system. It is equivalent in its effect to a discrimination in favor of unlawful claims and claimants. In order to supply a remedy, I respectfully recommend that Congress be requested to enact a law that shall expressly authorize the Department to treat all, improper, illegal, and excessive payments of pension, whether caused by fraud or by mistake, as prepayments, to be charged against the current pension, with a view to readjusting or equalizing current pension payments within the discretion of the Secretary. Such an enactment would afford a prompt and, I believe, an effective remedy for the evil under consideration, at the same time averting all occasion for departmental con- troversy or for litigation with pensioners. It would confer upon the Department the power to correct its own errors by a just and easy process, thereby preserving the integrity of the law and maintaining the fairness with which it should be en- forced. --- WIDOWS’ DISABILITY PENSION, The first clause of section 3 in the act of June 27, 1890, provides that— ſº “If any officer or enlisted man who served ninety days or more in the Army or Navy of the United States during the late war of the rebellion, and who was honor- ably discharged, has died or shall hereafter die, leaving a widow without other means of support than her daily labor, or minor children under the age of sixteen years, such widow shall, upon due proof of her husband's death, without proving his death to be the result of his army service, be placed on the pension roll from the date of the application therefor under this act, at the rate of eight dollars per month during her widowhood, and shall also be paid two dollars per month for each child of such officer or enlisted man under sixteen years of age,” etc. In the list of applications for widows' pension under this section of the act of June 27, 1890, my attention has been drawn to a number of cases wherein, according to the law, the claimant has been necessarily denied pension because the soldier on whose death the claim was based, although serving “ninety days or more in the Army or Navy,” as shown by the evidence, had not been,*honorably discharged” prior to death, but had died while, for instance, on individual furlough and absent from the technical line of duty in the service. It seems that both the spirit and the object of the act of June 27, 1890, would be emphasized and subserved by an amendment of this seetion that would be applicable to such meritorious cases of dependence and distress, and I respectfully urge that such an amendment be adopted by Congress. In this connection I respectfully renew a suggestion, which I had the honor to sub- mit in my report for October 1, 1890, wherein, referring to the proviso in the third section of the act of June 27, 1890, which provides pension for minor children who are “insane, idiotic, or otherwise permanently helpless,” I said: “The clause properly provides that the pension granted to such children shall con- tinue during the life of said child, or during the period, of such disability; but under the law as it stands, in order that such children shall be pensioned during life, or during the period of such disability, it must appear that the father or the mother died prior to the eaſpiration of the limit affixed to the pensionable minority period, viz, 8ia teen years of age; and, therefore, if, when the parent dies, the insane or idiotic or otherwise permanently helpless child is more than instead of under sixteen years of age a minor's pension can not be allowed. In view of this fact, I respect- fully suggest that the act should be so amended as to admit all insane, idiotic, or wº { REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 9 & { otherwise permanently helpless children to minors' pension, regardless of the date of the parent's death or remarriage, at any period prior to and including the age of twenty- one years.” The amendment.here suggested would be in keeping with the beneficent purpose- of the act of June 27, 1890. It would reach a considerable flumber of cases for which the pension system has, thus far, made no provision, and would necessitate- only a small additional expenditure of money per annum. The experiences of the past year impel me now to further suggest that, in cases of “insane, idiotic, or other-, wise helpless children” of deceased pensioners, the pensionable age limit be abol- ished, so as to admit such children at any date to the pension roll. An evil of serious. magnitude has resulted from the practice of pensioning a certain class of INSANE INMATES OF THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT GE'" COLUMBIA. This class consists of persons who, having been admitted to the hospital for care- and treatment at the expense of the Government, but having neither wife nor child nor living parent dependent on them for support, and having no other relative near- enough to occupy on their account a pensionable status, are, nevertheless, pen- sioned for insanity, the pension money being paid quarterly to a guardian. My at- tention has been called to a number of instances wherein such persons remained in the hospital many years prior to the appointment of a guardian, and then said ap- ointment would appear to have been instigated by either some friend or remote relative of the person with a view to filing an application and obtaining the pay- ment of large arrears of pension on account of the alleged disability. Thus, with- out either his knowledge or consent, the inmate of the hospital, having no depend- ent relative legally entitled to pension, is made the unwitting subject or means of a speculative claim, the benefits of which he can never enjoy and the use of which he can never control. “The inmate at last dies, leaving in the hands of the guardian a large sum of pension money, constituting a personal estate, which goes, perhaps, to some heir of the decedent for whom the pension system was not intended either directly or fridirectly to provide. The extent to which has been carried this method of obtaining money is an abuse that should not be longer tolerated in the name of pension. You are aware that the Government has made the amplest and the best provision in the aforesaid hospital for the care and treatment of its inmates—the indigent class receiving such care and treatment free of charge, while the clarges made against those who are not indigent are merely nominal. In view of these facts I respectfully but urgently recommend that the class of inmates to which reference has now been made be declared by Con- gressional enactment to be nonpensionable for the period during which they receive- the care and treatment of the hospital, the only pensionable class being restricted to those who have wives or children or other pensionably dependent relatives, to whom the inmate's guardian shall pay, under the orders of a court having competent juris- diction, all the current pension in excess of the nominal charges for care and treat- ment of the pensioner as shall be shown in the accounts rendered by the hospital’s superintendent. A moment's reflection makes it obvious that the pension system was never designed as the means of procuring money for the ultimate maintenance or enjoyment of per- sons who have no direct, nor immediate, nor legitimate title to its benefactions, but. who intentionally pervert the apparent needs of the insane soldier into an oppor- tunity for speculating in pensions. The enactment of such a law as I have here suggested will aid in protecting the Treasury against unworthy claimants and, to that extent, confine the annual appropriation for pensions to those who are fairly entitled to its benefits. The Government can afford to generously care for its. indigent insane veterans, but if should not be required to enrich for a mere pretext: • * * the nonpensionable “heirs” of the demented soldier. * : :"... ." ...;; ..?;" ; ; ; 10 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. PURCHASE OF INDIAN SUPPLIES. In compliance with your instructions I have been present each year since 1889 at the opening of bids at the Indian Warehouse, Ne. 65 Wooster street, New York, for the purchase of Indian supplies, and have been present when the awards were made and several times each year when the goods were delivered. When the present ad- ministration came into power it was the rule to purchase cheap goods, and much that was inferior was contracted for and supplied to the Indians. This was true of the clothing, boots and shoes, hats, and hardware. It was impossible the first year to correct this abuse, but the second year the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and myself concurred that better supplies should be purchased, which was done. This was particularly noticeable in the improved quality of the hardware, carpenter and other tools, while the change in the quality of the clothing is one of the most impor- tant. Every year the standard has been raised and the clothing has been as good as could be possibly purchased at the limit of price. In the matter of dry goods, espe- cially in ginghams and flannels, the improvement is very marked. In July, 1890, Ivisited the Pine Ridge Indian Agency and spent ten days there, seeing nearly all the Indians belonging to the reservation. I was present when supplies and rations were issued to the Indians and inspected the goods in the warehouse, and those in use by them, and discovered the unsuitable character of some of the supplies. The clothing was not cut large enough to be of service to a race of men above the average size, as are the Sioux. On my feturn to the Department I visited the warehouse in New York and found that the clothing for that year had not yet been delivered. The contractors were notified, and without additional cost the clothing was much improved in shape, and cut to fit a larger class of men and boys, since which time there has been no complaint. It used to be the custom to buy a shoe as cheaply as possible. This has been changed, and now the shoes that are purchased are better in quality and are fully as good, if not better, than the average workman can provide for the use of his family. The same remarks can apply to harness, hard- ware, agricultural implements, flour, and in fact every item which the Department purchases. & For many years the Indian Office purchased and supplied to the Indians a heavy, strong, coarse blanket, with which there has been more or less cºmplaint. It was a serviceable blanket, and worth all it cost. With a view, however, to removing any further-cause of complaint it was determined to purchase this year a much better blanket; in fact, the Indian Office has this year bought the best blankets it ever pur- chased, they being all wool, without a mixture of cotton or shoddy. The inspection for the last three years has been so rigid and faithfully performed by the inspectors that contractors have learned that they must deliver just such goods as are pur- chased, and in every way equal to the samples upon which the awards were made. The inspection of drugs has been rigidly enforced. Until the last three years it was the custom to simply check off the goods tendered by the contractors and ship them without any close examination. It is now a rule that all drugs and medicine furnished must be fully up to the requirements of the Pharmacopoeia, and they are critically examined and analyzed by the chemist who is employed by the Department. The Indian appropriation bill authorizing the purchase of Indian supplies for the season of 1892–'93 was not approved until July 13. The delivery of the supplies con- tracted for May 3 commenced July 14, and will not be completed before December 1. The time required to transport the supplies by railroad and wagon trains to the va- rious agencies and schools makes it impossible to complete the delivery of those most needed before January or February. If the appropriation for Indian supplies could be made one year ahead, and ad- vertisement for the coming year's supplies be made so early that the bids could be opened the 1st of February, delivery and shipment could commence by the 1st of April and all goods could be delivered to the agencies by October at the latest, thus furnishing the gºods effrºy enough in the season to supply all the wants of the In- dians, and irisure their bomfort and good conduct, preventing the dissatisfaction REPORT of THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 11 which from time to time arises; in fact, the greater proportion of all the supplies could in this way be delivered during June and July, and so reach the reservation early in August, which would more faithfully comply with agreements made with the Crows, Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, and others, who are promised their goods in August. The method now pursued, commencing, as is done, the last weekin April or the first week in May, does not give time to make arrangements and commence shipping any earlier than July. To abstract the bids and sort out the large number of samples offered requires from four to six weeks. It takes from two to four weeks to make contracts and have them executed and approved. The bidders coming from all parts of the Union, contracts have to be mailed to them for execution and return for approval, and the Indian Office can not make requisitions until the approval of the contracts. Thus again, frequently after contracts for freight are approved it takes two or three weeks to get the routings from the various contractors, and they have to be tabulated and prepared for printing. This is necessary, that no mistakes may occur, and great care must be taken in examining and comparing routings. A large proportion of the articles, such as blankets, clothing, wagons, boots and shoes, harness and bed-quilts, have to be manufactured. It is very important that blankets and bedquilts should be shipped before cold weather sets in. Owing to the fact that most of the goods which are purchased are not such as are used in the general trade, no contractor can be found who would be likely to keep on hand any great Stock, and thus any additions, orders that may be received have to be manu- factured expressly for the order, "Another advantage in early shipment will be, that during the more comfortable weather of late spring or early summer men can work to better advantage and goods be handled more expeditiously. The supplies such as coffee, sugar, rice, cornmeal, and miscellaneous goods such as agricultural implements, can always be had, and could be safely shipped as early as March. I am aware that the plan of early shipment I have suggested is contrary to the precedent, but it seems to me if it can be carried out the service would be greatly benefited thereby. Last year and year before last the snow set in so early that supplies for the Western Shoshones were delayed during the month of September and did not get to them until spring. Under the present system agricultural imple- ments are shipped after the time for their use for that season has passed. The change recommended will avoid the necessity of open market purchases to the extent now authorized and made necessary by late delivery, which would result in a considerable saving on such purchases. It has been the practice to bid each year for about 500,000 pounds of coffee, under which a large number of samples are offered at various prices. One of these is selected, to which the award is made. Under this method there is no competition for that particular grade, as there may be but one bid out of twenty of the grade selected. In order to improve the method of purchasing coffee, I recommend that the Commis- sioner of Indian Affairs advertise for Rio coffee, No. 5, grading of the types of the New York Coffee Exchange, and that the bidder to whom the award is made shall be required to furnish a certificate from the New York Coffee Exchange that the coffee delivered grades No. 5 Riq coffee according to the types of said exchange. Since 1885 the business of the Indian warehouse has steadily increased, as shown by the following figures: Fiscal year— Pounds shipped. 1884-'85 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * = * - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * me • T - - - - - - - s = = • = = • = - ... 2,801, 272 1885–86 - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * = • * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * s = s. s is s = e us - 2,752,297 1886-'87 -----...--- 4 • * = * * * - - - - - - - - * = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ----- 3, 180,822 1887–'88 ----...----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * st s • * * * ----------- 3,007, 231 1888–89 - - - - - - - - - - -. * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As ºr se ºn e s we as w tº is as us e *---------------- 4, 193, 562 1889–'90 - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - s: ..., 4, 164, 786 1890-91 ------------------------------------------------ºº::::$34,320,729 1891-'92 ----...------- 4 w = e = e s = * W ºn tº º, e = e m = me tº s = s e s m se e s is e ...}.}.},{3...?... 3,213,391 } e 12 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 4. The superintendent of the Indian warehouse, Maj. Louis L. Robbins, deserves commendation for the faithful manner in which he has conducted the affairs of his office, Since he took charge, April 12, 1889, no complaint has reached the Depart- ment in any manner reflecting upon the integrity of the management of the public business. Respectfully, CYRUs BUSSEY, Assistant Secretary. Hon. JoHN W. NoblE, Secretary. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ill.III 3 9015 07418 6019