Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-24
EXPENDITURES OF THE WAR DE.
PARTMENT

i"t the War Department, to- the House of
ELECTED by the resolutions
ing an him for Information relative to the
q .icnjiures III the Indian Department.
Nat. Int.
DEPARTMENT. OF WAR,
january Is, 1922.
SIR: The Secretary OF War, 10 whom was
r'srrred the resolution OF the House of Repre-
srntatIves OF the 10th instant, b" directing that
HE Secretary OF War communicate to that
'i"use statement $50 far as the same NAV
- IN his power to makc) of the items of ill
~ expenditures made and expenses incurred
:: the Indian department., during the years
80 and 1921, together with abstracts of the
'.''in,ates furnished for said years by the In
GA agents, upon which funds have been add
'Nnced, or expenses incurred and, also. A
iatement of the several amounts to which
.heir respective expenditures were limited by
X instructions of said Secretary" has the
l-'nor 20 enclose herewith Il statement of the
''scond Auditor, marked A, showing the ex-
i'ohditireS made, and expenses incurred in the
t"dIan Department, for the years 1920 and
'@-i, as lar as the actual expenditures can
f. ascertalmcd from the vouchers received
'Hatemeni marked &, containing "abstracts
ct The estimates furnished for said wears by
ne indian agents, upon which funds were add
Fahced, or expenses incurred" and documents
u ~; SoHtainuS d CiTcutar OF the lDtn
-tarch, 1871, TO the superintendent and a.
s''nts. by which will be seen the several a
''ounts to which their respective expenditures
"cfe l'mIted,' together with AN estimate of
'c arrearages OF the Indian Department at
~" termination OF the last year, and the gene
'it regulations which have been adopted TO
control The expenditures of that Department
The estimates on which advances were
,sade are necessarily imperfect for the year
30, rs the regulation changing the mode of
"''hilS advances To agents aud super intcn-
rats was adapted on the 10Th February of
HAT year. Before that period, the djsburse
'ients .! the Indian Department were made
without estimates, principally on drafts drawn
go thls Department by the agents and suner-
'.'itndenis, care being taken in accepting the
'-fu's not 10 exceed the sum allotted 10 each
uncut satisfactory explanation. This mode
:" covering III" disbursements of the Indian
department was, however, found 10 be dcfcc-
lI'r, as 1t gave no previous check over the dis.
easements. and exposed The government To
i:aud In dispoSing ufdrafts on il, by the agents,
:Hh"ut accounting for the premium which
icy might Obtain 1t is not, however, known
mt any fraud OF the kind has been commit
"a, out 1t was strong objection to the mode
at making disbursements, that it was Iiablc IN
ah'se. Under the system adopted. if ripidIv
'hi9rced, the possibility of such frauds is ex-
cl.tded.
Believing /! to l,r within The intention ofthe
"''out'on, have annexed to the copy of the
"'rc'ilar (" The suprrintcndenis and agents, OF
-" l9fh March last, which contains the a
i'a1t 10 which their respective expenditures
ere hmilcd, copies of various other circulars
"ii'eh hai been ut different times adopted in
'>FhcV 10 introduce economy and accountable
y, aud thereby diminish the expenditure of
= Indian ta,,nrt,,onf H.,
''c'al ihSti uctions, applicable 10 the peculiar
late ut each agency, have, with the same
'tW, at various times, been given to The diff
rem agents. On account of its amount, and
'jiil'y To abuse, the expenditure which par
'cdihrsy claimed the attention of this Depart
'''tnt was that I'm account of ratiOns issued to
'ilans. Not long after the commencement
- The present administration of this Depart
i3;:n:, thr circulars in relation to issuing ra-
% '"'' c"P'rs OF winch accompany this report,
ere issued to the agents and superintendent
- Is believed, that the regulations which they
''ntaln, have had very happy effect in pre-
rntipg imposiiions on the government and
diminishing the disbursements uf the Indian
department.
ny referring to- the accompanying docu-
'7rhts, ii viii appear that the az gregate a.
i"nunl allotted Ia the agents and supprinten-
% MS, under the circular of March last, is
: 1900, leaving $ 10000 to- meet such gene
~ charges against the appropriation as be-
ih5ed to no particular agency, such as the
d"ots which night be brought against it in
i''c settlement of former accounts of expendi-
ires tor the expenses ofratiOns issued 10 the
:ilans through the commis3ary of provisions,
~ visits of Indians to The seat of government.
General expense und@r the Indian intercourse
~ of 1909, transportation of annuities, &c.
/ NJ sum allotted TO these various objects has
DYED insufficient. Even with the addition
90 the hainiice ot the appropriation of the last
"i'r II has not been sufficient to meet the
'pIts arising from the settlement of old ac-
cunts. 1t was believed, when the estimates of
- las; year were made that the balance of
idc appropriation of the preceding year, with
Slrh credits as might be- brought 10 the Indian
appropriation from the settlement of old ac-
ants, would be sufficient TO cover the debts.
&" 'tn, however, has not proved 10 be the fact,
- wa appear by reference to the statement
'i the Second Auditor of the Treasury, which
'rconpanics this report. 1t is proper to re-
ftifk That debts which have been brought a.
Hunst the Indian appropriation in the last and
.Fecedin5 years, have risen principally out OF
'.''' settlement of the accounts of army con
ictors, unider contracts made before the es-
i''ilshDcnt Ofthe present system of supply
f4S the army with provisions, which com
'";hcfd on the LIST ofJune, 1919 TAe IA
nint OF ra'ions issued 10 Indians could not,
''ider the old system, be ascertaiued till the
''tract0r rendered his accounts for settle
ut, on which the provisions issued TO In
i'ans were charged to The proper appropria-
~, AID the proper appropriation for the To-
IN Department for the year was thus lab, to
- affected by the disbursements Of former
>.ats.
AS the accounts Of tie former army con-
actors have been at audited, and "a the