The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-28
INDIAN FINANCES.
The Annual Appropriations for the II ed N .
Their Tribal Trust Fuad..

WASHINGTON. Feb. Phone OF the routine
supply bills In which 1t will be rather difiicult
to make great savings without decreasing eff
cheney and safety Of administration is that OF
the Indian service. Tho reason Is in part til at
the amounts fixed for supplies and other an
nuities OF the Indians are settled by treaty and
the salaries paid to persons connected with the
schools and the agencies become a regular
charge Besides. there has really been COM
paratively little increase In tho general appro-
priations for this service. all things consid-
cred. during the last ten years. There have
been great outlays for purchasing Indian
lands. but these are or pected to Ls rein burs cd
by sales OF lots to settlers.
The Indian appropriations for the fiscal
year 1885 were 81 1893 1857. Thereafter a
gradual decrease occurred to the year 1855.
when they were 50. 1887. lilo Then the pen
dulum swung the other way. ana there were
steady increases until 1893. when the maxi
mum OF Ss.342, Oa+.94 was reached. This last
sum included S47S. 252.O2 OF depreciation
claims. except for which the maximum would
have been that OF the preceding year. For
1894 thelast item received no appropriations,
and accordingly the total amount was reduced
to S7.954.o02 In reality other years had
called for heavy appropriations on land pur-
chase accounts. The rear 1880 required 81
lh3, 7a9. Il for land sessions BY the Sioux tie
Ss ZEN ana q. sSIeeks while the year
The last great obligation OF this character and
the chief enc TO be considered for some time
10 como was the unprecedeuteily heavy inr-
DEN Incurred In the purchase OF the Cherokee
outlet; but by the terms made with tho tribs
the money Is 10 be Iaid In ihstHllmepts dur
small portion In cash.
But as to the current and contingent ey-
penses OF the Indian service including he pay
OF special agents. inspectors. and tuUeTiR-
tendontS, ana tho expenses OF the Hoard OF
Commissioners these have decreased during
err t4Fss.
the last ten years. excluding those Of land puI-
chases. are In miscellaneous an school sN-
penses. The former lnclud pNpeng-s of al ilt-
men's, tho relief ~ the suffering ChiPprwas
tho irrigation OF the Navajo lands. and large
appropriations for Indian police ard farm
ere. and other objects clearly commentaries
Possibly under this heading. however some
reduction may bs practicable. The schools
when hai an appropriation Of only s;Eik 2tEI
In 1875. Tsceiysd 81 .4L +.IG:}S Tor the EsphI
fTartion Of the total Increase 81 Indian an
propTlations since ~, islue TO his last cause
The excess ot the latter date over tho earlirT Is
Si7oj. $50. and for schools alone the III
crease Is sl.2JU,&I Us while the amount due
In consequence Of new agreements ratified
since 1875 is SS1d. 300. As has alrs4fy Lsrn
Indicated. the appropriations made last year
the preceding year.
A noteworthy feature 81 Indian finances.
ings ~ the Govr!nment with the red men IN
modern times hut also the sources Of reliance
which the latter have for their future suppurr
10 contained IN the great array OF trust funds
phid To the tribes Endrr treaty. and held for
them at a good rate Of annual Interest By the
Government. InHss amount now 10 many
millions. the Usage being nuTi."abIy rich "a
proportion 70 the small nun Der oil tho tg.Dp.