Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-29
HE RESENTS CRITICISM
COMMISSIONER RICHARDS ON
THE SALE OF INDIAN LANDS.
Declares That Proceeds Have Been
Properly Deposited by the
Secretary.

1T Is stated in the press this morning
that some of the officials of the Treasury
Department are criticising the action OF
the Secretary of the Interior respecting the
deposit Of the funds received from the sale
of the town sites in the kiowa and Co.
manche reservations. which was made I'M
der my direction in 1901, and the auditing
of the expenses incurred in making such
sales" said Commissioner Richards of the
general land office today.
I'm this statement after quoting the law
defining the duties of the auditor for the
Interior Department, the quotation Is made
from Secretary Hitchcocks annual report
of June 80, 1901, that expenses for conduct
ing town site sales had been audited by
the general land office and paid from the
appropriation to which they were properly
chargeable.'
This statement Is erroneous. The con-
nection in which that statement is used in
the SecretaryS report is as follows 1t is
provided In the act of March 3, 1901, that
1.-The receipts from the sale of these lots in
the respective county seats shall, after de-
Quoting the expense incident to the sur
veying, subdividing, plating and selling
of the same be disposed of under the direc-
ton of the Secretary of the Interior, in the
following manner, etc.
Incidental Expenses.
"A statement has heretofore been sub
mitted of the expenses incident to the sur
veying. subdividing and plating of the
town sites of Iawton. Anadarko andHobart.
AS these town sites embrace the same num-
Der of acres, and the expenses incident to
their survey were practically the same in
each case, no attempt has been made to
keep an account with each town site. but
the expenses incident to their survey are
ton that in my opinion they should be di-
vded equally between the three town sites,
one-third OF the gross amount to be charg-
ed to each one.
These accounts have all been audited in
the general land office and paid from the
appropriations to which they properly
chargeable.
1T appears that the entire amount of ex-
penses so incurred and paid and which
should now be deducted from the receipts
of sales of said town lots on account of
said expenses, and deposited to the credit Of
the treasurer of the United States, is So
2S4.24. one-third of which is s1.761.41. which
amount 1T is recommended should be charg-
ed against the receipts from the sale of
each town site.
THE survey of these town sites was made
by surveyors detailed from the general
land office, for that purpose Their en-
ployes. as well as the incidental expenses
incurred. were paid by a clerk of the land
office. detailed for that purpose, who was
appointed a disbursing officer. His ac-
counts. together with the accounts for the
salaries and expenses of the detailed sur
veyors. We're audited in the land office and
also by the auditor of the Interior Depart
ment in the Treasury Department.
Every Item Audited
This statement. which is portion of my
report to the secretary. was made as a sug-
gestion to the apportionment to the re-
spective town sites of the total expense
incurred. which had previously been report
ed in detail. every item of which had been
properly audited.
"a statement OF the EXPENSE incurred in
the sale of these town sites Immediately
Secretarys report. and shows that the total
sites were S736,G3. and that the total ex-
penses incurred in making the sale of these
town sites were S5.S31.15. These expenses
were paid from the receipts of the reSpec-
tive sales and properly accounted for to
the Secretary of the Interior and the bal
ance of the receipts. amounting to $780,
2Dl.S3. deposited IN the subtreaSury al St
Louis, against which is to be charged. as
shown above. S1.2S4-24-eXpenses incurred
IN the surveying of the town SiteS-leaving
a balance OF S124.9l7.62-
No portion of this balance belongs to
the government BY the act under which
these town sites were sold it is to be dis
posed of under the direction of the Secre-
tary of the Interior. in the manner provided
IN the act. The Secretary is the trustee of
this fund, charged with the duty of seeing
that II is expended in the manner pro-
vided by the act. The money was deposited
In the subtreaSury at ST. Louis There was
no direction in the law that it should be so
deposited 1t might have been deposited
elsewhere In the discretion of the Secre-
tary."