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I. THE FINANCE DIVISION.

1273. This division, as its name implies, has charge of the financial affairs of the Indian service. It considers all questions relating to contracts for supplies and annuity goods to be furnished the Indians, and for the transportation of the same. It remits funds to the disbursing officers of the Indian service, settles all special claims for supplies, makes payment for the same, and carries on all the correspondence of the office relating to goods, supplies, &c. All contracts, after execution according to the forms of law, are forwarded to the Board of Indian Commissioners for their approval; then to the Secretary of the Interior, and on his approval to the office of the Second Comptroller to be filed. All accounts of contractors and claims for supplies, &c., after settlement in this division are likewise forwarded to that board, after receiving the approval of the head of the office, and thence to the Secretary of the Interior, and on his approval to the Second Auditor for adjustAfter revision by the Second Comptroller, who certifies the balance due, a requisition goes from this division to the Secretary of the Interior, and one from the latter to the Secretary of the Treasury, for the payment of the

ment.

amount.

II. THE DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS.

1274. This division has charge of all cash and property accounts of Indian agents and other disbursing officers of the Indian service. It makes an administrative examination of the same preparatory to their final adjustment by the Second Auditor and Second Comptroller of the Treasury. It determines all questions relative to the quantity and distribution of supplies, and has supervision of all employees at the various Indian agencies. The same course is taken by these accounts as by those referred to

in the preceding section, except that instead of the issuing of the requisition the proper credits are entered to the account of the officer on the books of the division. In the exercise of its supervision over the employees of the Indian agencies, this division keeps a record of the entire force, notes all changes as they occur in the same, and conducts the correspondence of the office relative thereto.

III. THE LAND DIVISION.

1275. This division has charge of all questions arising out of or connected with the control and disposition of Indian lands, the establishment or enlargement of Indian reservations by Executive order. It is also the law division of the Indian office. It considers the tenures, rights, claims, and controversies growing out of Indian titles, and divers questions growing out of the occupancy of land and the conditions imposed by acts of Congress and treaty stipulations; all questions relating to the selection of res ervations, changes of boundaries, increase or diminution of the areas thereof, discontinuance of the same, removal of Indians, and the consolidation of different bands or tribes. It is charged with the custody of duplicate plats and fieldnote records of the surveyed Indian reservations, and of complete tract books of all such surveyed lands; also of all records, files, diagrams, treaties, documents, and papers of every character relating to Indian lands, and with the labor of furnishing exemplifications of the same to proper applicants for legitimate purposes.

IV. THE CIVILIZATION DIVISION.

1276. This division has charge of matters pertaining to the advancement of Indians in civilized pursuits; their educational interests and sanitary condition; all matters of schools on Indian reservations, the funds for the support of

which are disbursed by direction of the Indian Office. It receives monthly reports from the numerous schools on these reservations, which are registered and tabulated in a book kept in the division for the purpose. It prepares and revises contracts for carrying on many of the schools, and transacts business relative thereto, involving correspondence with the officers of the bureau and with agents and religious bodies to whom the educational and religious work of the respective agencies is assigned relative to the appointment of proper teachers, the supplies of school books and furniture, and to the best means of promoting the efficiency of the schools.

1277. This division also receives monthly reports from agencies where physicians are employed, and takes proper action. It also concerns itself with the estimates from various agencies of the medicines required, and prepares all necessary blanks and papers for the annual purchase of medical supplies.

This division has charge also of matters pertaining to depredations committed by the Indians; to the appointment of and issue of instructions to superintendents, agents, and inspectors; the examination and approval of their official bonds; the record of the same, and to their transmissal to the Second Comptroller. It keeps a record of claims for depredations committed by Indians against whites and by whites against Indians, and transacts the business relative to such claims.

It has also supervision of trade with the Indians, and is charged with the issuing of licenses to Indian traders in accordance with the act of August 15, 1876, giving the Secretary of the Interior sole authority to issue such licenses.. It keeps a record of such licenses and of the bonds executed by traders.

It conducts the correspondence of the office relative to

the conduct of the Indians, their welfare and progress; in regard to the interferences by white men, or to the violations of the non-intercourse laws; to the removal and punishment of intruders; the discipline of refractory Indians; the establishment of new agencies; the removal of Indians, and to investigations involving charges against Indian agents.

V. THE DIVISION OF RECORDS AND FILES.

1278. This division has custody of the records and files of the office, excepting those pertaining to the Land Divis ion thereof. The records consist of yearly report books; yearly "letter books," in which are recorded all outgoing correspondence; a register of letters received; a record of claims and contracts; a yearly abstract of letters sent. The files of the office are appropriately arranged by names of agencies, superintendents, and localities, by dates; and these file-marks agree in every particular with the registers kept in this division.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.

1279. This officer was first provided for by act of March 2, 1833. His office was, however, but of a temporary nature, and was continued from time to time by various acts until the act of January 19, 1849, made it perpetual. By act of March 3, 1849, it was transferred from the War Department to the Department of the Interior.

1280. He is required to perform, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, such duties in the execution of the various pension and bounty land laws as may be prescribed by the President. (R. S., § 471.)

1281. He is authorized, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, to appoint a person to sign his name to certificates or warrants for bounty lands. (R. S., § 473.)

1282. Also to detail from time to time any of the clerks of his office to investigate suspected attempts to defraud the United States in or affecting the administration of any law relative to pensions, and to aid in prosecuting any person implicated. The clerks so detailed may administer oaths in the course of their investigation. (R. S., §§ 474, 4744.) 1283. Where no record evidence exists of the military service for which a bounty land warrant is claimed, parol evidence may be admitted to prove the same, under such regulations as the Commissioner of Pensions may prescribe. (R. S., § 2431.)

1284. He is empowered to review the evidence upon which a bounty land warrant was issued, and when not satisfied he may require additional proof as to the time and fact

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