Mr. McGRATH. One further question: Then, Mr. Livingston, under no circumstances does a Member of Congress touch this appropriation at all for mechanical equipment? Mr. LIVINGSTON. That is correct, Mr. Chairman. Mr. MCGRATH. The Members of Congress receive none of this money. The mechanical devices remain the property of the United States Government. Mr. LIVINGSTON. That is correct. Mr. McGRATH. The Member merely has the use of such equipment, the same as typewriters or any other mechanical devices now in his office. Mr. LIVINGSTON. That is correct. Mr. HORAN. I have just one question: It is a part of his office, a part of the facilities by which he can better serve his constituents. Mr. LIVINGSTON. The only reason for the $1,500, and the $1,000 which is mentioned here in this bill is to put a limitation on the amount of equipment for each individual office. ADEQUACY OF ESTIMATE Mr. HORAN. Do you feel that the $650,000 will be sufficient to service the Members who might want these machines? Mr. LIVINGSTON. I believe at this time it will be. Mr. HORAN. I am inclined to believe it will. I feel it possibly could safely be reduced a little. MODERNIZATION OF OPERATIONS COMPARABLE TO GENERAL BUSINESS PRACTICE Mr. McGRATH. Mr. Livingston, are you familiar with the types of mechanical devices which are now used in practically all other agencies of the Government? Mr. LIVINGSTON. Yes. Mr. McGRATH. And are you also familiar with the general business custom in the United States of using mechanical devices? Mr. LIVINGSTON. Yes. Mr. McGRATH. And is this merely keeping pace with the technical developments that have taken place in office work? Mr. LIVINGSTON. This to try to catch up with some of the practices in business establishments on the outside; we are far behind in the use of mechanical equipment. Mr. McGRATH. And it is your opinion, based upon years of experience in business, that Congress has been a little slow in getting the modern mechanical devices to help them with their workload? Mr. LIVINGSTON. I would say "Yes." EQUIPMENT DISPLAY Mr. HORAN. It is my understanding, Mr. Livingston, that next week, in case favorable action is had on this resolution, that you are going to have the manufacturers here to display some of the mechanical equipment that the Members might want to use, so they can exercise their best judgment on the basis of actual observation as to what might be of value to their office? Mr. LIVINGSTON. Yes. We have invited all manufacturers of such equipment to have an exhibit in a room which will be set aside for each Member of Congress to come and select such equipment as he may desire. Mr. McGRATH. Thank you very much. SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERIOR DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS MICHAEL J. KIRWAN, Ohio, Chairman W. BARTON GREENWOOD, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS C. B. EMERY, CHIEF, BRANCH BUDGET AND FINANCE, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS OTIS BEASLEY, DIRECTOR, BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMUTATION OF TREATIES, CHOCTAW NATION OF INDIANS IN OKLAHOMA Mr. KIRWAN. We have met this afternoon to consider the request for a supplemental appropriation sent up by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for $385,000 as contained in House Document 246. The document, Public Law 747, Eighty-first Congress and the justifications will be inserted into the record at this point. (The matter referred to is as follows:) [H. Doc. No. 246, 82d Cong., 1st sess.] COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING A PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1952, IN THE AMOUNT OF $385,000, FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, September 27, 1951. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of the Congress a proposed supplemental appropriation for the fiscal year 1952, in the amount of $385,000, for the Department of the Interior. The details of this proposed appropriation, the necessity therefor and the reasons for its submission at this time are set forth in the attached letter from the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, with whose comments and observations thereon I concur. Respectfully yours, HARRY S. TRUMAN. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, The PRESIDENT, The White House. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith for your consideration a proposed supplemental appropriation for the fiscal year 1952, in the amount of $385,000, for the Department of the Interior, as follows: "DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR "BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS "COMMUTATION OF TREATY OBLIGATIONS, CHOCTAW NATION OF INDIANS IN OKLAHOMA "For commutation of treaty obligations with the Choctaw Nation of Indians in Oklahoma in accordance with the Act of September 1, 1950 (Public Law 747), and for expenses of making per capita payments authorized by said Act, $385,000, to remain available until expended." The act of September 1, 1950 (Public Law 747), authorizes the commutation of the annual appropriation for fulfilling various treaties made more than 100 years ago with the Choctaw Indians now in Oklahoma. The act requires that the commutation authorized be contingent upon its approval by a majority of the votes cast by the enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation in a referendum election conducted by the Secretary of the Interior. Such election was held during the month of May 1951. Of 5,339 ballots cast, 3,931 were in favor of commutation, 213 against, and 1,195 ballots were void. The act also authorized the appropriation of funds for conducting the election and for making a per capita distribution of the commutation fund. The foregoing proposed supplemental appropriation is necessary to provide the funds to complete this transaction with the Choctaw Nation. I recommend that it be transmitted to the Congress. Respectfully yours, F. J. LAWTON, Director of the Bureau of the Budget. [PUBLIC LAW 747-81ST CONGRESS] [CHAPTER 834-2D SESSION] [H. R. 6209] AN ACT To authorize the commutation of the annual appropriation for fulfilling various treaties with the Choctaw Nation of Indians in Oklahoma, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $350,666.67 for the purpose of commuting to the said sum of $350,666.67 the annual appropriation, amounting to $10,520, made for the purpose of fulfilling the following treaties with the Choctaw Indians of Oklahoma: For permanent annuity (article 2, treaty of November 16, 1805, and article 13, treaty of June 22, 1855), $3,000; for permanent annuity for support of light horsemen (article 13, treaty of October 18, 1820, and article 13, treaty of June 22, 1855), $600; for permanent annuity for support of blacksmith (article 6, treaty of October 18, 1820, and article 9, treaty of January 20, 1825, and article 13, treaty of June 22, 1855), $600; for permanent annuity for education (article 2, treaty of January 20, 1825, and article 13, treaty of June 22, 1855), $6,000; for permanent annuity for iron and steel (article 9, treaty of January 20, 1825, and article 13, treaty of June 22, 1855), $320. The said sum of $350,666.67, when appropriated, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Choctaw Nation. SEC. 2. The commutation provided for in section 1 of this Act shall be contingent upon the approval of such commutation by a majority of the votes cast by the enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation in a referendum election conducted by the Secretary of the Interior under such rules and regulations as he shall, with the concurrence of the principal chief of the said nation, prescribe. SEC. 3. The Secretary of the Interior is directed to distribute per capita to the enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation, entitled under existing law to share in the funds of such nation, or to their lawful heirs or devisees determined in the manner prescribed in section 4 of the contract ratified by the Act of June 24, 1948 (Public Law 754, Eightieth Congress), any or all the funds appropriated pursuant to section 1 of this Act: SEC. 4. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, the sum of not to exceed $5,000 for the purpose of defraying the expenses of conducting the referendum provided for in section 2 of this Act, and of making the per capita payments authorized in section 3 of this Act. SEC. 5. The approval of the commutation as provided in section 2 and the deposit to the credit of the Choctaw Nation of the amount specified in section 1 shall constitute a full and complete discharge of all rights, claims, and demands of any nature whatsoever, whether tangible or intangible and whether or not cognizable in law or in equity, against the United States arising out of any of the annuity provisions of the treaties referred to in section 1. Approved September 1, 1950. BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS Commutation of treaties, Choctaw Nation of Indians in Oklahoma The funds are for carrying out the purposes of the act of September 1, 1950 (Public Law 747, 81st Cong.) That act authorized commutation of the annual appropriation of $10,520 for fulfilling various treaties with the Choctaw Nation of Indians in Oklahoma. The act authorized appropriation of $350,666.67 for such commutation contingent upon approval by a majority of the votes cast by the enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation in a referendum election and the sum to be distributed per capita after approval. The referendum election was held May 1 to May 31, 1951, and the commutation was approved as follows: Total ballots mailed___ Affirmative Negative_ Void.. Total ballots cast_ Mailed, not returned___ Mailed, returned unclaimed.. Total ballots___. 7,877 3,931 213 1, 195 5, 339 2,280 258 7,877 The estimate includes $350,666.67 for payment to the Indians and $34,333.33 for salaries and expenses of making the per capita distribution. GENERAL STATEMENT Mr. KIRWAN. Mr. Greenwood, do you have a general statement to make? Mr. GREENWOOD. Yes, Mr. Chairman. The estimate that you have before you is to carry out the provisions of an act approved September 1, 1950, that authorized an appropriation of $350,666.67 for the purpose of commuting the value of certain treaties which were entered into by the United States during the period from 1805 |