§ 108.19 Debts of Indians.

No indebtedness of Indians will be paid from their funds under the control or supervision of the Secretary unless authorized in writing and obligated against their accounts by the superintendent or some other designated employee except in cases of emergency involving the protection or preservation of life or property, which emergency must be clearly shown. With this exception, no authorization or obligation against the account of any Indian for indebtedness incurred by him shall be made by the superintendent unless specifically authorized by the regulations in this part.

§ 108.20 Purchase orders.

Purchase orders may be issued by the superintendent for expenditures authorized by the regulations in this part or for expenditures specifically authorized by the Commissioner. When necessary to prevent hardship or suffering, purchase orders may be issued by the superintendent against the future income of an Indian in an amount not to exceed 80 percent of the anticipated quarterly payment. The payment of purchase orders issued against future income shall be contingent upon the availability of funds.

§ 108.21 Fees and expenses of attorneys.

When payment of an attorney fee for services to an Indian is to be made from his surplus funds, the employment of the attorney by the Indian must be approved in advance. All fees will be determined on a quantum merit basis and paid upon completion of the services. The superintendent may approve the employment of an attorney, determine the fee, and disburse the surplus funds of the Indian in payment thereof when the fee does not exceed $500. Upon application by the Indian and upon the presentation of properly authenticated vouchers, the superintendent may disburse the surplus funds of the Indian in an amount not to exceed $200 in payment of necessary expenses incurred by the attorney.

§ 108.22 Disbursements to legal guardians.

Any disbursement authorized to be made to an Indian by the regulations of this part may, when the Indian is under guardianship, be made by the superintendent to the guardian. All expenditures by a guardian of the funds of his ward must be approved in writing by the court and the superintendent.

§ 108.23 Transactions between guardian and ward.

Business dealings between the guardian and his ward involving the sale or purchase of any property, real or personal, by the guardian to or from the ward, or to or from any store, company or organization in which the guardian has a direct interest or concern or contrary to the policy of the Department and shall not be approved by the superintendent without specific authority from the Commissioner.

§ 108.24 Compensation for guardians and their attorneys.

(a) The superintendent may approve compensation for services rendered by the guardian of an Indian on an annual basis, the amount of the compensation to be determined by application of the following schedule to the moneys collected by the guardian:

First $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 10 percent.

Second $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 9 percent.

Third $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 8 percent.

Fourth $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 7 percent.

Fifth $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 6 percent.

Sixth $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 5 percent.

Seventh $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 4 percent.

Eighth $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 3 percent.

Ninth $1,000 or portion thereof, not to exceed 2 percent.

All above $9,000 not to exceed 1 percent.

(b) Balance carried forward from previous reports and moneys received by a guardian or his attorney as compensation shall be excluded in determining the compensation of the guardian or his attorney.

(c) The attorney for a guardian shall be allowed compensation in an amount equal to one-half of the amount allowed the guardian under the foregoing schedule except when such attorney is himself the guardian and acting as his own attorney, in which event he shall be allowed a fee of not to exceed one-fourth of the amount allowed the guardian under the foregoing schedule in addition to the fee as guardian.

(d) The superintendent may in his discretion permit the guardian to collect rentals from restricted city or town properties belonging to his ward. § 108.25 Charges for services to Indians.

The superintendent shall make the following charges for services to Indians: Five per cent of all interest and non-liquidating dividends received from all types of securities, including stocks, bonds, and mortgages held in trust for individual Indians and interest on group investments. Such fees shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the fund "Proceeds of Oil and Gas Leases, Royalties, etc., Osage Reservation, Oklahoma".

§ 108.26 Expenses incurred pending qualification of an executor or administrator.

Pending the qualification of the executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased Indian of one-half or more Indian blood who did not have a certificate of competency at the time of his death, the superintendent may authorize the extension of credit for the following purposes, subject to allowance of claims by the executor or administrator and approval thereof by the court:

(a) Funeral expenses, including the cost of a funeral feast, in an amount not to exceed $1,000.

(b) Necessary expenses in hearings before the Osage Agency involving the approval or disapproval of last wills and testaments.

(c) Expenses necessary to preserve restricted property.

§ 108.27 Custody of funds pending administration of estates.

(a) Estates of Indians of less than one-half Indian blood and estates of Indians who had certificates of competency. Upon the death of an Indian of less than one-half Indian blood or an Indian who had a certificate of competency, the superintendent shall pay to the executor or administrator of the estate all moneys and securities, other than segregated trust funds to the credit of the Indian and all funds which accrue pending administration of the estate.

(b) Estates of Indians of one-half or more Indian blood who did not have certificates of competency. Upon the death of an Indian of one-half or more Indian blood who did not have a certificate of competency at the time of his death, the following classes of funds, less any amount hypothecated for the payment of taxes as provided in § 108.2 shall be paid by the superintendent to the executor or administrator of the estate:

(1) Allowance funds to the credit of the Indian.

(2) Any quarterly payment authorized prior to the death of the Indian.

(3) Interest on segregated trust funds and deposits computed to the date of death.

(4) Rentals and income from restricted lands collected after the death of the Indian which were due and payable to the Indian prior to his death.

Except as provided in § 108.28, the superintendent shall not pay to the executor or administrator any surplus funds to the credit of the Indian or any funds, other than those listed in paragraphs (b) (1) (2) (3) and (4) of this section which accrue pending administration of the estate.

§ 108.28 Payment of claims against estates.

The superintendent may disburse to the executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased Indian of one-half or more Indian blood who did not have a certificate of competency at the time of his death sufficient funds out of the estate to pay the following classes of claims approved by the court:

(a) Debts authorized by the superinndent during the lifetime of the ndian.

(b) Expenses incurred pending the ualifications of an executor or admintrator under authority contained in 108.26.

(c) Expenses of administration, inuding court costs, premium on bond I executor or administrator, trancript fees and appraiser fees.

(d) Living expenses incurred within O days immediately preceding the ate of death of the Indian.

(e) Allowance for reasonable living xpenses each month for 12 months to surviving spouse who is entitled to articipate in the distribution of the state and who is in need of such suport.

(f) Allowance for reasonable living xpenses each month for 12 months or each child of the decedent under 1 years of age who is entitled to parIcipate in the distribution of the state and who is in need of such suport.

(g) Insurance premiums and license ees on restricted property.

(h) Not to exceed $1,000 for the preservation and upkeep of restricted property including the services of a caretaker when necessary.

(i) Debts incurred during the lifeime of the Indian but not authorized by the superintendent, if found by the Commissioner to be just and payable. The superintendent shall disburse no funds to an executor or administrator for the payment of the foregoing classes of claims unless the executor or administrator has no other funds in his hands available for the payment of such claims.

[22 FR 10554, Dec. 24, 1957, as amended at 35 FR 10005, June 18, 1970]

$108.29 Sale of improvements.

The superintendent may approve the sale of improvements on restricted Indian lands when such improvements are appraised at not more than $500 and when the owner has submitted a written request that the sale be made and a statement that the improvements can no longer be used by him. The proceeds of all such sales shall be deposited to the credit of the Indian

as surplus funds. Improvements consisting of buildings, etc., located on property within the Osage villages of Pawhuska, Hominy, and Grayhorse may, upon approval of the superintendent, be disposed of to other Osage Indians. The superintendent may disburse the surplus funds of the purchaser to consummate the transaction. Sale of such improvements to nonIndian or non-Osage Indians must be approved by the Commissioner.

§ 108.30 Sale of personal property.

The superintendent may approve the sale of restricted personal property other than livestock. The superintendent may also approve the sale of livestock when authorized so to do by special or general instructions from the Commissioner. The proceeds from the sale of personal property other than livestock shall be deposited to the credit of the Indian as surplus funds unless the surplus funds from which said property was purchased have been reimbursed from allowance funds, in which case the proceeds from such sale shall be disbursed as allowance funds. If partial reimbursement only has been made, such portion of the proceeds of sale as may be necessary to complete the reimbursable agreement shall be deposited to the credit of the Indian as surplus funds and the balance, if any, shall be disbursed as allowance funds. The proceeds from the sale of livestock shall be deposited in conformity with general or specific instructions from the Commissioner.

§ 108.31 Removal of restrictions from personal property.

The superintendent may relinquish title to personal property (other than livestock) held by the United States in trust for the Indian when to do so will enable the Indian to use the property as part payment in the purchase of other personal property and when the remainder of the purchase price is to be made from other than surplus funds of the Indian.

§ 108.32 Funds of Indians of other tribes.

The funds of restricted non-Osage Indians, both adults and minors, resid

ing within the jurisdiction of the Osage Agency, derived from sources within the Osage Nation and collected through the Osage Agency, may be disbursed by the superintendent, subject to the condition that all payments to third persons, including taxes and insurance premiums, shall be made upon the written authorization of the individual whose funds are involved, if an adult, and upon the written authorization of the parent or guardian, if a minor. The funds of restricted nonOsage Indians who do not reside within the jurisdiction of the Osage Agency shall be transferred to the superintendent of the jurisdiction within which the Indian resides, to be disbursed under regulations of the receiving agency.

§ 108.33 Signature of illiterates.

An Indian who cannot write shall be required to endorse checks payable to his order and sign receipts or other documents by making an imprint of the ball of the right thumb (or the left, if he has lost his right) after his name. This imprint shall be clear and distinct, showing the central whorl and striations and witnessed by two reputable persons whose addresses shall be given opposite or following their names. An Indian may sign by marking "X" before two witnesses where he is unable to attach his thumb mark for physical reasons.

§ 108.34 Financial status of Indians confidential.

The financial status of Indians shall be regarded as confidential and shall not be disclosed except to the owner of the account or his authorized agent, unless authorized in advance by the Commissioner.

§ 108.35 Appeals.

Any decision by the superintendent may be appealed to the area director, any decision by the area director may be appealed to the Commissioner, and any decision by the Commissioner may be appealed to the Secretary.

SOURCE: 22 FR 10557, Dec. 24, 1957, unless otherwise noted.

NOTE: For declaration of policy in disbursement of the judgment fund of the Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reserva tion, Wyo., see 4 FR 4797, Dec. 8, 1939.

§ 109.1 Program required; purposes for which expenditures may be made.

Pro rata shares of the Shoshone Judgment Fund shall be expended in accordance with an approved program and for: Purchase of land; improvement of land to be acquired or already held by the Indian; erection and im provement of suitable homes; educa tion; purchase of building material, farming equipment, livestock, feed, food, seed, grain, tools, machinery, implements, household goods, bedding, clothing, and any other equipment, supplies, or training necessary to enable the Indian to fit himself for or to engage in farming, livestock raising, industry, or such other pursuits or vocations as will enable him to become self-supporting.

109.2 Family programs.

The funds of a husband and wife, nd of any other adults in a family roup, may be used in the execution of family program: Provided, The writen consent of each individual is filed ith the superintendent of the Wind Liver Indian Agency, Wyoming, herefter in this subpart referred to as the uperintendent. The available funds of minor may be used in the execution f such family program, only on condiion that (a) the funds of such minor re used solely in the development, epair or maintenance of real or peronal property owned by said minor or eld in trust for him, or in the cretion development or completion of a roject or undertaking or in the prouction of a gain or profit which will nure directly to the benefit of such ninor, (b) title to any real property or ixtures, purchased wholly or in part with his money shall, except with the pproval of the Commissioner of ndian Affairs, be held in trust for aim, or (c) the adults convey to the Jnited States in trust for such minor ufficient real or personal property to ssure, insofar as is possible, that the ninor upon attaining majority will have, in lieu of the money, property of I value equal to that of his funds used In the execution of the program. The Superintendent shall not approve a amily program which involves the ransfer to a minor, in exchange for his funds, of assets of a nature which will not be useful to him. The written consent of a minor who is 16 years of age or over, duly witnessed by at least wo disinterested persons, shall accompany any family program which involves the use of said minor's funds.

tures for such program after the first year shall depend upon the proper use of the funds initially authorized to be expended: Provided, That the program of an adult may, with the approval of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, provide for the expenditure in the first year after its approval of more than $1,350 when required for its most effective development. Expenditures of a minor's funds under this subpart shall not exceed a total sum of $500 and the remaining $1,850 of each minor's share shall be held intact until his majority, as required in section 2 of the act of July 27, 1939 (53 Stat. 1128).

§ 109.4 Authority to withhold funds.

The superintendent may stop disbursement of funds in the execution of an approved program upon evidence that the Indian is not complying with the program or that the continuation of the program or expenditures thereunder will not result in benefit to the Indian, and he may require either further justification for carrying out the program theretofore approved or the submission of a new program.

§ 109.5 Approval of programs.

The superintendent, subject to the limitations described in this subpart, shall approve or disapprove all programs submitted by Indians for the use and disbursement of pro rata shares of the Shoshone Judgment Fund. The Shoshone business council may act, or designate a committee of Indians to act, in an advisory capacity in the preparation and consideration of programs. Programs shall be prepared upon an approved form, which shall be filled out in duplicate, one copy to be filed at the Wind River Indian Agency and one copy to be retained in the possession of the Indian. § 109.6 Right of appeal.

1

Indians shall have the right of appeal through the superintendent, to the Area Director, Billings Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs (referred to in this part as the Area Director) (a) from an action of the super

1 Forms shall be made available at the Wind River Indian Agency.