MESSRS. JOHN A. ELSTON (CHAIRMAN), S. WALLACE DEMPSEY, IN CHARGE OF THE INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL FOR 1922 HR 15682 SIXTY-SIXTH CONGRESS 26630 WASHINGTON HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MESSRS. JOHN WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1920. STATEMENT OF MR. EDGAR B. MERITT, ASSISTANT COMMIS- GENERAL STATEMENT. Mr. ELSTON. Mr. Meritt, you may proceed with any general statement you may wish to make before taking up the items of your estimates for the Indian appropriation bill for the next fiscal year. Mr. MERITT. Mr. Chairman, in making up the estimates this year, we necessarily had to take into consideration the fact that there had been no new construction during the period of the war, and very little improvement to our school plants, and for that reason we are asking for some new construction, as well as increased items for general repairs. We have very few new items in the bill. The total increase amounts to $1,969,148.40. The current appropriation act is lower than our estimates by between three and four million dollars. We are asking for considerably less than we requested in our estimates last year, but a slight increase over the amount carried in the present Indian act. I will place in the record a statement showing the amount requested for 1922, gratuity, reimbursable, treaty and tribal funds, and also the appropriations for 1921, showing the increase over the current Indian appropriation act. (The statement referred to is as follows:) |