ity, however. The largest sum that has been appropriated in the past is $160,000, which was made for the fiscal year 1937. Since 1937 there has been a continuous reduction in the amount of the appropriation. In 1938 only $130,000 was appropriated; in 1939, $80,000; in 1940, $80,000; and for 1941, $74,540. LIMITATION ON PERSONAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA The limitation on the amount that might be expended for personal services in the District of Columbia has likewise been reduced, since 1937, in which year the larger appropriation was made. In that year $41,060 was authorized for expenditure for personal services in the District of Columbia; in 1938, $25,000; in 1939, $20,000; in 1940, $18,000; and in 1941, $18,000. So there has been a continuous reduction. We feel that the reductions now have reached the point where any further reduction would seriously curtail the activities that are being carried on with this appropriation. WORK UNDER THIS APPROPRIATION As you undoubtedly are aware, we are using this appropriation for expenses incident to the organization of tribes who have voted to accept the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act. The initial phase of the organization work in most cases has been accomplished. However, there is still much work to be done. After a tribe has voted to adopt a constitution and bylaws, has voted to accept a charter, it is just beginning to assume the functions and responsibilities that the Congress intended that they should assume, in enacting the Indian Reorganization Act. The assistance that is given by the personnel employed from this appropriation is invaluable to the tribes, the members of the tribes, because of their lack of experience in the fields in which they are functioning. We hope that the committee will see its way clear to restore the cut that has been made by the House committee, because we feel that unless that is done the progress now being made by the Indian tribes in the field of self-government will be seriously affected. NEED FOR INCREASE REQUESTED Senator THOMAS. Unless that amount is restored, would it be possible for you to proceed with your present program under the three different acts: First, the General Reorganization Act; second, the Oklahoma Welfare Act; and, third, the activities in Alaska? Is it necessary to have this money, this amount of money, and this increase in order to carry on the functions outlined by your department? Mr. GREENWOOD. That is correct, Senator. There is a further reason why we would dislike to see any reduction in the appropriation at this time, and that is because of the amendment to the Indian Reorganization Act that is now pending before the Congress which, if enacted, will permit tribes who originally rejected the act to vote again and to per mit those tribes who accepted the act to vote themselves out if they so desire. Senator THOMAS. In other words, the act is being made more flexible so that any tribe which heretofore had passed adversely upon the proposition or any tribe which has heretofore acted favorably can have another chance to consider their status under the law; in other words, they can get out if they are in, or they can get in if they are out. Mr. GREENWOOD. That is correct. Senator HAYDEN. We thank you. DEVELOPING AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING AMONG THE INDIANS AMOUNT OF INCREASE REQUESTED The next item is on page 29, line 16, and relates to agriculture and stock raising among Indians. The purpose of the amendment is to restore a cut of $11,400 made by the House committee below the Budget estimate. ។ INCREASE TO PROVIDE FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL FARM AGENTS Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Chairman, restoration of the cut made by the House committee would permit the employment of five additional farm agents. As the estimates went to the House, approved by the President, they contained an item of $22,800 under this appropriation for the employment of 10 additional farm agents. The House committee reduced the amount to $11,400, which will permit the employment of only 5. LACK OF ADEQUATE FIELD PERSONNEL We have facing us on several of the reservations a very serious situation. We have purchased additional land, and we have extended credit to the Indians who have been established on the land; but we lack adequate personnel to assist those Indians who have been settled on the land, in carrying out the programs that have been prepared, and which have formed the basis of credit that has been extended to them. NUMBER NOW EMPLOYED IN EXTENSION WORK AND NUMBER OF FARM AGENTS Senator HAYDEN. How many men do you have employed in that service now? Mr. GREENWOOD. We have a total of 311 employees engaged in extension work at the present time; 112 of whom are farm agents. Senator HAYDEN. That is, this will increase the number from 112, as passed by the House, to 117. Mr. GREENWOOD. Yes, sir. Senator HAYDEN. And you desire to make it 122? Mr. GREENWOOD. Yes, sir. And they will be placed on 10 of the reservations where we have extended credit to the Indians and where there is great need for follow up work to see that the programs on which the credit was based are carried out. PROVISION TO PROVIDE FOR DEFRAYING EXPENSES OF INDIAN FAIRS Senator HAYDEN. Well now, what about this additional language adopted by the House: and not to exceed $5,000 may be used for defraying the expenses of Indian fairs, including premiums for exhibits. Has it been the custom or the Indian Office to give premiums for exhibits, or to pay the expenses of such fairs? Mr. GREENWOOD. We have assisted to some extent in enabling Indians to hold fairs, agricultural fairs. No money has ever been specifically provided by the Congress for that purpose. Senator THOMAS. But you have found money, have you not, to use for that purpose? Mr. GREENWOOD. We have, by curtailing other activities; yes, sir. Senator THOMAS. In other words, this is in a sense a recognition of the necessity or value of Indian fairs? Mr. GREENWOOD. That is correct. Senator THOMAS. And is a request that the Congress recognize the value of these fairs? Mr. GREENWOOD. Yes, sir. Senator THOMAS. And instead of requiring the Department to curtail here and there and raise a little money, you can do it under the law to assist them and you want the Congress to recognize the fairs and make direct appropriations for them? Mr. GREENWOOD. That is the purpose of this. Senator HAYDEN. Did the General Accounting Office ever question such expenditures? Mr. GREENWOOD. No, sir. No question has ever been raised. Senator THOMAS. That is located in the midst of about 13 tribes of Indians: The Kiowas, Comanches, Apaches, on the south side, the Wichitas and affiliated Indians on the north side, embracing the Washitas and the Caddos, with 10 or 12 remnants of tribes intermingled, so we have there something like six or seven thousand Indians surrounding Anadarko; all tribes, and it makes a desirable place for the fair. The fair is well patronized, and is a great success, and as I understand, you recommend that Congress recognize the value of these fairs by direct appropriations? Mr. GREENWOOD. Yes, sir. We have been assisting that fair at Anadarko. Senator THOMAS. Yes; I know you have. COOPERATION BY STATES Senator THOMAS. Also the State recognizes the value and where you give, say, $1,000, the State gives $5,000. That has been the position. The State has recognized the value of the fairs and the Indians recognize the value of it. GREATER NEED FOR FARM AGENTS THAN FOR ASSISTANCE RENDERED THROUGH FAIRS Senator HAYDEN. We have two propositions; one is to restore the Budget estimate for the employment of agricultural agents, and the other is the deducting of $5,000 from this sum and added to the net effect, it would bring the amount up to $5,000 above the Budget. Mr. GREENWOOD. Yes, sir. If we are compelled to choose between the two items, Mr. Chairman, in all frankness, we would have to choose the farm agents. We feel that there is a greater need for that type of assistance than through the fairs, although the fairs do have a tremendous value. FUNDS FOR FOLK FESTIVAL Senator THOMAS. There is an item in this bill, as I remember-I have not checked on it—a small amount to encourage this so-called folk festival here in Washington each year. Would you care to comment on that? Mr. GREENWOOD. Yes, sir; we gave the people who are sponsoring that folk festival some assistance 2 years ago, and we ran into difficulties with the General Accounting Office. We were told that our funds were not legally available for that purpose, so that this past year, that is, 1940, and also in the present year, we were unable to give them any assistance. We do not have any objection to the Congress providing a small sum that will enable us to bring Indians to Washington to participate in that annual folk festival. We think it does have some value. INFLUENCE OF FOLK FESTIVAL Senator THOMAS. The influence on the Indians is not just that it is exerted on the few Indians that may come to Washington. The influence is extended throughout the whole Indian Service, as I understand the matter, because the Indian tribes if advised of this festivity, where the tribe becomes interested, it is natural that they should want to put forward the best examples that they could of whatever kind of activity they choose, and it brings about competition among the members of the tribe to seek to come to Washington; so it is a means of stimulating activity in the lines that are pursued here among the Indian tribes; so that what we see in Washington is not the whole result of it. The big result in all probability is among the tribes themselves where they have these competitions for these places, where they choose those whom they are going to send, whether it is dancing, or what it is. Is that your understanding? Mr. GREENWOOD. They do hold local festivals, and as a result of those local festivals, selections are made of the individuals and the arts that are to take part in the national festival. SHEEP-BREEDING STATION ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATION (See p. 464) Senator HAYDEN. I notice in the language here, "and not to exceed $30,000 may be used for the operation and maintenance of a sheep breeding station on the Navajo Reservation." Is that an Indian agency? Mr. GREENWOOD. Yes, sir. Senator HAYDEN. I have heard recently that because of military uses there that there might be some interference with sheep raising. Do you know what the situation is? USE OF WAR DEPARTMENT'S LAND AT FORT WINGATE Mr. GREENWOOD. The situation is this, Mr. Chairman, that we have been using the War Department's land at Fort Wingate for this sheep experiment station. We have been utilizing about 18,000 acres under a revocable permit. When the experiment station was established, no one had any idea that the War Department would ever have any use for that land. It is an ammunition depot. As a matter of fact, we could have, when we first established the station, secured a transfer of jurisdiction of the land, but we did not think it worth while at the time. However, conditions have recently arisen which require the War Department to utilize part of the area we are now using for grazing purposes, and we have been notified that we will be deprived of about 5,300 acres of the 18,000 now in use. It so happens that the 5,300 acres contain most of the good water and most of the good grazing land within the area we are now using, so we are faced with the necessity of securing additional lands. INCREASE IN SIZE OF GRAZING AREA FOR NAVAJO SHEEP-BREEDING STATION We had proposed before this situation arose to go to the Budget this past fall with an estimate for an appropriation to increase the grazing area available to us. We are now maintaining about 600 breeding ewes for experimental purposes, and we feel, to get the best results out of the experiments, that the herd should be increased to about a thousand, which would have necessitated purchasing additional lands. When the War Department situation arose we postponed going to the Budget with an estimate until we could learn what quantity of land would be taken from us by the War Depart ment. NUMBER OF ACRES TO BE LOST As I said, we now have been advised we will lose about 5,300 acres. Senator HAYDEN. What are you going to do about it-are you going to cut down the number of sheep carried there? Mr. GREENWOOD. No, sir. We feel that we cannot do that; that is, if we want to make full use of the experimental work that has been carried on at the experiment station, we should not curtail the activities. They should be, as a matter of fact, increased; that is, we should increase the number of breeding ewes we now maintain at the station. We are making progress. The scientists who are in charge of the program there tell us that we have accomplished in 5 years what they thought could not be accomplished in 10 years on this experiment station. |