MF1323.1197 Reel 40_0718

California W1136 Austin Wiley San Francisco, Cal Aug 15, '65

Submits statement in regard to the payment of outstanding indebtedness incurred by him in [illegible] the affairs of the Supere [Superintendent] to the time his successor was appointed

[signature?] Sept. 28, 1865 J.

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE Sept 9 INDIAN BUREAU

Finance

San Francisco Cal August 15th 1865

Sir,

Having waited thiss [this] long hoping to hear something regarding the payment of my accounts and failing to receive any advice concerning them I am constrained to address you upon the subject.

When upon the 5th of last May I was relieved by Mr Maltby I had not been in receipt of funds for the payment of the expenses of my Superintendency later than to the 1st of Jan. 1865. During the four and one fifth months intervening the expenses were unusually heavy owing to the large crops sowed upon all the reservations and especially at Hoopa where we were obliged to purchase seed as well as subsistence for the Indians.

Trusting to have received my appropriation at the proper time I anticipated it by purchasing articles required and did not hesitate to incur indebtedness where I considered the good of the service demanded it. While I greatly regretted the neccesity of this course I was left no other for it must be apparent that I had to choose between running the Dept in debt or allowing the whole system to go to ruin and the Indians to starve. The consequence is that having re

ceived [received] no appropriation the Dept is in debt for the expense of that period and the creditors who had expected to be paid long ago not only are unpaid but have no assurance as to when they will receive payment.

My successor has received the appropriation for the subsequent quarters and I am at a loss to know why the previous indebtedness remains unnoticed. He is also this morning in receipt of a notice of a requisition having been drawn for the sum of $9600 to pay the deficiency occasioned by the error made in the appropriation for the payment of employes [employee] for the fiscal year ending June 30th 1865.

This deficiency amounted to $800 per month and for the time during his administration (one and five eighth months) amounts to $1466.66 2/3 leaving the sum of $8,133.33 1/3 which assuredly ought to be used in the payment of the employes [employee] during my administration but as he has received no instructions to pay any of my indebtedness will probably remain idle until further advices are received from your office. The employes [employees] to whom this sum is due are badly in need of it and for their sake as well as for the interest of the Dept. I urge that definite instructions be at once sent to my successor.

I am still engaged in closing up my accounts and returns and shall soon be able to forward them. I hope however that the money due my administration will be placed in the hands of my successor for the payment of my present indebtedness that the delay which would occur from trans

mitting [transmitting] the unpaid accounts to Washington may be avoided. Such a course would work great injustice to the creditors and seriously impair the standing and credit of the Dept.

The accounts from each reservation under charge of a permanent agent are certified to by him and approved by me. In all other cases are certified to by me.

Trusting you may recognize the justice and necessity of attending to this matter at an early day.

I remain Very Respectfully Your Obt Servant Austin Wiley late Supt. Ind. Affs. Cal

Hon. Wm. P. Dole Commissioner Ind. Affs Washington, D.C.