2. The officer designated for the above duty will be advised thereof through the proper military office, but the necessary instructions for the execution of the duty will be given by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
3. Drafts for the payment of the annuities will be transmitted to such officer, who will procure the necessary funds thereupon, and transport them to the place of payment. The annuities will be paid in specie, except where the Indians are willing to receive bank bills, which, at the place of payment, are equivalent to gold and silver. If the Indians fully understand the value of such bank bills, which are equivalent to gold and silver at the place of payment, and are willing to receive the same to avoid the expense and risk of transportation, bills, under such circumstances, may be paid to them: but the officers making and superintending the payment will take care that the Indians fully understand the matter, and act according to the dictates of their own judgment.
4. When it becomes necessary to pay annuities, instructions will be given by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the proper agent or sub-agent, and also to the officer designated to make the payment. The agent or sub-agent will fix upon the time and place, and will advise the officer of the same, and such officer will make his arrangements to have funds ready at the time and place fixed upon.
5. The proper agent or sub-agent will take care that the Indians receive the necessary information, in order that they may assemble at the time and place designated; for that purpose he is authorized to send messages to the tribe, and the expense of such messages will be defrayed upon his certificate by the officer designated to make the payment. It is presumed, however, that the necessary information may be communicated generally without expense; and in no instance will the expenses for this object, for any one agency or sub-agency, be allowed to exceed the sum of one hundred dollars, unless a previous representation of the necessity thereof be made to the War Department and approved.
6. From the situation and circumstances of the various Indian tribes, a uniform rule respecting the issuing of provisions during the payment of annuities cannot be prescribed. Some of the tribes will require no such assistance, while it must be rendered to others. In the instructions issued on the subject of the annuities, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs will designate those agencies or sub-agencies where it will become necessary to provide assistance during the time of payment. In all cases, however, where the payment is made in the vicinity of a military post, the necessary provisions will be issued from the army stores, upon the requisition of the proper agent or sub-agent, and upon the order of the commanding officer, and accounted for in the manner heretofore practised.
7. Where provisions are required for the payment of annuities, at places where there are no military posts, the agent or sub-agent will form a contract, to be based upon proposals, giving at least twenty days' public notice, specifying the quantity of provisions, and the day, and place, and circumstances of issue. In determining the quantity, the agent or sub-agent will estimate, from the best means within his power, the number of Indians that will probably attend; but no contract will be made for a larger amount than may be previously directed by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
8. The ration to be issued will consist of one pound of fresh beef, if the same can be had, but if not, then of three-fourths of a pound of salt meat, and three-fourths of a quart of corn or of corn meal, or of one pound of wheat flour, to each person, and of four quarts of salt to every one hundred persons; but no salt will be issued when the Indians receive salt meat.
Returns, specifying the number of Indians, distinguishing men, women, and children, and stating the tribe, will be drawn by the agent or sub-agent on the contractor, and upon these issues will be made. After the business is completed, these returns will be consolidated into an abstract, and certified by the agent or sub-agent, and the military officer, and thereupon payment will be made to the contractor. The abstracts and contracts will be the vouchers for the settlement of the accounts.
9. It is believed that, in most cases, three days' provisions will be found sufficient; viz. one upon the day of arrival, one upon the day of payment, and one upon the day of departure. Should two days, however, be found necessary to complete the payment, four days' provisions may be allowed.
10. Independent of the Indian agent or sub-agent, and of the military officer making the payment at places where it may be convenient, another military officer will be directed to be present, and certify to the payment.