A-4608, SEPTEMBER 25, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 327

A-4608, SEPTEMBER 25, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 327

COMPENSATION AND RENTAL OF QUARTERS - MATRONS OF THE INDIAN SERVICE THE COMPENSATION AND RENTAL OF QUARTERS FOR OUTING AND FIELD MATRONS OF THE INDIAN SERVICE ARE PAYABLE ONLY FROM THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION "INDUSTRIAL WORK AND CARE OF TIMBER.' PAYMENTS HERETOFORE MADE FROM OTHER APPROPRIATIONS OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY TRANSFER SETTLEMENTS. (MODIFIED BY 4 COMP. GEN. 550.)

DECISION BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL, SEPTEMBER 25, 1924:

THERE IS BEFORE THIS OFFICE FOR CONSIDERATION THE QUESTION AS TO THE PROPER APPROPRIATION CHARGEABLE WITH THE SALARY AND RENTAL OF QUARTERS FOR OUTING AND FIELD MATRONS OF THE INDIAN SERVICE. THE INDIAN OFFICE REPORTS THAT IT HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE TO CHARGE THE SALARY OF SUCH MATRONS TO THE APPROPRIATION "INDIAN SCHOOLS SUPPORT," AND THAT THE EXPENSES FOR RENTAL OF QUARTERS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED BETWEEN THE APPROPRIATION "INDUSTRIAL WORK AND CARE OF TIMBER (FIELD MATRONS)" AND THE APPROPRIATION "INDIAN SCHOOL AND AGENCY BUILDINGS.' IT IS EXPLAINED THAT THE DUTIES OF THE POSITION ARE NOT ENTIRELY THOSE OF FIELD MATRON, BUT IN PART TO CARE FOR INDIAN GIRL STUDENTS OR EX STUDENTS EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY WITHIN OR IN THE VICINITY OF LOS ANGELES, SOME OF THESE GIRLS BEING EMPLOYED IN PRIVATE FAMILIES.

THE APPROPRIATIONS IN QUESTION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1924 ARE FOUND IN THE ACT OF JANUARY 24, 1923, 42 STAT. 1182, 1183, THE APPLICABLE PORTIONS THEREOF BEING AS FOLLOWS:

SUPPORT OF INDIAN SCHOOLS

FOR SUPPORT OF INDIAN DAY AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES IN CONNECTION THERE WITH, * * *.

INDIAN SCHOOL AND AGENCY BUILDINGS

FOR CONSTRUCTION, LEASE PURCHASE, REPAIR, AND IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOL AND AGENCY BUILDINGS, * * * PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR IS AUTHORIZED TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES IN THE INDIAN SERVICE, WHO ARE FURNISHED QUARTERS, NECESSARY HEAT AND LIGHT FOR SUCH QUARTERS WITHOUT CHARGE, SUCH HEAT AND LIGHT TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE FUND CHARGEABLE WITH THE COST OF HEATING AND LIGHTING OTHER BUILDINGS AT THE SAME PLACE.

INDIAN SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

FOR COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS TO AND FROM INDIAN AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND FOR PLACING SCHOOL PUPILS, WITH THE CONSENT OF THEIR PARENTS, UNDER THE CARE AND CONTROL OF WHITE FAMILIES QUALIFIED TO GIVE THEM MORAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING * * *.

INDUSTRIAL WORK AND CARE OF TIMBER

FOR THE PURPOSES OF PRESERVING LIVING AND GROWING TIMBER ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS AND ALLOTMENTS, AND TO EDUCATE INDIANS IN THE PROPER CARE OF FORESTS; FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF SUITABLE PERSONS AS MATRONS TO TEACH INDIAN WOMEN AND GIRLS HOUSEKEEPING AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD DUTIES, FOR NECESSARY TRAVELING EXPENSES OF SUCH MATRONS, AND FOR FURNISHING NECESSARY EQUIPMENTS AND SUPPLIES AND RENTING QUARTERS FOR THEM WHERE NECESSARY, * * * $375,000, OF WHICH SUM NOT LESS THAN $50,000 SHALL BE USED FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF FIELD MATRONS AND NURSES: * * *.

APPROPRIATIONS IN IDENTICAL TERMS ARE FOUND IN THE ACT OF JUNE 5, 1924, 43 STAT. 399, 404, AND 405, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1925.

THE ONLY PORTION OF THE APPROPRIATION IN WHICH ANY PROVISION IS MADE FOR MATRONS IS THAT UNDER THE HEADING OF "INDUSTRIAL WORK AND CARE OF TIMBER," WHICH PROVIDES BOTH FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF MATRONS AND FOR THE RENTAL OF QUARTERS FOR THEM AND FOR FURNISHING NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR SUCH MATRONS, AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN INTENDED AS AN ALL INCLUSIVE APPROPRIATION FOR EXPENDITURES PERTAINING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH MATRONS.

NO EXPLANATION IS OFFERED BY THE INDIAN OFFICE AS TO THE DUTIES OF FIELD MATRONS OR WHEREIN THEY DIFFER FROM OUTING MATRONS. IT IS INFERRED, HOWEVER, THAT "FIELD MATRONS" IS THE DESIGNATION APPLIED TO THOSE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN TEACHING INDIAN GIRLS AND WOMEN HOUSEKEEPING AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD DUTIES, WHILE "OUTING" MATRONS APPARENTLY ARE NOT ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN TEACHING BUT IN SUPERVISING INDIAN GIRLS OR WOMEN EMPLOYED IN PRIVATE FAMILIES FROM WHICH PRACTICAL TRAINING IN HOUSEKEEPING AND HOUSEHOLD DUTIES MAY BE OBTAINED. UPON THIS BASIS, WHILE THERE MAY BE A TECHNICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUTING AND FIELD MATRONS, THEY BOTH APPEAR TO BE WORKING TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE OF THE APPROPRIATION FOR MATRONS FOUND UNDER THE HEADING "INDUSTRIAL WORK AND CARE OF TIMBER; " THAT IS, THE TRAINING OF INDIAN GIRLS AND WOMEN IN HOUSEHOLD DUTIES AND HOUSEKEEPING. IN VIEW OF THE SPECIFIC PROVISION IN THAT APPROPRIATION FOR THE SALARY AND RENT OF QUARTERS FOR SUCH MATRONS, IT IS AVAILABLE THEREFOR TO THE EXCLUSION OF ANY OTHER APPROPRIATION OF A MORE GENERAL NATURE. SUCH CHARGES ALREADY MADE AGAINST OTHER APPROPRIATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1924 OR 1925 WILL BE CORRECTED BY TRANSFER SETTLEMENTS, AND PAYMENTS FOR SUCH CHARGES HEREAFTER ACCRUING SHOULD BE MADE ACCORDINGLY.