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Now, in compliance with this resolution which was adopted by your Committee and now by this Convention, we had another resolution of which the Committee feels rather proud so I am going to read it to you because Mrs. Kirk has mentioned it and Bob Bennett presented it. If there are any questions with reference to the program, Bob Bennett or Mrs. Kirk can answer them. I read you the following: 

Recommendations submitted to the National Congress of American Indians, in the Convention assembled, Santa Fe, New Mexico, December 4-5-6, 1947. 

1. RE-ORGANIZATION OF THE INDIAN OFFICE. 

In order that the Indians may receive the maximum benefits from funds appropriated by Congress in their behalf, and to proceed in the quickest possible time to assume full citizenship status, it is recommended that the Office of Indian Affairs should be re-organized along the following lines:   

There shall be a National Indian Board, appointed by the President for overlapping terms on a non-political basis, to be responsible for making all general policies; such Board to be composed of representatives from Congress, from the Bureau of the Budget, from Indian tribes, also business men and others; which Board shall meet as need requires, and be responsible to the President through the proper Executive Department.

The Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall be appointed by the National Indian Board, subject to approval of the President; said Commissioner to be responsible for administering the policies set down by the Board, with authority to hire personnel necessary to carry out administration, subject to the rules of Civil Service, and such other authority as shall be determined.

Reservation superintendents shall be directly responsible to the Commissioner, and have full authority to carry out their duties.

A plan shall be made for each reservation within the framework of the policies of the National Indian Board; such plan to be formulated by the Superintendent, representatives of the Tribal Council, of the State and of the National Indian Board. State and Federal agencies which function in surrounding areas respectively to extend to the reservations technical advice and services under cooperative agreements or contracts.

Budgets shall be made at the reservation level by the same groups who make the plans, such budgets subject to approval of the Commissioner and the National Indian Board.

Standards will be set up at the reservation level, in the fields of health, education, welfare, economics, etc., on a basis that compares favorably with that of surrounding areas, as the focal point

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