Gouverneur Général de l'Afrique Occidentale Française, Cabinet, Affaires présentées en Commission Permanente du conseil de Gouvernement (1931) in ANFOM Affaires Politiques, Carton 150
	Notes © 1999 by Jim Jones, Ph.D.

The Council heard the "présentation d'un projet d'arrêté portant création d'un cercle du Baninko (Soudan Français)" (proposal to create a new cercle) from parts of the cercles of Ségou, Bougouni and Sikasso that are isolated from their own centers of administration. Due to this isolation, the inhabitents are deprived of access to Tribunaux Indigènes (native courts), medical assistance, the Service Zootechnique and modern farming measures. Another justification for creating the new cercle is the fact that the piste from Dioila to Tiendo is already open, as are the piste Tiendo-Fana and the circular piste to the most distant villages, Dioila-Banko-Bolé-Togo. The project was approved and paid for in the 1931 budget.

The Council also discussed the Arrêté portant transfer à la Société des Sisaleraies et Carburants africains d'une concession provisoire de 1,600 hectares, situé dans le Cercle de Bamako (application for a land concession by the SSCA). This agreement finalized the transfer of territory between the Sociéte des Sisaleraies and the Société du Coton et des Textiles Africains. The SSCA gets land along the Sananko (or Samanko) creek (marigot) west-southwest of Bamako in exchnage for undefined land elsewhere in the Soudan.

There was a letter from the Direction des Finances to the Gouverneur Général, pointing out that the base price of a day in the hospital has increased from 31 to 31.37 francs and therefore the prices paid in each of four categories have increased as well. The followqing table shows the four categories and the rates for a stay at the medical facilities in Bamako and Kayes:

Arrêtée n° 1993, fixant le prix de remboursement des journées d'hospitalisation dans les formations sanitaires du Service Local de la colonie du Soudan Français (no date)

The council agreed to establish new rates by which medical treatment for government employee was reimbursed in Bamako and Kayes. The following table gives the rate in terms of francs per day for each class of employee:

Saisie quotidiennement de Mme. Gauthier, Chemin de Fer Thiès-Niger 1930 Buffets-hotels: The order of January 20, 1929 authorized Mme. Gauthier to operate "buffets-hotels du Thiès-Niger" (hotel-restaurants in railroad stations). As part of her contract, she was required to pay a deposit to the government to ensure that she paid her taxes. The Council recommended the seizure of her deposit.

Demande d'accession à la qualité de citoyen Français Boutout Sali: This letter dated January 8, 1931, recommends that Boutout Sali, an African teacher with more than ten years of experience, be granted French citizenship. The recommendation came from Directeur des Affaires Politiques et Administratives Rougier, who wrote that Boutout was "nommé instituteur stagiaire le 23 août 1920, il compte plus de dix années de services administratifs. C'est un fonctionnaire honête, conciencieux, dévoué qui par son travail, sa bonne conduite et sa valeur professionelle a toujours donné la plus entière satisfaction à ses chefs. De bonne vie et moeurs, il jouit de l'estime et de la considération publiques."

Adjudication des buffets hôtels de Bamako et Koulikoro. Approbation du Cahier des Charges: This document mentions that the contract to operate the buffets- hôtels at Bamako and Koulikoro was awarded to the Sociéte Hôtelière de Bamako on August 1, 1930 for three years and five months. (The document does not mention this specifically, but this was just after Mme. Gauthier defaulted on her contract. See above.)

Arrêté portant mise en vigueur de tarifs spéciaux provisoires sur le Chemin de Fer du Thiès- Niger: As a result of the world economic crisis, the government created special rates for freight shiped by rail. The special rates were applicable between March 5 and September 30. They applied only to freight shipped towards the coast, originating between Koulikoro and Kidira, and arriving at Kayes, Kaolack or Thiès. Freight would only be accepted at the special rate as long as there are empty cars already headed in that direction. In other words, this is a sort of freight "standby" rate.

Shelled peanuts have their own special rate. As long as they are shipped in rail cars (10 tons or 20 tons) filled to at least 80% capacity, they pay 134 francs per ton for the first 500 kilometers, and 0.01 franc per kilometer after that.

Karité butter, gum arabic, raw wool, sisal and "dah" also got a special rate that depends on the distance shipped and whether they are shipped in open or covered rail cars.

Cotton in bales got a special price as well, but it had to fill a railcar to 40% of its capacity. In that case, the rate was 180 francs per ton up to 500 kilometers, and 0.17 francs afterwards in 10-ton rail cars, or 170 francs and 0.15 francs for 20-ton railcars.

Leather and animal skins shipped in 10-ton rail cars cost 200 francs per ton up to 500 kilometers, and 0.20 francs per ton for each additional kilometer. In 20-ton rail cars, the rate was 190 francs per ton up to 500 kilometers, and 0.19 francs per ton foir each additional kilometer.

Projet d'arrêté portant concession d'une pension pour infirmites contractées en service en faveur de Monsieur Kalifa Coulibaly, aide-infirmier du cadre local du Soudan Français This item was addressed to Le Directeur p.i. des Finances et de la Comptabilité. It is interesting because it explains how worker disability allowances were calculated. It concerned M. Coulibaly, who had cataracts due to fatigue from his job. His allowance was calculated at 1/100 of his last salary times the number of years of service, and had to be no less than 1/5 of his last salary, or 225 francs, whichever was the smallest. Since M. Coulibaly worked 31 years, 2 months and 12 days, of which 15 years were in the military, and his last salary was 3950 francs, his pension was calculated at 790 francs. However, since the military owed him 413 francs, the Caisse Locale de Retraites only owed him 377 francs.

Arrêté étendant aux anciens militaires belges invalides de guerre résident en France ou dans les colonies françaises les avantages accordés aux mutilés français pour leurs voyages en chemin de fer: This law, which went into eeffeect on June 1, 1931, allowed Belgian war invalids to ride the railroad at reduced rates. It does not menion whether this applies to Africans as well as Europeans who served in the Belgian army.

Arrêté portant concession d'une pension en faveur de M. Mamady Diawara, chef poseur du cadre local du Chemin de fer de Thiès au Niger: Diawara was a railroad track foreman who suffered from Parkinson's disease. Using the formula described above, this law calculated his disability allowance based on 13 years, 1 month and 24 days of service and a final salary of 10,500 francs per year. Thus his pension was 2,100 francs per year.

Concession provisoire à la Société des Sisaleraies et Carburants africains d'un terrain de 565 hectares sis à Kénenkou (Soudan): This was one of the companies that competed with SACD (see Babacar Fall). They were mentioned earlier in this file when they received a 1,600-hectare concession west-southwest of Bamako. This concession was granted for five years in order to produce kapock in the cercle of Ségou.

Arrêté portant modification de la classification générale des marchandises en petite vitesse, sur le chemin de fer de Thiès au Niger: Cola nuts were classified as first class freight merchandise. As a result, the rate was too high and the railroad lost the cola traffic to trucks. L'inspecteur général des Travaux Publics Launay recommended reclassifying cola nuts as second class freight.

Arrêté ouvrant provisoirement à l'exploitation les haltes de Bangassi, Babakouine et Miribabougou-village: The railroad began service of all types (passenger, express and freight) at Bangassi (kilometer 1010). The railroad also began limited service (passenger and baggage) at Babakouine (kilometer 10.45 between Kaolack and Guinguineo. The stop at Miribabougou-Village (kilometer 1175.146) will open for limited service (passengers arriving with baggage and departing without baggage).

Arrêté modifant le tarif spécial P.V. No. 1 du Chemin de Fer Thiès-Niger: Following the extension of the navigable portion of the Senegal River at Kayes by 550 meteers, the price for freight handling by the railroad at the river changed from a standard 2 francs per ton at either end of the railroad line (Kayes or Koulikoro) to 3 francs per ton at Kayes and 2 francs per ton at Koulikoro. The minimum tonnage remained the same (4 tons for 10-ton cars; 10 tons for 20-ton cars) but the effect of this law was to raise the minimum freight handling charges.

Arrêté portant mise en vigueur jusqu'au 30 Septembre 1931 de dispositions provisoires concernant les voyageurs de 4ème classe sur le Chemin de Fer Thiès- Niger: This law established fourth class passenger rail service between Kayes and Guinguinéo/Kaolack.

Rapport de présentation en Commission Permanante du conseil de Gouvernement d'un projet d'arrêté portant concession d'une pension en faveur de Madame Magatte Diop, veuve Djibril Seye, ex-maŚtre ouvrier, 3è echelon du cadre local du Thiès-Niger: Seye was an African railroad worker who died of pulmonary tuberculosis after 15 years, 2 months and 26 days of service. At the end, he earned 13,500 francs per year. His widow was entitleed to receive only half of his pension according to the formula given above, so she got half of 2,400 francs, or 1,200 francs per year.

Rapport de présentation en Commission Permanante du conseil de Gouvernement d'un projet d'arrêté portant concession d'une pension en faveur de Mme Diousaba Sakiliba, veuve Bandiougou Dianka, ex-ouvrier principal du cadre local du Thiès-Niger: Dianka was an African railroad worker who died of acute nephritus (néphrite aigue) after 10 years, 7 months and 1 day of service. At the end, he earned 10,500 francs per year. Usding the above-mentioned formula, his widow was awardeed 1,050 francs per year.

Arrêté portant nouveau complément à l'arrêté du 22 Décembre 1930 de mise en viguer de tarifs spéciaux provisoire sur le chemin de fer de Thiès au Niger: This law, which further modified the freight rates on the railroad, mentioned that the Sociéte Coloniale Française de Culture et d'Importation, based in Bamako, installed a small oil press and asked the railroad to modify its rates so that they can export about 5 tons of oil pressed from Kapok seeds.

Rapport de présentation en Commission Permanante du conseil de Gouvernement d'un projet d'arrêté portant concession d'une pension en faveur de Mme Aissatou Dibo, veuve Moussa Bakily, ex-chef mechanicien du Thiès-Niger: Bakily died of a cardiac infection after 14 years, 1 month and 22 days of service, and a final salary of 12,000 francs per year. His widow received 1,200 francs per year.

Rapport de présentation en Commission Permanante du conseil de Gouvernement d'un projet d'arrêté portant concession d'une pension en faveur de Samba Diop, chef poseur de cadre local du Thiès-Niger: Diop retired after 37 years of service, of which 16 years and 4 months were spent working for the railroad. His average salary for the last four years was 8,645.75 francs, and he was awarded a pension of 1,411 francs per year starting on May 1, 1931.

Modification du classement des délégations, cercles et subdivisions de la colonie du Soudan Française, en vue de l'allocation de l'indemnité pour "frais de représentation": This item concerned the reclassification of the political subdivisions of the colony for the purpose of allocating money for the accomodation of commercial and tourist interests. Locations near the tran- Saharan route have seen a large increase in the number of people who pass through their jurisdiction. To accomodate the increased tourist traffic, Timbuktu needed to be reclassified as "Exceptionale, division A" and receive an increase to 3,600 francs per year. So did Gao because it was the terminus of the route used by the Compagnie Générale Transsaharienne. San and Sikasso each needed to be reclassified as "exceptionelle, division B" and to get an increase to 3,000 francs. The Cercle of Goundam was to be reclassified into the second category and provided with 1,800 francs per year, while the subdivision of Bourem was reclassified in the first category and granted 900 francs per year. Finally, the new Cercle of Baninko (created on December 31, 1930) should be classed in the third category at 900 francs per year.

Présentation d'un projet d'arrêté accordant à la Société des Sisaleraies et Carburants Africains la concession provisoire de 950 hectares sis à Sassila (Soudan): The Société des Sisaleraies et Carburants Africains received an additional concession of 950 hectares at Sassila in the Cercle de Ségou for 5 years.

During this session, the council also modified postal rates in the Soudan.

Prélèvement des surtaxes douanières sur les voitures automobiles et les vins ordinaires d'origine étrangère: This law increased the tax on the importation of automobiles and wine from countries other than France. The document mentions that of 1,816 cars imported into AOF in 1930, 1,057 were manufactered in countries other than France. In 1927, 58% of imported wine came from France, but by 1930, only 48% came from France, with most of the rest from Spain and Greece. The following table shows more precise detail:

This chart shows the imports of foreign automobiles into AOF by year and country of origin, from 1924 to 1930:

This table gives the total number of vehicles imported into each colony over the same period (1924-1930):

This table gives the total amount of non-vintage wine (vin ordinaire) imported into each colony from the zone libre during the period from 1921 to 1930:

This report also conveys the opinions of the governors and Chambers of Commerce in the different colonies. In short, the governors plus the Chamber of Commerce of Haute Volta was in favor, while the other Chambers of Commerce were generally opposed to an increase in tariffs on imported automobiles and wines. The opinion of the Chambers of Commerce of Rufisque, Kaolack, Ziguinchor and Saint Louis is interesting: "Ce relèvement de droits, en restreignant la capacité d'achat de l'indigène, aurait pour conséquence de s'opposer à la diffusion des boissons hygièniques et risquerait de provoquer des représailles de la part des nations intéressées" (Increasing the tariff on wines will make them more expensive for Africans who will find it more difficult to obtain hygienic beverages, and it may provoke other countries to raise tariffs on French imports.) In any case, both tariffs passed unanimously.

Arrêté portant exemption des peines disciplinaires (Soudan Français): The following men were exempted from "l'application du régime prévu par le décret du 15 Novembre 1924, réglementant les sanctions de police administrative en AOF."

1. Mohamet Lagdaf, commercial representaitve in Bamako (Niaréla), aged approximately 56 years
2. Abdoulaye Taraore, farmer at Bamako (Bossola), aged approximately 42 years
3. Namissa Keita, farmer at Figuira, aged approximately 50 years
4. Khaly Coulibaly, farmer at Samayabougou, aged approximately 50 years

Rapport de présentation en Commission Permanante du conseil de Gouvernement d'un projet d'arrêté portant concession d'une pension en faveur de Mme Fatou Diagne veuve Moussa Dia, ex-ouvrier principal du Thiès-Niger: Dia died of pulmonary tuberculosis after 9 years, 9 months and 26 days of service. His last salary was 10,500 francs. His widow was awarded 1,050 francs beginning on October 27, 1931.

Rapport de présentation en Commission Permanante du conseil de Gouvernement d'un projet d'arrêté portant concession d'une pension pour infirmités contractées en service en faveur de M. Moussa Koné, homme d'equipe principal du Thiés-Niger: Koné was made an invalid by double cataracts that rendered him nearly blind. He had 14 years and 7 months of service with the railroad, and his last salary was 7,500 francs per year. He was awarded a pension of 1,500 francs, beginning on August 1, 1931.

Rapport de présentation en Commission Permanante du conseil de Gouvernement d'un projet d'arrêté portant concession d'une pension en faveur de Mme Kani Sidibe, veuve Caba Traore, maitre-ouvrier principal du Thiès-Niger: Traore died of chronic dysentery after 15 years, 10 months and 3 day of service with the railroad. His widow was awarded a pension of 1,200 francs beginning November 4, 1930.

The council raised the base rate for hospital stays again to 38.04 francs per day for the hospital at Pointe G and to 29.53 francs per day for the Ambulance de Kayes. As a result, the new rates were:

Remboursement aux Etablissements Daydé de droits de douanes perçus sur matériel destiné au Thiès- Niger: The firm of Ets. Dayde asked to have the colony cover the customs duty on paint that they brought in for use on the bridges of the Chemin de Fer Thiès-Niger.

Under Affaires présentées par M. le Lieutenant- Gouveneur du Soudan Français, the Council discussed the effects of the introduction of trucks on the organization of local transport. According to the Gouverneur Général, truck transport damaged peanuts, used expensive petrol and destroyed local animal-based transport systems, and he concluded that the introduction and expansion of the use of automobiles aggravated the present economic crisis.

The agricultural colony at Niénébale had difficulty during the first year to attract Africans to move there and try a new way of life. At the end of the first year, those Africans who came did not do very well and they wanted to leave, but the authorities convinced them to stay for another year. At the end of the second year, they got good results, so now other Africans want to go there to farm and work.

M. le Médecin-Général Sorel recently toured all of the colonies and was shocked by the large number of sick people in the Soudan, particularly the number of lepers.

Under Affaires présentées par M. l'Inspecteur Général des Travaux Publics, the Chemin de Fer du Thiès-Niger was still in the red thanks to the reduction in the number of passengers that resulted from competition with automobiles.