The weekly Arizona miner., 1873-07-26
lcoMNUSIcArED.l State of Affairs at the Verde Indian Reservation,
To Me Editor of Mc Arizona Miner.

to examine into and criticize the conduct of
 Government officials in all branches of the service, right which is freely exercised, aud though peculations, defalcations, crimes, and
 nalfeasance in office are not thereby prevent ed, there is no doubt that much misconduct is checked and many wrong -doers overhauled and removed from places of honor and trust in consequence of the exposure of fraud and
 illegal acts.
 Probably no ono department of Govern. ment has received more general and searching scrutiny and censure than the Indian Bureau. Throughout the Western States and Territo. rics, where the operations of the Indian De- partment arc principally carried on, and the mass ot the people see and feel the effect of them most sensiblv, the disapprova and con demnation of the policy pursued towards the Indians has been almost universal, and the feeling caused in many sections by the acts oi incompetent or interruptions agents in charge of certain tribes, reservations, or agen- cies, mas oiten amounted to open hostility towards such agents.
 Since the adoption of the Quaker policy it IS believed that in many places the dealings with Indians have been more honorable and fair than under the old style; but there have been and are grievous complaints on account of the performances of certain agents in diff ferent parts of the country, and in one or two noted instances in Arizona
 At this time there is a general feelino of dlstrust and dislike of the Verde reservation. under the charge of Dr. J. Williams, which IS the most important, in many respects. of any of the reservations for hostile Indians in this Territory, having within its limits the remnants of three tribes of Indians, viz the Apache Mohaves, Apache Yumas and the Apaches generally known as Tontos-beinp the tribes who have in years past ravaged the counties of 1avapai, Yuma and Maricopa. Eighteen hundred of these redskins have gone upon the Verde reservation since March lst, 1875, having been forced to do SO by the troops under command of Gen Crook.
 On the lst day of April there were 48 Apache Mohaves on the reservation, who had surrendered as prisoners of war On the 1st oi May there were upon the reservation over l,lOO Indians under the care of the Indian Department. Dr. Williams took cbarpe of the reservation April 2S He had previously for some months had charge of the Indians at Camp Date Creek, which reservation was abandoned and the Indians removed to the. Verde. It is claimed by the military and citizens resident on the Verde, that before the Dr. took charge there, the Indians Were disposed to be quiet and tractabe willing to be counted every day, and receiving their full ratlons daily. Dr. Williams began issuing rations every third day, and after two or three weeks extended the time to six days. and since about Che middle of June has been issuing rations only once Tn seven days.
 Previous to April 2s, while the Indian, were under the immediate supervision of superintendent Bendeil, the Indians got l h pounds of beef and 1 pounds of breadstufi. either Hour or Its equivalent in corn, each day, the ratIons being delivered to the head oi each family or to single Indians in person; and great care was used in giving passes 10 Indians, not more than two or three being allowed to leave the reservation to hunt at one time, and then only for two or three days. ana no rations were issued for them until lhelr return. On the arrival of the Apacbe- Mohaves from Date Creek the effect of Dr. Williams style Of treatment of them was | soon made manifest. The Apache Mobayes | would not be counted and the others soon refused also. Instead of coming out and | forming in line for the enumeration. AS before | they have since been allowed to account for | the number supposed to be on the reserva- ton through their captains. Instead of com | ing Tn person to receive rations, which con- | mon sense would seem to indicate as the only | sure way to keep control of them, the Indi- | ans are not required to appear Every seven | days Masole, Hatostel, Pacula, Pehhay. | Ocho-calna and other chiefs will come up and | draw such rations as may be given them for | the number of Indians they claim to repre- | sent. Passes have frequently been given to | IS many as 70 Indians for absence of ten or | fifteen days, and there are many who go as | they please, without regard to permits, are | under scarcely any control or discipline, and | would leave the reservation in large num- oers were 1t not for fear of Crooks troops. Indeed, 1t would not be surprising if they .houid ao so, II the statements made by the lhdians themselves and men who have been employed on the reservation are correct. The ormer complain, and the latter substantiate the statement, that the Indians do not get the supplies that were promised them when they came upon the reserve. The ration al- owed them by Government for each admit Indian is lbs. of beef and l a lbs. bread. 'tuif per day, 10 lbs. of sugar and 10 lbs. of 'oHee to each lO0 rations, with rice, soap. 'tc. Since Dr. Williams has been feeding 'hem the Indians say they do not get as much flour and beef for their seven days
  'ation as they used to get in three days hat he gives them neither coffee nor sugar And Chas. Ebner, who was butcher on the eservation, says he will make affidavit that 'ueh are the facts that the issue has fre luently been as low as two-thirds of pound ,i beef and three-fourths of a pound of Jour, for ration.
 Sbnlzer or Charlie Pan, an Apache chief old Dr. Williams, plainly, that the Indians lid not get their rights, and had no induce nent to stay on the reservation: that to pet though to eat they were forced to go into the mountains to hunt and get mescal, and they would go and not come back only for fear inc oldiers would kill them.
 iiiams seems to have no energy, no de. ision of character, and the Indians neither ear, love nor respect him, but believe that le IS crazy, and were it not for that fact would have killed him before now. Many of he employees at the reservation and the off. ers and employees at Camp Verde, do not Onsider him entirely uana ard l |