Arizona citizen., 1874-04-04
THEsGsFTIZEN.
SATURDAY, AprI 4, 1874.
Mai. w. H. Browns Letter.

Last week we referred to the fact that Maj. Brown accepted the telegraphic dis patch regarding unpaid vouchers for Ind ian supplies and services in Arizona, be- cause of their comparative extravaganza, as referring to himself We gave brief extract from his letter-of March 14-to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and because of it's considerable local interest, the full letter, except date, address and signature, is herewith given:
 SIT: The enclosed slip appeared in the last issue of THE CITIZEN. AS l am the only military man who has lately been in charge of an Indian Agency in Arizona, 1t is not unreasonable to suppose that am the Officerreferred to. If any Of my VOuch- CTS have been returned, l am unaware of it. and if the Indian Bureau considers that have been eXtravagant in my admins tratiOn of it's affairs, it is little singular that, without being offered an opportunity to explain, my first Knowledge should come to me through the columns of the press. It will hardly be claimed that l ap- piled for the appointment of Indian Agent, or that was desirous of the situation. At | the urgent solicitation of the then agent, 1 reluctantly consented to assume the du- l ties which he unheSitatingly declared him. self unable to perform. It IS notorious
 
 last degree, unsatisfactory. The Indians had just murdered the officer stationed upon the reserve, and were threatening the life of the agent; some had left the res ervatiOn, and the temper of those that re- mained was fitful and turbulent. In the face of all this mismanagement, thought it my duty to protect the interest of the government. 1 remained at the San Car | los as acting agent from June to December, and though during this time, there was some serious annoyance, the most lnVeter- ate enemies of the Indians have not charged to these Indians a single outrage,
 nor has any been found to say that even an individual Indian was absent from the reserve except by permission from proper authority.
 As to the civil management of the San l Carlos Agency, 1 refer you to the InSpec- 1 tor: although 1 was not present when Gen. | Vandever was at the San Carlos, have never even seen him and can have no knowledge of his opinions, l am willing to be judged by what he saw and reported.
 Ignorant of all the details which govern | the accounts of the Indian Bureau, 1t IS probable that I neglected many forms whose technicalities should have observ- ed.
 I am unwilling, however, to be vaguely | charged with careleSSneSS or eXtraVagance. | It must be borne in mind that the Indian | Bureau has been so frequently obliged to ask long credits that dealers cannot afford
 to furnish supplies as cheaply to It as to a cash purchaser. If it is the opinion of the department | that have been eXtravagant. demand an l investigation. and respectfully request, with that end in view, that tabular state ment of the supplies furnished and the prices paid therefor, during the last two wears, at the Indian agencies in Arizona, | be prepared and sent me.
 It may be possible in other localities that beef and other articles are purchased | cheaper by Indian Agents than by officers. | In Arizona it is notably the case that the contracts made by the Indian Department l for beef and flour are at prices nearly double those paid for supplying the mill | tary with the same articles.
 Tn conclusion, I have the honor to re- quest that a reply be sent to my address as given below.
 Mai. Brown asks to be addressed care Of headquariers military division of the Pa cific, at San Francisco. AS developments favorable or unfavorable to any or all par ties concerned become public in pursu- ance of this initiatory proceeding, we shall
 give them as full publication as is consist | ent with our space.