New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-30
TIE SAN CARLOS AGENCY.
CHARGES AGAINST AGENT wILCoX-EN-AGESr
IIFPANY's STATEMENTS.
IBr TELEGRAPH To THE rgIauxE.l

1IFPANYS STATEMENTS.
IBr TELEGRAPH To rRIsUSE.I
WAsHINGroN. April 20.-Varous charges have
been brought at different times against Agent Will
coxuf the san Carlos Agency Arizona. Commissioner
Price aud Secretary Teller, after investigation,
have expressed their satisfaction that tho accusa-
tioas are untrue, but il is understood that new
charges and specifications are now Oh their way
from Arizona TO be laid before the Board of Indian
Commissoners. Colonel Tiffany, ex-agent OF the
san Carlos Agency, who was in Washington yester-
day, said that one OF the most serious charges
against Wilcox, aside from those affecting his moral
character is to the effect that he is interested IN the
only Indian trading store on the San Carlos Reser-
vation which is nuInnslly owned aud conducted
by his brothor-in.law In this charge is embraced
a statement tnut the Commissioner of indian Affairs
removed the two traders who had been at San
Carlos in order 10 give the monopoly TO the agents
son-in-law.
Toa TRIBUNE correspondent Colonel Tiffany re-
lated the story of his grievances against the Indian
Bureau and declared that before he gets through
with Commissioner Prlco he will make him suffer.
Coonel Tiffany indicted in Arizona after lie re-
sigued frcm tho agency, on charges OF theft and
peculation IN Indian supplies llo was accused OF,
but not indicted for, attempting to speculate in
coal mines discovered within the boundaries OF the
san Carlos Reservation. This charge Colonel
Tiffany says has been frequently repeated by the
officers of the Indian Bureau and has been pub
lshed TO his detrment. lie has correspondence to
show that his course In regard 10 the coal mines
was consistent throughout, and that he firmly re-
sisted every movement to deprive the Indians or
the Government OF the benefit of the coal discoy
cries. According TO the correspondence, the coal
was discovered February IS, 1871. On March
Agent Tiffany wrote letter to the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs announcing the discovery. stating
that ho had had rough survey made which con-
yinced him that the coal was on the reservation
that the Indians were greatly excited iand that
some thirty prospectors had already staked out
claims on tho reservation. lie asked that the sur
vey be made Immediately. IN order TO determine
whether tho coal mines wero on the reservation or
not. II they were found to be on tho reservat on
he recommended that a contract he mads with re-
sponslble persons to mine the coal and pay the Gov
crnment royalty for the benefit OF the Indians.
A move mcnt among the whites was at once started
to have "A portion of the reservation cut oil and
thrown open to settlement. and ,on March /
Tiffany sent dispatch to Commissioners Price pro-
testing against any reduction Ut the reservation.
On March 10 he wrote again in like terms and
again on March Is, inclosing ~ diagram oil the coal
fields and asking for an accurate survey. oh
March 80 he renewed hts protest and asked permis-
sion to 20 to Washington and confer with the So,n-
missioner. On April he wrote informing the COM
missioner that he had ordered the railroad surveyors
VINO were locating line to the coal mneS' on the
reservation and had also ordered the prospectors
away. Five days later be informed the Depart
ment by letter that there was very determined
feeling among the white people, who would obey
his orders to leave the reservation but would go
back as soon as he left the place. lie earnestly re-
quesed that sumo policy be adopted ~ the Depart
ment. Two other letters Of like tenor we're
written IN April and two in May. On May 80 lie
also wrote the Commissioner that j. D. Safely. OF
Iowa, had arrived from Washington with leases
ready drawn for the coal mines and that he had |
called council of the Indians to sec whether they
would consent to the leases, and that In an open
council the Indians had so consented. Hc had' |
therefore, approved the leases and forwarded them
to the Commissioner for his action
Colonel Tiffany says that the first letter he re- |
ceived from the Indian Commissioner .on the sub |
ject of tho coal mines dated August ii, and |
that he dlsapprOved the leases with Safely, on the
ground that Agent Tiffany had acted without |
authority that tue Indians had cnly the rght OIL |
cupanCy of the and no rlght 10 dispose
of the coal for gain. The royalty provided III the |
leases approved by Colonel Tiffany was 2l2 cents |
per ton for coal, and one-sixth OF an tne otner
minerals dscoyc ycred. In regard 10 Saieys status |
when he went to Arizona, Colonel TIFFANY showed
letter from Safely dated April 26. 1858. IN Nhlc9 |
he salu that when no arrived ~ oan ChiioS no s"u
to Tiffany that Mr. Price and himself understood |
each other perfectly. He also says Deiorn going 10
San Carlos had two interviews with Commissioner
Price the conclusion of which give IN his own
words to wit: If you will go and make good |
square lease with tho Indians and have them un-
derstand what they are signing will not only ap-
prove but will guarantee that the Secretary OF the
Interior will sign it.'p
Colonel Tiffany says that the correspondence CON
tnued until he esgned the agency aud that nearly
all the letters were written by himself. lie com
plains that he coud get nothing whatever IRON
Commissioner Price indicating what the policy Of