MF1323.1197 Reel 40_0038

This page is not transcribed, please help transcribe this page

San Francisco Cal March 23rd 1865

Hon Wm. C. Dole, Commissioner of Indian Affairs

Sir, I have the honor to return herewith the accounts and vouchers of Geo. M Hanson late Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Northern District of California, with a [series?] of explanatins given by [M?] Hanson in answer to the [expections?] taken by your Department. When your letter of [illegible] dated January 12th 1864, reached San Francisco I was about on official business in Arizona. On my return, in April, I took up the accounts but could not find the principal parties to which reference is made. Since that period I have visited several of the Indian tribes of Nevada, and have been much [illegible] in making up my notes. M Hanson has written to me several times in relation to his accounts, and I have always answered what I was ready at any time to confer with him and agree upon [illegible] plan of settlement. As he did not wish to [illegible] the [expence?] of coming down to San Francisco, I sent him at his urgent request the list of excetions to his vouchers and expenditures and have at length received his explanations, which are herewith transmitted.

I am [sincerely?] desirous to furnish all the information desired by the Departiment in [order?] that an [equitable?] conclusion may be arrived at in regard to these accounts, but such an investigation as you wish me to make would be about impossible at this date. Nearly all the parties where signatures are attached to the vouchers have left California for the new [silver?] regions, and I doubt if any reliable information in additon to the explanation givenby Mr Hanson can now be [allowed?]. The irregularites appear to me to be in some cases excusable owing to the changes in the currency and the peculiar condition of the Indian [service?] in this State; as for example when the changes seem higher than the current rate and where advances are made by agents and employes [employees] from time to time to meet [illegible] special emergency. In [illegible?] of the length of time which has [elapsed?] [illegible?] the expenditures were made and the great difficulty of verifying the facts where the [illegible?] are [illegible?] [over?] a large [illegible?] of country. I would respectfully suggest as the only equitable [illegible?] of settlement now [illegible?].

1st That Mr Hanson's explanation be received as satisfactory in the absence of any proofs of an adverse character. That he has acted without sufficient authority in some cases and [committed?] ingredients in others is [evident?] but

I see no reason to doubt that he has been [illegible?] by proper parties and find in his accounts no evidence of dishonesty.

2nd That all [names?] actually [illegible?], as per vouchers, be allowed him and that where the vouchers are [informal?] or insufficient or where no such vouchers are furnished, his [illegible?] statement of the [illegible?] of the [illegible?] [illegible?], and the allowance made.

I reccommend this cause for the reason that no [illegible?] [because?] [illegible?] could result in getting at the exact truth "at this late date and also because the whole amount claimed is small, and the difference between sums properly and informally expended or [inconsiderable?] that it would be difficult of not [impracticable?] to determine it with justice to all parties concerned.

I would gladly make a more detailed investigation and furnish you with specific [proop?] upon each print but it would require at least six months to do or, and would not then, in [illegible?] opinion be of any practical value [owing?] to the [illegible?] character of testimony furnished by [illegible?] always more or les [prejudiced?]

Very respectfully Your Obt Sevt J. Ross Browne Special agt Interior Dept