Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-02-19
Bill 10 Transfer the Indian Affairs To
the War Department..

the War Department.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 18.-The bill reported
from the committee OF military affairs to day
for the transfer of the jurisdiction and con.
troll OF the Indian Bureau from the Secretary
of the Interior to the Secretary of War,
provides that the act shall take effect on the
LIST OF July next The Secretary of War ia
required TO detail IN officer not below the
rank of colonel to take charge of the Off re,
under ouch regulations as he may prescribe.
Army officers are to act as superintendent,
agents, sub'agents, etc, thus abOlshing all
the civil machinery of the Bureau Provi.
sion is made for the continuance of the In
dians through army officers, and the Secre-
tary of War is requiredto cause an enumer-
alton OF all Indians to be taken. The report
OF the committee was unaniaous.
Death of Revcrdy johnson.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 11.-Dr. Steiner who ex-
amined the body of Reverdy johnson shortly
after It was found, gives the following as his
theory of the cause of death: Mr. johnson
either stumbled over u piece of coal or.
being seized with vertigo or incipient symp>
toms of apoplexy, and striving to save him.
self moved towards the west, staggering
along by the northerly side of the executive
mansion and at each step his body gained
additional momentum, so that having reached
the door into the basement, he swayed around
to the south and fell, his head striking
sharp corner of the granite base o. the house,
which gave the first wound in the head.
Reaching the pavement of rough cobblc-
stones, second wound was received in front
of the first. AT this instant, probably, the
bones of the nose were fractured One joint
of the second finger of the right hand was
dislocated. Whether the subsequent stTug.
giles may account for the abrasions on his
knees and fingers of the left hand can't he
positively asserted. The wounds in the scalp
were accompanied with fractures externally
The bones of the Uranium and base of the
skull also, with probable rupture of AFTER
les at the base. Death must have resulted
instantly.
Mr.. Gwinn, attorney general of the Slate,
and son in-law of MIR. johnson, is of opinion
he was seized with vertigo and fell, as he had
a similar attack, lasting three hours, while
attending trial in South Carolina several
years ago.
When the general assembly met today it
was Immediately informed by q commun!ca-
ton from Gov Carroll of the death of Mr.
johnson. Both houses adjourned. They
will assemble in the hall of the House at 3
p. NJ, and then go 10 the executive mansion
and escort the remains to the depot, where
they will be taken to Baltimore in a special
car.
The Governor said in his communication:
Mr.. johnson died from an. unaccountable
and unwitnessed accident.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 11.-Mayor Latrobe this
morning issued an order converting the city
council in extra session this evening, that
the municipal authorities may give express
sion to the great loss sustained in the death
of Mr.. johnson. The flags on the public
buildings are at half mast In the United
States district court this morning, the death
of johnson was announced, and the court at
once adjourned. The Baltimore Bar and
bench meet to morrow.
N. p. R. R.--Extenslon of Time.
WASHINGTON, Feb 11.-Section four of
the bill granting eight years extension OF
time for The completion of the Northern
Pacific Railroad is as follows: That the
extension of time granted by section one of
this act shall not apply to the branch line of
said road from Lake Pen d'Oreille, across
the Cascade mountains to Puget Sound in
Washington Territory, and at the expiration
OF the time allowed by the existing laws for
the construction of said branch line as here
toforc, the lands granted therefor and not
then earned by said company, by the con-
struction of said branch line of road, shall
be restored to the public domain, to be dealt
with as other public lands, under the direc.
ton of the Secretary of the Interior.
Taxation OF Railroad Lands.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The House bill
for the taxation of railroad lands provides
that If the company refuses to pay the costs
of surveying, they constitute a lien on the
patent which shall thereupon be issued to
the company.
The House committee on public lands have
substantially agreed to report bill making
the land granted to the Pacific railroad com.
panies liable TO local taxation as soon as
earned by said companies, but it is not likely
to seek that aim through compelling the rail
road companies TO receive patents ON pain of
forfeiture.
Heavy Storm TIA Illinois.
. CINCINNATI, Feb. IA Commercial Col
nnnhn Ill Slncinl of the 18th CO vS. Snnhnuis