The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-08
ASHINGT0N
Reported Intention Of the President to
Change His Cabinet.
Explosion Of a Gas Main in the
Capitol.
Considerable Damage Done to
the Building.
INSTRUCTIONS TO REVENUE OFFICERS.

INSTRUCTIONS TO REVENUE OFFICERS.
WASHINGTON, August 7, 1858.
The President Becoming Excited-A New
Cabinet Talked Of.
Rum0rs are anOat tonight about proposed Presi-
dental movements and purposes but whether
founded on fact or not am unable to state. One Of
these Is to the effect that Mr. Johnson intends for the
rest Of his term to be really President and longer
the mere instrument Of others; that he intends to
reorganize his Cabinet and take other decided action
before many DAYS go round do not profess to give
this on authority but merely as of the on ats of
the day.
Cabinet Meeting-ROllins' ResiguatiOn-The
Alaska Collectorship-Patent Office Appoint.
ments.
Secretary Schoneld arrived here this morning from
his trip to Newport and is in attendance at the Cab
met meeting to-day. The other members present at
the Cabinet meeting are Secretary McCulloch, Secre
tary Browning, Attorney General Evarts and Assist
ant Secretary OF State Hunter. Considerable inte-
rest Is attached t9 tas Cabinet meeting to-day,
IN consequence of general belief that the SUBJ
ject of the Internal Revenue Commissioner
ship will be prominently discussed. 1t is
also believed that the question OF sending
trQoDs tQ. Louisiana would receive attention, At
torney General Evarts has been engaged since his
return in preparing his opinions ct the request Of
the President. One Is in reference to the resigna-
ton Of Mr. Rollins, Commissioner OF Internal Rev
enue, and the other Is on the power OF the Presi-
dent to appoint Collector OF Customs for the Terri
tory OF Alaska. With regard to the former opinion
1t Is said that in the judgment Of the Attorney Gene
raj the resignation OF Mr.. Rollins Is simply no resg
nation at ALL and that the action Of the President in
acceptingsuch resignation does not cause vacancy,
but merely notifies Mr.. Rollins that his unconditional
resignation would be more than acceptable. The sub
stance Of the opinion in regard to the Alaska ap-
pOintments Is stated to be that the ONCE OF Collector
of Customs for Alaska having just been created by
legislation the vacancy existing IN that office is
original vacancy not made by the resignation re-
mOval or death OF former incumbent and does not
come within the meaning Of the Tenure Of ONCE law.
The President therefore has the right to appoint an
officer to that position.
Nothing has been done to-day In regard to Com
missioner Rollins. The opinion of the Attorney Gen.
era on the points at issue has not yet been given
and no action is expected this week.
Commissioner Foote Of the Patent ONCE, to-day
Ellis Spear, principal examiner, to be
examiner in chief, vice B. F. James, appointed q
member OF the Board OF Appeals; also Ransom Cook
o first assistant examiner to he principal examiner,
vice Ellis Spear.
Explosion Of Gas I'm the Capitol-The Building
Endangered.
gas main in the Capitol, under the centre of the
DOME in what Is known as the Washington crypt
exploded this afternoon with very great force blow
ing out all the heavy framework surrounding and
tearing all the doors, frames and windows to splin
ters and scattering the fragments through the base
ment passages in all directions. The erect Of the
the safety OF the building Part OF the funeral para
phernaa OF the late President Lincoln, which had
been placed for safe keeping in the crypt, was
ignited by the flames and partially destroyed The
broken glass from the basement windows was
blown through the passages as far as the west en-
trance TO the building. and portions OF the wood
work were scattered through large portion
of the eastern and southern wings OF the old build
ing. Notwithstanding the great apprehension and
dread attendant upon an immediate investigation OF
the affair all the employees were promptly on hand
to lend their assistance, and measures at
taken TO prevent further damage, well repair
that already occasioned. Fortunately no one was in
the immediate vicinity at the time OF the accident,
or the result might have been much more serious.
As 1t is no was injured.
A Banker AstOnished-SOmebody's Profits Cut
OH.
The laws for the regulation OF our finances are
turned out from Congress nowadays In such null
tudes and all OF them volumnous In detail that
even those who are most deeply interested in them
cannot prevail upon themselves 10 struggle through
more than dozen pages before they are compelled
to abandon the task through sheer physical and
mental prostration. A striking instance OF the fail
ure OF not only private citizens but public officials to
become thoroughly versed in the many thousands OF
obscure though very important points OF legislation
occurred to-day at the Treasury Department A GER
tain prominent banker OF this city called at
the Treasury to transact some financial business.
While he was there It appears that one Of the Urea
sury officers in cropping through the Civil Appropri
aton act approved July TO- 1868 In search OF infor-
nation on a law question then under consideration,
made the discovery that the act mentioned pro-
hbited the Secretary Of the Treasury rom paying
commissions for the sale or conversion OF United
States bonds and notes. Finding himself greatly
astonished at this discovery, he went from one
officer TO another In the department with the act in
his hand and had his astonshment con-
sIderably increased to find that none OF
them had noted the important paragraph in ques-
ton. Not even the famous banker was aware Of It,
who also expressed no little surprise on learning
that so large slice had been cut from the profits OF
banking institutions fully month ago. and the in
teliQpnCe OF W ntu not parts Ol tne leue-
raj capital until to-day. The first paragraph OF the
civil Appropriation bill approprates 81, 100000 for
all necessary expenses in carrying into eject the
several acts OF Congress authorizing loans and the
issue OF Treasury notes, provided that OF the
said sum shall be used to pay commissions for the
sale or conversion Of bonds and notes OF the United
states
Meeting to Aid Sufferers by the Flood In
Maryland.
public meeting Of citizens was held this evening
nj the city Hall in aid OF the sufferers by the late
food IN Maryland. There was large representa-
ton OF prominent business men and others. The
sum OF 5000 was subscribed and a committee APP
polnted to canvass the city on behalf OF the move
Proposed visit of General Blair.
grand family council OF war is to be held In this
CITY AZ the mansion OF paterfomtias blair in few
days The occasion viii be the arrival here Of the
distinguished candidate for the Vice Presidency on
the democratic ticket and the reason for this swarm