The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-03
THE POST OFFICE.
The Great Pie Stand Question
Finally Settled.
President Grant Inspects the
Building.
CrieVOus Complaints About Bad Light and
WretChed Ventilation.

The great pie stand question yesterday over
Swallowed by the visit Of President Grant tho Post
ONCE. In sooth it required such extraordinary
event TO throw that important question, which has
stirred public feeling its depths, into the shade.
Ludcrous as II may seem II is nevertheless true that
the pie and cake stand the question Of the hour
As Postmaster James aptly expressed IL yesterday,
every man pride who felt share in the grandeur OF
the new building was offended" by the dsgracefui pie
counter in the handsome lobby. The Postmaster
seemed 70 be fully conscious Of the uproar which THIS
little stand had made in the world and that in the mind
of the New York public il transcribed in Immediate IN
terest the revolt Of the Scavs in Herzegovina the Carl
ist war and even the Old Catholic Conference at
Bonn II will be a Of satisfaction TO the
outraged sentiment Of the public TO know that TWO OF
the great DEPARTMENTS Of our national governmentthe
Post once and the Treasury-have been in serious
communication with another the subject OF this
Die stand and that gallant Postmaster General
felt himself constrained to address yesterday the follow
ing lengthy telegram 10 tho Postmaster OF New York,
which shows that the Of popular excitement has
sven reached Washington
TIE POSTMASTER GENERALS DESPATCH.
Hon L. JAMES, Postmaster New York city p -
Colonel Knowlton writes that the lunch table and stand in
Brsow agreed with me that there we're to be no stands
in the building l. no Ppss or s@a a es s Tor selling
a. the money changers were lom The temple
From the above viii be seen that the Postmaster
General after grave consultation with the Secretary of
the Treasury, has taken determined stand the
stand question that the next democratic Congress
will have weapon against his administration, far
as this nuisance concerned II is only regretted
that the unfortunate wording Of the despatch leaves
open the imputaton that the Postmaster General OBJ
jects only the sale Of 'poor and also Of good
whiskey; but is charitable to presume that was
dictated in haste and probably designed such
an Interpretation. II will be seen from Postmaster
James that he very dscreetly forbears to make
any aluson TO the whiskey. The following his
reply
After consultation with Hon W A Potter Supervising
-'''''' 49, --'-'' I. L. JAMES, Postmaster
And thus the great pe-stand question has been set
tied without bloodshed and popular uprising pre-
vented by the judcious course of the government.
After Saturday next the pieman will no longer adorn
The lobby, and the hungry peeaters will have APP
pease their craving somewhere else. Seriously speak
ing although the removal of this little may
FIRST blush appear trihing matter, unworthy OF such
serous public agitation it cannot be doubted that the
precedent being once firmly established innumerable
other eyesores of similar character would have sprung
mp in almost every corner of the fine building and its
handsome Hobbies turned into a sort of
TUMBLE FRUIT AND PIE MARKET
and general restaurant Another good result OF this
open few days the Northern end Of the Broad
way side has also been npped In the bud the Postmas-
Der declaring that no gastronomic excescences Of any
kind will be allowed IN the building.
His Excelency President Grant company with Col
hector Casey Of New Orleans paid visit to the Post
Dfce yesterday. With commendable republican Sim
plicity he unannounced, and, when the two dis
tngushed strangers made their appearance the Post
twas the faithful attendant suspecting that
II was Of the thousand politicians who overrun the
Office with view to get an appointment for some
worthy eager to serve his native country said,
'T'n see, sir. Please send in your card"
PRESIDENT GRANT STOOD hoDEsTLY ASIDE,
hat in hand while the famous New Orleans Collector
proceeded comply with the business like request OF
the attendant; but Providence which proverbiay cares
for every little sparrow not even forget Presidents
and at thus awkward uncture one Of the department
puperintendents happened TO pass through the room
He Immediately recognized the President Of the
United States, and shocked, Of course that the
great should have TO send in his card the Post
master Of New York like any other mortal he whis-
pered few words 10 the attendant and the door Of tho
Postmaster's private sanctum instantly few open as
though touched by wand The Postmaster was
not little surprised at the unexpected visit FROM His
Excelency the President who, to be historically
precise, was dressed in black and wore q swallow
lai and a rather shabby hat Postmaster James,
though suffering greatly from cut in his foot which
reduces his gait painful limp, led his distinguished
guest through the entire building, which seemed 10 az
ford him much pleasure The tour with the necessary
explanations lasted an hour after which The President
babe his host hasty adieu
BAD LIGHT.
Already there are many grevous complaints on the
part Of the employees about the bad light Il seems
That the chandeliers in he main working room are wo-
fully inadequate, and hence hundred India-rubber
Iuoes nave 70 be used 70 give the men light immedi
Ately over their desks The whole lighting apparatus
room appears 10 De WTeLcnedly Inadequate and
were II not for the makeshiits already alluded to it
would be impossible TO see at night II is obvious that
for the instantaneous reading night Of all sorts Of
nlegibe superscrptions Of letters vivid light right
the counter is absolutely necessary, while tho
chandeliers at great height from the desks and
also very few in number. One said that If this
state Of things not quickly remedied they would
soon be blind and they all agreed as to the total made
quacy Of the light in the and 70 the superiority
ofthe old building in this respect
A SIZZLING ROOM.
There also bitter complaints about the total lack
Of ventilation in the newspaper ROOM which Is in the
basement right below the general working room. Mr.
Forester the superintendent Of the city newspaper
department took the writer down stairs and his
ment was fully borne out by the facts The place was
close and the air sitting all means Of ventilation hav-
ing been entirely neglected Yontlators should be
used instead Of the alright vault the side
walk, and other means provided TO afford supply Of
fresh air At present there whatever and az
there six huge boilers underneath can easily be
Imagined what oven this place will be in the winter
when they will be in full blast. Even yesterday the
atmosphere was scarcely endurable The men speak
with no great compliments OF this portion of the great
hulett's work.