The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-04
PRICE TWO CENTS.
LIGHT AND FUEL CUT OFF.
CUSTOW UOTSE OFFICTtLS TO nm
DEPRITED or WATER.

A Disarranaemeni of the Mails Avertcd Ontt
bv Po-tmRsicr James, Taking the Re-
spon~ihil'iv -An Appropriation Exhnusted'
The order from the Treasury Depart
ment to the cuatodans OF Government build
ings in this city u"e,......
fuel, water, and gas because the appropriations
for those Items had been exhausted and the do
partment had no money TO meet the expense
threatens to dsarrange the postal service here
and throughout the country. Postmaster James
received the order yesterday. lie Is custodian
for the Treasury Department, without pay, Of
the new Post ONCE and Court House, and has
the supervision OF the heating, cleaning, and
lighting OF that ten million dollar edince. In
that capacity he is subordinate to the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, and will Of course see that
the order ls enforced. what he would do as
Postmaster, he said. was another thing. He had
determined that the mails should not be inter-
rupted on account OF the order II he could help
1t, and could obtain Gas and fuel. The compa-
MES that supply the light andiuel might he said,
shut down on their supplies because they had
no assurance that they would get their pay. II
they did the business OF tho Post Office would
be brought almost to n standstill, unless Con-
Rress granted measures OF relief
The gas used In the new Post once Ia fur
nshed by the Mutual GasliRht Com pany, aud
the Government pays a tax to the city for the
running the elevators. The money that Is re-
CURED l. for the perisd ending on the 3Oth OF
June, when the HscR year closes. The courts,
aud District Attorneys and Marshals Onic
basement of the Post once, wherein much OF
| the Post Once work Is done, Raslight Is abso-
| lutely necessary by day as well as by night.
Postmaster James, on receiving the Treasury
| order, telegraphed TO the Acting Postmaster
| General:
am directed as cu.odlan to shut of gas and watet,
and TO discharge engineers, abOrers and others, by
main. Dirt is nseparsbe from poverty and therefore
We can go without cleaners But after tonight gas
the basement aud subj lscments including Newspaper
d'parlm nts, must close unles. Il " possible from
the entire postai ryice VII Be cripp ed.
TO this message the Assistant Postmaster
| General tsleEraphcd back; DO the best you
| n. j am awaiting further Instructions"
| The Postmaster discharged about nfiy em-
ployees, including engineers, liremen, coal pass
ers, and cleaners. The public elevators were
| stopped ana the attendants were dismissed.
Collector Arthur. who l. the custodian Of the
| Custom House. said that the Treasury order
| would seriously interfere vita the public busi-
II ~. II the Custom House ls not kept con-
stanfy heated, ~ becomes too rold for the clerks
to work i'm. Water IS not much used 10y the Cus-
| tom House men, and gas can be dispensed with.
| The exhaustion ot the appropriation Is at
| trbuted to the low estimates mtue for this year.
| he estimates were made In November, 1874,
| when several buildings now occupied were un-
| finished. secretary Bristow Informed Congress
| OF the Deficiency uu tie 18th Of March, AID asked
| for $40 0oU. but Mr.. Randall, Chairman Of the
| Committee ON Appropriations, neglected to
Last night tho Post once was lighted rs usual.
Postmaster James teing RESPONSIBLE for the
| payment OF the Vas bin.
Sacratnry Bri~tnw'- order was enforced In the
| Post Onces and Custom Houses elsewhere
thrgugh ,nt the country, Yesterday but IN most
| OF them the Custndians OF the cdincos became
responsible for the payment OF the bills, aud
| 50 the mail service escaped dis-rraugement.