The Portland daily press., 1876-04-04
Democratic Statesmanship.
Aao" 'he Democratic House has Crippled
the Public Service.

tFron the Boston Journal Of Last Even,no1
The order from Secretary Bristow d,rect;no
that the fuel, lights and wafer be cut off from
the public buildings was received shortly after
4 o clock this morning by Mr.. franklin Haven.
Jr'' custodian of the new postofice buildings,
ana acting promptly upon the instruction the
gas ana water meters were closed, the steam
blown OF from the boilors and the firemen.
engineers and other employees IN the care of the
building, including the scrub women employed
in cleanisg the building, in all twenty-eight
persons, were discharged. The elevator was
dropped, and the heavy mails usually elevated
in that manner are now tugged up by hand.
The supply of coal at the postofice was nearly
exhausted and it was the intention of the Gus
todian to get new supply to day, though if
tnere waa an ample supply on hand it would
OF course be unavailable without the aid of
water, OF the engines and firemen The iDcon-
yenlence to the Postoffice Department the Sub
treasury aud other I'm portant Interests 10 the
building car hardly he estimated.
The Postotfice Department will, however,
suffer the most, and If this state OF sffairs
should continue Tor twenty-four hours is is
probable that Boston merchants Will suffer
more inconvenience in getting their mails than
in any previous instances. This forenoon the
money order office and the ''oven" In the baso-
ment, where the mails are received and dis
patched, were so dark that business was tram
sacted with great difficulty, and it will be
impossible to continue business this af-
ternoon without the aid of some artificial light
Meanwhile the temperature inside the build
ing is rapidly falling, and those who have bus-
ness to transact will need to be supplied with
ulsters. lt viii be next to impossible to dis
tribute :he mails after o'clock this afternoon,
especially with the present cloudy skies POST
master Tobey has telegrapbed to Washington
Tor Instructions, and meanwhile will assume
the responsibility OF providing the best possible
means for temporary illumination. 1t was at
first proposed to illuminate with kerosene, but
owing TO the danger from this explosive fluid,
the custodian of the building declines to allow
its use. Chief Clerk Lewis then procured
supply OF old-fashoned "talIow dips 10 meet
the immediate emergency, and by this primi-
tive method the dark recesses will be illumi
mated this afternoon.
1t is not improbable that it will become nee
essary to close the postoffice at 8 O'Clock to.
the New York mail will be distributed, as the
present delay on the Boston & Albany road
brings it into the city behind the usual time.
In case Of sudden fall in the temperature
great damage would undoubtedly result to the
steam and water pipes by freezing
A Treasury circular has been received at the
Custom House stating that the appropriation
for fuel, light and water is nearly exhausted
that no appropriation has been made TOR meet
ing these expenses. Collector Simmons has,
therefore, been directed to incur no expendi-
lures of any kind whatey er on account OF the
Department which would properly be a charge
against the appropriation referred to, and he
is accordingly directed that on and after to.
morrow morning the use of the gas and water
in the buildings under his charge shall be dis
continued and all engineers, laborers and other
employees in connection Herewith peremptorily
discharged. As the Collector has charge Of
the Marine Hospital at Chelsea and the United
States Court House, he has given directions
that on and after tomorrow morning the use
of gas and water shall he discontinued at the
Marine Hospital and the engineer and laborers
in charge of the boilers shall be discharged
This will practically close the Hospital and as
there are somej sixty sick sailors at present In
the various wards OF the Hospital, it is rather
unfortunate. The cooking Is done largely by
steam, and if steam and water cannot be had
the sailors cannot be provided for. Itis state
of things which refie 'ts anything but credit
upon the Approximation Committee in Con-
gress.
The use of water being prepaid at the Custom
House and United States Court house, il will
not be cut off at those buildings, but the en-.
gineer and fireman being discontinued, no fire
can be made, and therefore the Custom House
cannot be heated after to morrow morning,
and merchants as well as employees will have
cool reception IN the granite building.