New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-18
TO STOP A FILTHY HABIT.

NOTICES POSTED REQUESTING MEN NOT TO SPIT
ON FLOORS OF sTREETcARs.
The interest Of Newly who travel in street.
cars every day has been aroused by the notices
which have been posted In many OF the warn
ing passengers not to spit on the floors. In the
cars of the Third-ave line and in cars Of sew
eral other lines the notice reads Passengers must
not expectorate on the floor Of this BY Order
Of the Board OF Health" Letters Of inquiry have
been sent to The Tribune by NEWCOMERS who
want TO know II there is any law the subject
and. II so, why the law Is not better enforced
One reader OF The Tribune wrote these inquiries
yesterday:
IF there is such law. why Is not similar
notice posted in every car In the city? And why
is 1t not enforced by the employees OF the lines?
1t is not enforced on the Third-ave. line. II
there is such law. II the law cannot be en-
forced what is the object OF posting such notice?
There is law on the subject. but the Board
OF Health passed a resolution several months ago
asking the railroad companies TO try TO prevent
the Objectionable practice OF splitting on the floors
OF the streetcars. At the same time the Board
OF Health passed a resolution recommending that
notices be posted In all public buildings warning
people against the practice and also recommending
that sp,toons be provided and placed in the halls
OF such buildings. The officials Of the Manhattan
Elevated Railway were asked to provide such
sphtoons at all the stations. The notices were
posted In many Of the streetcars in compliance
with the request. oLt there has been no amend
ment to the Sanitary Code to prohibit splitting In
public places II would be impossible to enforce the
terms OF the notices posted by making arrests
and therefore. the conductors on streetcars have
not attempted to do more than call attention to the
notices in some cases General Enmons Clark
the secretary OF the Board Of Health. sad yester
day: ,, .
1.-THE Health Commissioners have hesitated 10
adopt an amendment to the Sanitary Code TO pro,
hibit the offensive splitting the floors OF cars ana
public buildings. because II might lie considered
harsh measure to arrest person Tor snch an
offence against good taste and decency but the
Commissioners want 10 educate the pubic TO
point whore such an amendment might be proper
Comparatively few people understand the danger 10
the public which IS caused by the practice OF spit
ting in public places. II H. believed that the germs
OF consumption may be communicated In that way
The spttle Of a cOnsumptive person may dry on the
floor OF car. and the germs OF the disease may
rise with dust and float IN the air to enter the
lungs OF any person. -,
In this connection 1t Is interesting to learn tina
the tobacco splitting habit In streetcars was stopped
in a Western town recently by an order OF the com
pany placing a can Of sawdust In each car When
a man soied the floor the conductor came In WIN
a small shovelful sawdust and solemnly ana
silently in view OF all the passengers deposited II
upon the evidence of the m ans offending In TWO
months the were shamed into decency.