The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-24
TO STOP CAR CROwDING.
REPORT THAT THE HEALTH BOARD
rs TO TAKE ACTION.

A secret S1eeting ut which Hundreds OF CONF
plnints Were Copaidered-Tho Piau IL Tor
the Health Beard TO Have the Aldermen
Pass New Ordtnapce Governing the Point.
1t was stated Yesterday that n secret meeting
OF the Health Board hid been hold for the pur-
pose Of considering several hundred complaints
made by citizens who wanted the health author
titles TO take somo action against tho ovcrcrowd-
ing of cable cars and elevated railroad trains.
Az n result of tho meeting IL was said action
will be taken Immediately toward framing q
city ordinance prohibiting railroads from carry.
ing moro passengers than they can provide
seating ccomnodations for. This action will
be In tho form OF n resolution TO be passed by the
Board Of Health ordering and directing the
Board OF Aldermen to create a city ordinance
governing the subject, In other words, It is the
intention Of the Health Board to compel the
Aldermen to take action to remedy the OWL. II
the Aldermen refuse the Health Board will take
action against the Aldermen.
1t 10 understood hat President Wilson Of tho
Health Board favors this course, and at the
next meeting of tho board will introduce the
resolution referred to. In doing this he will DO
acting under section 8 Of tho Sanitary Code.
which Is as follows:
msFRAsAEcE AND NoNFEAsANcE.
Sec. 8. That no person shall carelessiy or negligently
do or devise or contribute TO the doing OF any act or
thing dangerous to the life or detrimental TO tho
health OF any human being; nor shall any person
knowingly do or advise or contribute TO the doing
Of any such act or thing mot actually authorized by
law, except with j~ustinable motives and for adequate
reasons; nor shall any person omit to do any act, or
to take any precaution. reasonable and proper. to
prevent or remove danger or detrImentt TO tho life or
health OF any human being.
1t ia the nonfeasance part OF the above Sec
ton that covers the case in question. Tho
Board OF Health will take tho stand that tho
Aldermen have omitted to act in the matter.
failing to prevent or remove the danger or dctri-
mcnt to the life OF human beings who are forced
to stand up in crowded railroad cars.
Section 10 Of tho Sanitary Code says that
every person shall observe and obey each and
evory special regulation and every order Of the
Health Board that Is or may be made for car
rying into effect any Of the ordinancesor pow
1t is claimed that II the Aldermen neglect to
Board Of Health, the latter may pass a second
resolution with the object Of enforcing the first
one.
A. Sun reporter was unable to see President
wilson Yesterday, and no one else In authority
cuss the matter for publication. 1t was stated.
however, that for several years complaints have
poured into the department. the complaints
being from persons who believed their lives had
been endangered by being compelled to stand In
railroad cars. Tho complaints grew in num-
Der. until on some days now as many as fifty are
received. Many OF the complaints wcre from
women.
When a member of the Board OF Aldermen
was spoken to on the subject Of any action that
The Board Of Aldermen cannot be ruled BY the
Board Of Health. and 1t is ridiculous for any
one connected with. the Health Board to ad.
possesses some great powers. but not the power
to give orders to the Board of Aldermen"