The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-08-03
ERlE'S POSITION
Railroad As Unwilling to
Expose New Jersey to Con-
tagion As Commuters to
Be Exposed.
NEWARK WILL ACT
Harrison Will Appeal to the
Governor and State Health
Board Other Protests
NEW ARK WILL ACT

Speaking in his official capacity as
president of the Newark Board Of
Health, DR.. H. H. H. Herold declared
that should the officials whose duty it is
to guard the State from contagious dis
ease and infection fail to act against the
plan of New York city TO transport its
INDECENT consumptiyes via the ferryboats
and trains Of the Erie Railroad and
across New Jersey back into the EN-
pirt State tosa proposed municipal sana-
torium at Otisvile the local authorities
would take vigorous measures to avert
the peril, says the Advertiser.
Il cannot believe for one moment,
declared DIR. Herold, that those who
have immediate jurisdiction will not act
in view of the statement of the situation
by the Advertiser. We will, of course,
give the proper authorities chance to
act. Should they fail we will unques-
tionably take up the matter and do what
is proper to prevent this scheme from be-
ing carried out.
..The Newark Board Of Health does
not care to usurp authority. But It
will not hesitate to act if others fail'
Strong resolutions were adopted by
the Harrison Common Council last night
| protesting against the plan proposed by
the New York city authorities. Town
Counsel Barrett was instructed to for
mally notify the Governor and the State
Board Of Health of the action taken, and
also TO make statement as to the ap-
prehension felt by the people of the town
and their demand for protection.
1t was announced yesterday by Presi-
dent F. D. Underwood. of the Erie Rail-
road. that7he and the officials associated
with him in the mana cement of the com
pany We're as much opposed as anybody
else was or could be to the plan of the
New York Health Department to send
the tuberculosis patients of the metropo-
lis in the passenger coaches and ferry
| boats used by the army of New Jersey
commuters to the municipal sanitarium
to be established at OtisvIlle. n. Y. In.
an authorized interview. Mr.. Underwood
made it apparent that the mana cement
regarded the prospect with extreme dis
taste. but that as a common carrier the
company would be compelled to trans
port whatever consumptives the New
York Board of Health saw fit to send
over its lines.
The Erie's executive also pointed out
that the most. effective way to deal with
the situation and to preserve the resi-
defnts Of the Stae from contact with the
unfortunates who could not but dissemi-
nate germs Of their deadly disease would
be for the commuterstfo organize and TO
denland from .Asze Health officials of New
jersey the protection warranted by the
circumstances. Mr.. Underwood said
The Eric Railroad.:is placed in an un-
fortunate position aseresards sits patrons
in this mattor. It is even more anxious
Ito meet the wishes of the commuters
than they can be to have us 1neet them.
We DON'T want to carry the pauper con-
sunpives that will be sent to Otisville,
but we are common carriers. and under
| the law must transport any person who
| offers us a ticket, no matter whether pur-
chased individually or by the officers of
the Board o. Health, 50 long as he be-
havss himself. aad is not in such condi-
tion chat avideRee Of his ability to COM
municate disease is perfsctly evident to
even the layman.
| eve cannot segregate them and send
them in separate, cars, as has been sug-
gested. for the simple reason that we un-
| derstand it to be tne purpose of the New
| York Board of Health to have these pa
tients shipped singiy, n pairs, or in small
numbers, Immediately the health officers
tnd the INDECENT consumptives in the
taraeInests. wlso avs in need of treatment.
Under the :aw she Eolder lof first
class ricket can 20 into any car he