New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-05
Many of City's Film The
aires Open Doors to
Children Again.
WAIT FOR BELL
TO LIFT MOVIE BAN
Health Heads Hopeful as
Holiday Reports Show
Wane in Plague.

Reports Of the Department OF Health
yesterday showed 4 decrease Of twelve
in the number Of new cases Of infan-
tile paralysis and . decrease OF four
in the number of deaths, as compared
win Sundays figures. The new cases
were thirty-nine and the deaths six
teen. The number OF new cases re-
ported yesterday is lower than 1t has
been at any time since July :. on which
date there were thirtytwo.
The hearts Of hundreds OF children
who have been fortunate enough TO
escape the dread epidemic of infantile
paralysis, but who have suffered for
the victims deprived Of amusement
were gladdened yesterday when the
motion picture houses began TO open
their doors TO children over twelve
years old. Also the fact that children
Of all ages were allowed TO congre-
gate with more freedom in their play
at the various Labor Day celebrations
in the Fairgrounds and recreation cen
tres throughout the city added to their
Joy.
Many Lift Long Ban
The attendance OF children at the
movies for the first time IN weeks WAS
not as large as II might have been o"-
ing 10 some confusion among the pro-
prietors Of both the small and large
theatres as 70 how far they should 20
in lifting the ban. No definite reyoca-
ton Of the order Of George Il. bell
Commissioner OF Licenses, closing the
places against children, had oeen IS
sued since Health Commissioner Emer-
son announced last Thursday tnat IL
would be safe for children over we've
20 enjoy the screen shows. Some OF
the theatres would not admit the ehll-
dren on that account.
Many of the proprietors, however
seized tho opportunity OF holiday 70
omen their places on the strength OF
Commissioner Emerson's announce,
ment, and wherever the ban was liftec
the attendance Of youngsters was large
The Health Department oihees IN
Manhattan and Brooklyn received many
telephone calls yesterday from 'he
movie proprietors 20 know just where
thew stood. They were Informed ths'
the department had no jurisdiction over
the theatres and were referred 70 Com
missioner Bell He, however, was OUT
Of the city. When DR.. Emerson not-
fed the license commissioner Thurs
dav that he considered II safe 10 iit
the ban against the motion picture
shows the officials Of that department
bad either gone or were preparing 70
co ont Of the city over the week end
and Labor Day. This probably &C
counted for no definite Announcement
from the commissioner.
All Expected TO Open.
Il expected that the motion picture
.beatres and other public places OF
amusement will be thrown open 10 az
children By the time the puphc schoOis
omen. which has been fixed tentatiVely
for September p. ao,.bs
Tbe r.ports Of new eases and deaths
,.as,srdav. which continued the grad
Iai d;minution Of the epidemic, en-
couraoed Health Department ofieia1s
80 IooL forward 70 return 20 normal
co,ditions and the lifting OF many OF
80 n-eventive restrictions WITHIN the
rex. few weeks, perhaps by the end
Of the month Meanwhile, none OF the
vigilance OF the inspectors OF ne !oGa1
departmert in the affected areas, OF lHe
United States Public Health service
in interstate travel, IS beng TelsAeu'
The total figures yesterday colhPaIeu
With those OF last Monday sho"
decrease Of four in the number OF ne"
case. and decrease OF nine IN nc
number OF deaths. Manhattan 1eaGH
with twenty-five new cases ~ ~
Brooklyn reported only nine. mere
were six new cases IN Inc bIonA, wv
IN Queens and none IN Richmond.
Eight deaths were reported IN bfooA'y"
and four in Manhattan.
Health Clerks Busy.
Nos. Of the health officials observed
,b. holiday Yesterday, and the Offices
~ the department in Manhattan were
deserted except for few clerks. Ihey
were kept busy writing out health GER
tihcates for children whose parents
wanted 20 take them out Of the city
for a days outing.
Inspectors Of the United States Pub
lie Health Service were a.! az their
stations inspecting outgoing traveI'
and the office Of Dr. Charles Z. BANKS
senior surgeon Of the service, was HeP'
busy because OF the heaFy L1O"i "a
traffic. DR.. Banks took occasion 70
commend his inspectors yesterday LOT
the manner in which they had per
formed their work He said over
$4,000 Federal health certificates mad
been issued since the inspection OF
travel started, and that up 20 the pres
ent not a single complaint against any
OF his assistants had been received.
He declared that ne considered this
remarkable in view Of the fact that he
has had thirty-hve men at WORK IN
snectirc travel az the different points
OF departure. but he explained that the
men on duty here were the pick OF the
government service. The physicians OF
the Federal Health Service are stil.
somewhat concerned over the manner
in which the disease persists IN Man
haitian. Last week there we're 2lo
cases in the borough, an average OF