New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-31
Health Board Orders
10000 Shops to OBJ
tain Permits
SALOONS AND
HOTELS INCLUDED
Authorities Power Far
reaching-Can Close
ANY Establishment

The Department of Health yestsrda!
a5opted an ordinance which requires
o.cb of the 10000 restaurants ano
lunch counters in New York to obtain
ucense. Failure TO comply strictly wi'n
the city sanitary code led to TINS ac'
tion.
The ordinance constitutes one OF the
most farreaching steps taken IN 'he
history of the city's fight for pure 1000
For the first time it gives the health
authorities direct control Of every place
in the city where food is sold ana con-
sumed on the premises, and even sp'
niles to the free lunch counters OF par
rooms.
New York's authorities also have un'
limited power TO revoke any permit al
snv time, and thus, without resort 70
,bs courts. to infict drastic punishment
on restaurant proprietors who violate
persistently the sanitary regulations
Permits for All
The ordinance follows:
No person shall conduct, operate
or maintain any restaurant IN the
citv of New York without permit
therefor issued by the Board OF
Health. or otherwise than IN ac-
eordance with the terms OF saio
hermit and the regulations OF sara
hoard. The term restaurant, as
herein used. shall be taken 70 mean
and include every buffet lunch
room. grill room, lunch counter
E,;,, room of hotel and every
o,ber public place where food IS
prepared, cooked, served SOLD aha
.on.umed on the premises, every
- counter in a saloon where
rood il given away and all kitchens
apou7tenant thereto or cohnee'eu
Herewith.
Hinder the new system, as explained
h- M Haven Emerson. Health Com
r,;ss;oner. inspectors of the depart
ment who find unsanitary conditions il
restaurants or similar places VIII warn
the proprietor. Unless he takes promP
stems to conform to the law MS case
will be reported to the Board o.
Health.
Ordinarily he will have an oppor'
unity 10 appear and explain ms sioe
but in extreme cases, as, for instance
where a proprietor has been persist
emily neglectful, the permit may O'
revoked without hearing.
Heretofore the power of the heaitf
officers has been limited strictly U
,riminal suits in the courts. Inc uh
fsyorsble report of a department IN
snector has been followed by ahloay.lo'
charging violation Of speclhc sectioi
of the sanitary code.
May Continue Practices
Pending his trial on these charges
the defendant has been permitted te
continue in business, and otten nSS
continued the very practices Wnicn
caused the complaint. The delSys
made possible by adroit counsel iol
the defendants in these trlals nave
vexed the health authorities. Ihese
combined with the awkwardness aho
ineffieiency inherent IN the inolrec.
control through the courts prousi'
about the passage of the permit orul'
nance.
"Tbe permit system" DR.. Emerson
cxnlained. will be far more effective
tbsn the old method. 1t will not only
be much quicker, but it will give us th'
mower. where needed, to put immense
pressure on delinquent restaurant
mer. IL is one matter 70 threaten
man with a small fine and remote
chance Of imprisonment IL is quite
another TO threaten him with the I'M
mediate loss of all his business.
'Under the old system IT was possible
for a man 70 continue TO menace tn'
health of his patrons while we prose
cuted him for his first offence, and We
wero powerless to stop him. Under th'
new ordinance he'll either change M
ways at once or quit business. Wei
simply notify the Police Department
that a certain permit has been revoked
and they will close that mans place.
Found Unsanitary Places
more than a year ago we made a sur
vey of the places where food is serveC
and found a large number Of unsanl
tary conditions and practices. an
glad TO say that most of the proprie
tors have shown a disposition to mee'
us half way. But there are many who
have not. Recently We completed sec
ond survey, which convinced us thai
the permit system was necessary. The
faults have been not so much in the
quality of the food sold as in the man
ner in which il was handled.
at will take two and perhaps three
months 70 put the system into effect
All proprietors will be notified of the
new ordinance at once and instructed
to apply for permits. These will be is.
sued as fast as inspections can be made
We may work out some system for the
award of certificates of excellence tC
especially meritorious places.
"The permit system has been found
most effective in handling the city''
milk supply and with dealers in eggs
The present is far greater undertAk
ing on account Of the numbers in
volved, but il will be developed alonl
the same lines"
This system for hotels and restau
rants is in force in many cities Of tn,
country, including Chicago, st. Louis
Minneapolis, San Antonio, Spokane anC
San Francisco. In four states, Ten.
nessee, Florida, Wisconsin and Kansas
hotels are so controlled.