The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-16
ALDERMEN SHELVE
U. 5. GRIP CONTROL
Socialists Resolution Sent to
Interment Committee
without Debate.
EPIDEMIC STILL GROWS
Shonts Reports Subway Work
ers Healthier Than Those
on Surface and L.
EPIDEMIC STILL GROWS

Al the close OF day m winch tne
number OF cases OF influenza in New
York city showed a striking increase
Algernon Lee, Socialist member OF the
Board OF Aldermen. presented to that
body yesterday afternoon resolutions
eskins that the Federal Government b
asked to assume control of the epidemic
In this city. The resolutions were re-
fsrred without Discussion to the COM
mittee on rules, well populated inter-
ment plot for sociallstic suggestions
An increase Of 7os new influenza cases
was reported yesterday. There was an
increase Of 100 deaths also from this
disease. and an increase Of seventy-nine
new pneumonia cases. Pneumonia
deaths. however, decreased by nine
The epidemic, according to the figures
furnished by the Health Department,
began decreasing in the middle OF last
week, but took fresh squirt Saturday
and has increased daily since.
The Red Cross and the Mayors Com
mittse If Women on National Defence
are organising and perfecting plans.
some OF which are already In operation,
TO care for the sick and aid In every
way possible to stamp out the disease
The city has BEEN divided into districts
Each one has centre In which food
will be cooked and distributed to patients
and the needy. help mobilized and sent
where most needed, and social workers
directed In caring for families Of VIC
tins. -.
still Calling for Narscs.
The Red Cross nurses emergency
council Is making every effort to secure
nurses and other help for the sick. 1t
Is furnishing food and supplies to the
patients and their families in need. 1t
calls for more nurses. the present stan
being entirely inadequate.
A call has been sent out by tho New
York chairman. Mrs. Edward Mcvicker
OF the National League for woman'r
Service to every registered member Il
respond for nursing influenza cases in
both hospitals and homes. Every am
bulance Of the league and practically
every member of the Leagues Motor
Corps is on duty day and night supple
nenting the overtaxed ambulances Of
the hospitals. These women have been
working for nearly month removing
influenza victims to hospitals, and In
many cases giving treatment.
began serving hot food from the army
fie!d kitchens they are operating in the
East Side for the sick. Food tickets
may be obtained by applying to the
Mayors Committee Of Woman on Ma
t!onal Defence.
The resolutions presented to the Board
OF Aldermen yesterday inform the board
that "the city OF New York Is suffering
from an epidemic Of influenza and
pneumonia which 10 already costing
several hundred lives daily and which
threatens to cause the death OF many
thousands within the next few weeks
DimeuIties Are Described.
'.rhat the extreme congestion Of
population. lack OF space. sunlight and
ventilation In tenements and the crowd
ing OF street cars and public places rem
der the task OF controlling such epidemic
in this city peculiarly difficuit and that
this task Ia made still harder by the
fact that nearly one-third Of our physi-
clans and large number OF our nurses
have been drawn into war service.
THAT the large amount OF travel to
and from New York makes the problem
OF checking infectious disease in this city
one Of national as well as local import
ance. Hence the call upon President
WuBOn 10 request tne r eueTal authorities
10 take over the situation here
That the city Is being seriously az.
fected Is indicated In a statement from
the New York Telephone Company yes
terday requesting that all telephone
calls be limited to those absolutely
necessary. because at lea~t 20 per cent.
of Its operators are III The lines were
already overtaxed before the epidemic
began. Now the volume of calls cannot
be handled by the depleted force.
An additional force Of doctors number
ing ia. members OF the third year class
OF New York University and Bellevue
Hospital Medical College. volunteered
their services to the city yesterday. They
will be called as they are needed The
fourth year class is already In service.
Theodore T. Shonts. editor Of the
Subway SUM- has written a story on
Influenza and Subway EXPRESS Trains. {"
He shows conelusively that the health
Of his subway employees is far better
than that OF his surface help; in fact. 81
per cent better. Only as per cent.
OF the subway workers are H., against
las per cent of those on the surface
cars, and 80 per cent. on the elevated.
he Informed the Public Service Commits
sion. Subway express trains. during
the rush hour, he said. are running fifty
six to the hour.
To Lend Extra Servants.
A plan by which domestic help can
be obtai-ed was outlined at the Heath
Department yesterday. II is suggested
that families employing more than one
servant lend the extra ones. with their
consent. to the organizations supplying
domestic help. The servants will be
well paid ard will be returned to the
employers after their assignments have
been completed
The Government has removed the
fuel restrictions in such instances There
should be heat in every building during
the epidemic, and II Is criminal negli-
gence for a landlord to refuse to tura
on heat where there are sick. Is tho
attitude OF the Health Department.
which has the authority and menns 10
compel such landlords to supply heat.
Figures compiled by the Dep" rtment
OF Health. which are admittedly no;
exact. show a material increase in the
epidemic. which Is considered by many
TO have assumed greater proportions
than is definitely known. 1t Is believed
there are far more cases than have
been reported.
The death rate at present In this city
10 fve times the normal one and Il
the highest recorded since 1855. when
medical statistics began. Influenza and
pneumonia averaged 10 per cent. OF ali
the city's deaths yesterday.
$40 for Splitting In subway.
A fine OF $40 was imposed yesterday
upon a man describing himself AZ
bhil'p frost. 80. salesman. S4ot
Broadway. for splitting in the subway
lie was arruixued h.Pcva