Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-02
ROYER'S ORDER
ISOLATES CITY
FLANCASTER
Drastic Punitive Action Is
Taken by Health Chief
of the State .

Mayor E.. V. Babcock, of Pittsburgh,
in issuing a proclamation raising
certain restrictions in that city to-
morrow. will depend upon develop
ments," was the statement made at
the State Health Department to-day.
This department is one of the few
open, almost everything else at the
Capitol having closed because of the
approach of the election.
During the day DIR. b. f. Roger,
the acting commissioner of health,
will consult with the Attorney Cen
eral over the long distance telephone
and outline procedure which may be
necessary. No intimation that any
further drastic steps will be taken in
regard to Lancaster has been given,
Many kilograms protesting against
the order have been received, includ-
ing some from travelling men who
have threatened to appeal to the
United States Railroad Commission.
However, representatives of the
United States Health Service are act
ing in conjunction with DR.. Roger.
Order Is Obeyed
Reports from Lancaster, said men
at the State Health Department.,
were that the quarantine was being
obeyed by railrads and trolley ines.
Representatives of the depart
ment have been instructed to make
observations on the effect of the
Babcock proclamation in Pittsburgh
tomorrow and Monday.
The city of Lancaster was placed
under quarantine last night by Act
ing Commissioner of Health Roger
g. e..I.-.- - NLa1,..n Tho a1puirNg F
ban in the matter of sales of liquors
and almost at the same time Mayor
f.. V. Babcock, of Pittsburgh, is
sued a proclamation raising the ban
in defiance of the state.
The Roger order forbids any
trains or trolley cars to allow pass
engers to enter or leave the city and
was taken with the sanction of the
attorney general.
The action is the most drastic
| ever taken by a state official. The
| proclamation is as follows:
WHEREAS, an interview with
the President Judge of the Courts
of Lancaster county has been widely
disseminated and published in the
newspapers of the city of Lancaster,
in which interview the said Judge
is quoted as having stated that in
1 his OplillOi lllG SOIllllloSlOlCl "a
Health does not have legal author
ity to close the saloons, which state
ment the said Judge has not seen
fit to retract or deny.
"AND WHEREAS, by reason of
the said published interview, or for
some other unknown reason, a con-
siderable portion of the saloons of
the city of Lancaster have publicly
opened in defiance of the orders of
the Commissioner of Health:
AND WHEREAS, by reason of
the said published interview, or for
some other unknown reason, the
mayor, police authorities, and the
local Board of Health of the city
of Lancaster have since October 81,
1918, refused to cooperate with or
assist in any way the Commissioner
of Health in the enforcement of the
orders which have been issued dur
ing the present epidemic:
AND WHEREAS, by reason of
the said published interview, it is
useless for the Commonwealth to
institute prosecutions for violations
Of the said orders because the alder
men of the city of Lancaster are
unwilling to return such cases to
court, and if returned, true bills
would in all probability not be found
by any Grand Jury of Lancaster
county:
AND WHEREAS, every other
available process for securing an
observance of the orders Of the Com
missioner of Health in the city of
Lancaster has been exhausted,
THEREFORE,, l, Benjamin Frank
lin Roger, Acting Commissioner of
Health, have this first day of No
vember, 1918, declared the city of
Lancaster to be under quarantine
and have directed the railroad com
panies, the street railway companies
and other common carriers to dis
continue after twelve o'clock mid
night this day tho carrying of pass
engers to and from the city of Lam
caster except federal and state Off
Gals and representatives on official
business, and shall take such other
measures as present conditions will
permit to further make the said
quarantine effective; this quarantine
to continue until the Acting Com
missioner of Health is assured that
the said orders are being and will
! continue to be strictly complied
with in the city of Lancaster, or I'M
til the general order directing the
closing of amusement places and
saloons is rescinded.
This action is taken for the pur-
pose of protecting the people living
outside of the city of Lancaster from
any possible further dissemination
of influenza due to premature relax
ing of restrictions; for the purpose
of protecting other municipalities
from similar lawlessness under the
protection of duly constituted au-
thorities which might result from
the precedent which the city of Lam
caster would establish; and for the
purpose of preserving the dignity
and efficiency of the laws which have
been adopted by this Commonwealth
for the protection of the lives and
health of it's people.
with deep regret, I realize that
this action may be b~urdensome to
citizens of Lancaster who have been
loyal to the state, many of whom
have been affected by the regulations
and have faithfully and cheerfully
supported their requirements. To
these / can only say that the burden
has been deliberately placed upon
them by their fellow citizens land
officials"
The following telegram was Sent
to d. n. Bell, General Passenger
Agent, Pennsylvania Sailroad; Ed
son ]. Weeks, General Passenger
Agent, Reading Railroad; w. F.
Eckert, Superintendent of the Will
mington and Columbia Division of
the Reading Railroad; the Superin-
tendent of the Conestoga Traction
Company, Lancaster and other rail-
road and traction officials: I'm the
pursuance of the authority vested
in me by law asActing Commissioner
of Health of. the Commonwealth of
Pennsvivan I have this first dav