The sun., 1918-11-01
New Cases of Grip Show D
Decrease of 1881 and
Deaths, 70.
EPIDEMIC NEARLY OVER
Health Commissioner, How.
ever, Warns Public to Con-
tinue Precautions.

and he believes that another week VIII
see the disease past the epidemic stage.
Figures show a decrease OF 1881 new
influenza cases yesterday, compared
with the total OF the previous day, and
decrease Of .s7s new cases Of pneu-
monia for the same period. Deaths
from both diseases were seventy-threc
less than on Wednesday.
But the people must not relax their
care and vigilance because OF the de-
cline. Every precaution should be
taken to keep the disease from breaking
out anew, DR.. Copeland said.
In line with these precautionary
measures the public schools will be
closed on Monday to allow four whole
days for a thorough cleaning and disin-
| lection, Arthur s. Somers, President Of
the Board OF Education. and William L.
Ettinger, Superintendent OF Schools, on
nounced The teachers who have been
under a constant strain from the extra
duties of health measures will get an ad-
| ditional day Of rest. The schools are
always closed on election day, so 1t
was thought best to close them on Mon
day. too. 49,
| As an example OF the enforcement Of
precautionary measures preached to the
| public, DR.. Copeland himself stopped
| cars in Lexington avenue last night and
! forced the conductors to vertilate them
| properly. He boarded one tightly closed
car and asked the conductor what he
meant by running his car without keep
Ing the vent.lators and some Of the
| windows open. The conductor said
1 hraa n
other drunk" and gave the motorman
| the bell. DR.. Copeland laughed and
| showed his authority. The gold shield
stupefied the conductor until DR.. Cope
land urged him into activity. He and
tho conductor opened the windows and
| ventilators. Approving passengers also
helped.
The Health Commissioner made sew
eral trips up and Gown the line seeing
that the regulations were enforced.
SENDS Letter no Commission.
Following the policy OF seeing for
himself, DR.. Copeland made an informal
tour of parts Of the city Wednesday
night, which resulted In the following
letter to the Public Service Commits
sion:
when I was young man ] taught
school in the country. and 1t was my
observation that there were certain boys
in the school who had to be watched
every minute. The minute my back was
turned they were busy In some mischief.
VIII you tell me why II Is We cannot get
some of the transportation companies to
carry out. with any degree Of uniformity
} and common sense, the reasonable regu-
lations of this department?
Last night saw one OF those little
cars on the Spring street line packed
as full OF persons as sardtne box could
be packed, and every window In the car
Twas tightly shut.
Then on the Fffty-nin street cross.
town line, with three or four persons In
the car. and a rather stiff wind from the
north blowing. every window was wide
open and a breeze was blowing through
that would almost take the hair on the
passengers heads The free ventilation
OF the car perhaps gave excuse for tbs
entire absence OF any OF the officia
signs Of the department advising agains
; coughing and splitting.
> Lack of Common Sense.
"Is there any reason why the trans
portation companies cannot give thet
conductors the sort Of instruction tina
a will lead them to exercise some degree
! of judgment in carrying out our regula
: tons? There certainly was no excuse
for the Spring street conductor havini
r the windows all shut The least degree
of common sense on the part OF tn
, Fifty-ninth street conductor would hav'
caused him to close the north window
v OF the car and depend upon the souti
a windows for ample ventilation.
III we talk every day about thes
I simple rules OF health We are givei
attention, but as In my school OF othe
a days these bad boys have TO be watched
Z every minute or they will not behave
= Is there any way in the world Z
n establish n permanent system of opera
4 ton of these street cars 80 that IN
d health and comfort Of the citizens vii
: be a matter OF daily and hourly con
Germ on the part OF the operators?
Last night at ! o'clock, there cam
down Seventh avenue a street car draw
'. ing a rotary street sweeper. ! ar
assured that II raised suffocatin
n cloud OF dust that obscured the view o
the scenery in that heighborhood TIL
Is another instance OF the lack OF judg
d ment and good sense on the part @
n the operatives of the street car lines
a The Emergency Advisory Commute
;. will meet to-day to consider the prob
= lem Of looking after children who's
d parents died during the epidemic an
e matters relating to traffic and openin
L are to be lifted by tho Health Depart
ment, but the committee probably wi
e make recommendations TO the public !
Q the hope that the improved car servic
a be made permanent, and the openin
d and closing order be observed wher
J. It does not work hardship.
s Favor Continuing Rule for 'HOur'
VI Following a hearing of the Public Sci
vice Commission upon the advisapiiit
= OF continuing the opening and ciosin
70 hours and the maintenance of the pres
" ent schedules Chairman Hubbell said:
THE commission will give earnest after
ton to the subject of regulating hours
opening and closing Immediately Whe
the Health Department first proposed II
H. order told DR.. Copeland I would lin
to see the change made permanent on
as ] believed il would materially bette
TO transit conditions. or course the con
ce mission has no power to require bus
Il ness men to observe any fixed hour
&. and a permanent schedule could only
n effected by mutual agreement amor
I'd those concerned.
ce ITO see whether such agreement
possible the commission Will soon ca
eel conference of theatrical managers. d.
It's partment store proprietors, manufa
or turers and heads Of other large indu
RS tries, together with the Health Commi
to sioner and other representatives OF Il
at city government for the purpose
of bringing about united action. The e!
y. pertinent already made has worked
yo we'll that New York city would be Il
'ol gamer II present conditions could
,ir perpetuated."