Imperial Valley press., 1918-11-08
COUNCIL
is OPPOSED
TO MASK Law
At PRESENT
Officials Believe, COunci:
Will Not Pass Mask Ordi.
mace Unless Backed Up
by County.

Late this afternoon it was regard
ed as probable that Ell Centro would
have no "mask law" unless the pre-
venitative measure asked for by D..
Gevin Teller, representing the state
Board of Health, could be backed up
by the county and the other cities in
the Valley.
While few opinions were forthcom-
ing from city officials, it developed
That last nights opposition to the
proposed ordinance would probably
be sufficient 10 insure its defeat if
il was formally placed before The city
council.
Council members were strong in
their condemnation of the alleged
Arbitrary and dictatorial" manner of
DR.. Teller and gave their opinion
that the local officials were perfec'-
ly capable of handling the siuat ion
without outside help.
"There is absolutely no sense in
requiring our people to be masked, #
the same rule is not required of the
people in he rural districts and other
cities of the Valley" said an official
today. ~ do not believe the coun-
Gil will adopt mask ordinance un-
the county board of supervisors and
by the eboards of trustees of the
other cities"
In place of The mask law, The coun-
Gil seems 10 be more favorably in
clined Toward other measures, includ-
ing a temporary hospital, in which
all cases could be isolated, and in
structions 10 officers 10 prevent The
CONGREGATION of many persons on The
streets.
After a lengthy discussion. last
evening. featured by many warm and
heated tilts between various members
of the council, the city physician, DR..
F. w. Peterson, and DR.. Teller, The
council delayed action on passing the
much discussed mask ordinance, and
a meeting will be held--probably this
evening-belween The city itrusIees,
the city and county health PHYSICIANS, !
and The supervisors. with a view ;oi
taking some suitable means 10 COM
bal the epidemic.
Before the meeting was out last
night. DR.. Teller, representative of
The State Board of Health. left the
council chamber afler telling the
"I'm through; Pm through: I am
moi going 10 argue any longer"
He also stated that he was "goins
to telegraph the State Board of
Health tonight telling them that he
had laid this matter before the trus-
tees and that they had seen fit 10 take
no action"
Many plans were considered by the
councilmen, including the establish
ment of temporary delivery by mer-
chants, The limiting of one customer
to each clerk employed at one time,
and other suggestions. The arsu-
ments for and against the mask were
pro and con and the council deferred
its decision, preferring more exper'
opinien in the matter.
The Board of Managers of The Red
Cross met last night at headquarters
and formally passed resolution pu' t.
ting the chapter behind any move
ment the health officers or civil au
thorities may deem essential 10 The
control or alienation of the influenza
epidemic. A committee consisting of
the chairman, J. w. Glassford, and
Messrs. A. l.. Richmond and w. s.
Reed. was appointed TO attend the
meeting of The city trustees, then in
session, and confer upon plans which
might be under discussion. The board
adjourned and the committee at once
went 10 the city hall unon lis mis-
sion, but was not permitted to enter,
the public having been banned from
the meeting.