The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-15
END CAR CROWDING,
COPELAND DEMANDS
Health Officer Says Jam Is
Influenza Menace, and
Swami May Act.
SURPRISED BY INCREASE
New Cases of Grip Total 366
More Than on Preced-
ing Day.
SURPRISED BY INCREASE

In an effort to combat effectively the
increasing menace from the Spanish in
fiuenza epidemic here, DR.. Royal s.
Copeland, Health Commissioner. sent an
emphatic demand yesterday to the Pub
lie Service Commission. calling upon that
body to compel the Interborough and
other transportation companies to re-
duce overcrowding on their lines.
District Attorney Swami Joined with
DR.. Copeland In the effort to overcome
the congested conditions, and announced
he was ready to lodge criminal COM
plants II the Public Service Commission
can be prevailed upon to issue a definite
workable order under which the County
Prosecutor might institute a Grand Jury
investigation for violation OF the order.
Unexpected Increase Yesterday
DR.. Copeland appeared particularly
concerned over the unexpected increase
In the number of new cases OF the dis
ease reported yesterday. The increase,
he said. was especially annoying since
1t followed a recession OF the epidemic
which had been markedly progressive
over Saturday and Sunday and which It
had been hoped would continue.
Instead. a total Of 4,2l7 new cases
were listed In the reports made to the
Health Department. an increase of SOS
new cases, for the period ended at 10
o'clock in the morning. At the same
time there were 400 new cases OF pneu-
monia reported from all the boroughs
which was a net decrease for the city
Of IS cases, in comparison to the record
for the preceding twenty-four hours.
Deaths from influenza reported yester-
day totalled 222. against 16S on Sun
day, while pneumonia deaths yesterday
were 245. against 216 on Sunday.
DR.. Copeland's letter to the Public
Service Commission was written after
conference with District Attorney
Swami. following which Mr.. Swami an
nounced that "the only way you can
deal with these fellows Is to show
them the jail door opening" In his
letter to the Commissioner. DR.. Cope
land said:
you appreciate that by what seems
to me strange anomaly OF the law
there was taken from the Board OF
Health its natural function OF regulat-
ing the capacity Of the street, elevated
and subway cars. There can be no
doubt that overcrowding OF the public
carriers Is fruitful cause for the trans
mission OF disease. and that the every
day travel of passengers. under crowded
conditions, must prove real menace to
the public health"
Declare Tranic Relieved.
Among the transit representatives who
conferred with DR.. Copeland yesterday
were Frank Hedley. vice-president of
the PETERBOROUGH: Edward Mahar OF the
Third Avenue Railway Company, DR.. L.
]. Gibon Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company. All assured the Health Com
missioner that the Afternoon crowd
peak had been fiattened." and that, as a
result OF cooperative effort put into ef-
feet under DR.. Copelands direction con-
ditions had been much improved.
District Attorney Swann's advent into
the situation followed his attempt to
get to his own office In the morning In a
surface car that was crowded with pas
sengers and in which. he said, every
window was shut tight. Mr.. Swami
left the car in disgust when three win
dows which he tried to open resisted his
the Health Commissioner Mr.. Swami
emphasized the fact that ut present
there Is virtually no way by which the
railway companies may be compelled to
alter conditions.
He said that an order OF the Public
Service Commission, issued September 7.
and which would make II possible for
the criminal authorities to proceed. was
in state of virtual allegiance. II had
never become operative. Mr.. Swami said,
because the attorney for the INTERIOR
ough Company applied to the commits
sion TO have the order vacated. and the
commission had taken the request for
suspension under consideration
DR.. Copeland made an urgent appeal
for volunteer nurses yesterday, admit
ting that the situation is becoming grave
because Of the lack OF aid for persons
already suffering either from pneumonia
or influenza Nurses, he said, are par
tcularly needed, and the Health De-
partment must have them II the epidemic
Is to be kept from spreading and assum-
Ing enormous proportions here.
Training Is Not Necessary.
1t Is not necessary, DR.. Copeland said,
for volunteers to DO trained nurses.
There are a thousand and one ways In
which the volunteers may make them
selves useful, cooking, cleaning. waiting
on patients, caring for children and
otherwise removing part of the burden
now falling upon the limited supply OF
nurses and volunteer workers.
In order to organize for this work the
following associations sent their repre-
sentatives 20 confer with DR.. Copeland
late yesterday:
Mayors Committee, Mrs w. r. Hearst
Federation OF Womens Clubs Mrs. John
+. Yawser; National League for Wom-
ems Service, Miss w. Muser: Red Cross
New York chapter), Mrs. w. X. Draper
Red Cross (Atlantic dlvision), Miss Jane
Hoey League of Catholic Women Assoc
citation Of Catholic Charities. Miss Teresa
O'Donohue; Salvation Army. womeu's
social department. Col. Margaret Bovill
city regiments Mrs Nelson Henry
Council OF Jewish Women, Mrs. William
Sporburg; Federation OF SIsterhood, Mrs
s. Elkeles: Nurses Emergency Council,
Miss LILLIAN d. Wsld; Young women's
Christian Association. Mrs. James Cush-
man; Catholic Charities OF Brooklyn,
Mrs Thomas Murray; Women's City
Club, Miss Mary q. Hay; Motor Corps
of America. Capt Irma Hopper Fedora
ton OF Jewish Philanthropic Organiza-
lions, Child Welfare Board, Mrs. Will
lam Einstein; War Council of Woman's
Organization, Mrs. Charles c. Rumsey
Police Reserve (Women's District Com
mittee). Commissioner ella A. o'Grady
American Defence Society. Mrs. oliver