New-York tribune., 1918-10-10
lnfraction Of Anti-Inhuenza
Rules Will Mean Shutting
All Playhouses
Movie Men Consider
Temporary Shutdown
Epidemic Not Yet at Peak
in New York, but Danger
Is Thought Lessened


operate in every way IN fighting the
menace OF Spanish influenza, or every
theatre in the city will be ordsred
closed. Commissioner Copeland an
nounced that as his programme late
yesterday afternoon. To assist him in
ascertaining Just how thoroughly the
theatre managers arc obeying h.s In
structions, the Commissioner has
plated policeman in each playhouse
in the city to check up and report.
The increase in new cases reported
yesterday, $3.50 being reported, un-
Commissioner.
The National Association Of the Mo-
tion Picture Industry was in session
Yesterday afternoon and evening de-
batting the advisability OF ordering the
closing of all motion picture theatres
for the duration Of the epidemic. 1t
was said that one-half Of the picture
theatres in the United States h sve al
ready been closed by local edicts be-
cause of influenza
William A. Brady. president Of the
National Association Of Motion Picture
Industries, announced last night that
at meeting Of the organization it had
been determined to suspend the releas-
,ng of new feature pictures on Mon
day. October Is. until further notice.
Another meeting Of producers will be
held to-day.
IlannoP Eonn Troxnc
\. H. Smith, regional director of
railroads for the Eastern district,
mas been requested to confer with the
Health Commissioner this morning
n reference to further steps to curb
crowding on trains entering New
York. This conference was announced
after it had been brought to Dr..
Copeland's attention that the city
IS running great risks through the
ans which are being permitted on
trains in the tubes under the North
River, on ferries and on committing
trains running to and from New Jersey
points where the epidemic Of Influenza
S raging.
The Public Service Commission re-
Dorted improvement in transportation
conditions on the subways and ele-
vated trains of the Interborough and
Brooklyn Rapid Transit systems as a
result or the emergency opening and
closing hour schedule for all business
places fixed by the health authorities.
Many complaints continue to pour
INTO the Health Office, however, from
people who assert that the transit COM
panies have apparently simply meas
nred their service with the new condi-
lions and are furnishing just enough
cars TO carry the people, with just as
many straphangers as before.
The McAdoo tube situation was de-
scribed in & complaint to Commissioner
Copeland yesterday. Thousands Of
men. it is said, who are engaged in gov
ernment work in Manhattan and Brook
iyn try to get home by way Of the
tubes every night at practically the
same hour, and in the morning the
lam is repeated. The fact that many
of these men come from points where
practical quarantine has been estab-
lished by Jersey officials has aroused
The Health Department here to renewed
eNorts to cope with the situation.
Theatres Are Warned
In announcing his decision in refer
ence to theatres Commissioner Cope
and said.
"The theatres and other amusement
places in this city have been allowed
20 remain open during the period Of
his epidemic because the managers Of
shese places have promised strictly to
conform to The requirements of the De-
partment of Health, 80 as TO prevent
;he spread of the disease through this
source.
"'rhe conditions laid down by the de-
partment require that each theatre
fnanager or the manager Of any other
place Of amusement shall prevent
crowding by eliminating standing
room; that no children shall be ad-
mittcd to performances, even though
accompanied by guardians; that the
yentilation during the performance
ing shall at any time be permitted in
such theatres, and that these who
cough apd sneeze without using the
handkerchief to collect the spray must
be required to leave the theatre. Fur
thcrrnore, it is required that every
theatre manager shall, before the no-
ginning Of each performance. advise
the respective audiences to observe
sneezing and that those who will not
Pay heed to This admonition will be
required to leave"
The "peak" Of the epidemic has not
been reached in New York, as the
number Of new cases reported ycster~
day indicates, but Commissioner Cope
and Is still hopeful that there will be
epidemic's spread that has been the
experience elsewhere.
More Nurses Needed
TO overcome the shortage OF nurse >
aue to WAY demands and the inroads
made by Influenza IN hospital stats,
the Health Department. yesterday or
panized the senior students of all the
medical colleges Of the city and they
VIII take over the treatment OF the
disease as assigned by the department,
This is revolutionary move along
'l's line. The work OF these students
viii be done under the direction of the
faculty Of the schools In which they
are enrolled.
The College, Of Physicians and Sur
seons. the medical department Of Co.
iumtia University, will send fifty stu
deDts. They VIII be assigned to-day
20 the emergency city hospital in the
n.ariciral lodging house in East Twcn-
'y-t4fth Street. There are already one
hundred patients under treatment
tnese, including thirty Chinese, who
Gro taken from steamer yesterday,
uftering from influenza.
The New York rnipersity Medical
eolicge will send sixty-.ive students to
AXE charge Of wards at Bellevue
ixty students from Fordham Univer-
%,tx,