New-York tribune., 1921-02-26
Fight Renewed
For Ut. S. Fund
To Bar 'I'yplnrns
Storm of Protest Follows
Failure of Congress
to Allow $780, 900 TO
ProtecE New York Port
Reconsideration Is Urged
North River Pier Pressed
Into Service to House
ID G a / N e. d Passengers

Elimination Of the 100000 New York
quarantine appropriation from the Con-
gressional deficiency bill on Thursday
brought numerous protests yesterday
from local and state health authorities
in this city and from the Merchants
Association, Some Of the complaints
regarding the unexpected action of the
House conferees in cutting out the re-
quest for the appropriation went to
Washington in the form of telegrams
urging that the item be restored to the
deficiency bill without delay.
DR.. Leland e. Cofer, port health off,
GER, who sought the 100000 for in
creasing the housing capacity and gen.
eral health facilities at Hoffman Island,
said every member of Congress from
New York had been telegraphed de-
manding that the appropriation be put
through at this session, and that the
Merchants Association had Joined the
health authorities of the port in max
ing the plea.
The facilities at Hoffman Island,
tion, are so inadequate that it became
necessary yesterday to requisition the
second floor of Pier 54, North River,
to complete examinations and inepec-
tion of 1900 passengers detained on
the Cunard liner Aquitania. The
Cunard Line gave its consent to the
use of the pier for this purpose and
provided bedding and food for the de-
tanned immigrants. The normal ca
pacity of Hoffman Island is 1000 per-
sons, and yesterday 1900 were being
held there for disinfection before pass
ing through Ellis Island and landing
in the city.
Examined at Pier
Instead of being sent back to Ellis
Island for the Federal examinations,
these passengers from the Aqilitania
will be passed upon by tho inlmigra-
ton authorities at the Cunard pier,
following the examination by the Quar-
antine officers, DR.. Royal s. Copeland,
city Health Commissioner, said. Then
as they leave the pier the city's dag
nosticians and inspectors will ascer-
tain through an additional examina-
tion if they are hygienIcally fit for ad-
mission to the city.
DR.. Copeland said the refusal Of The
House to concur in the Senate's in
dolsement of the quarantine appropri-
alton sis little short of national
calamity"
"The present situation" he said, ain.
dicates how helpless are quarantine
and immigration officials. Tho harboY
IS. filling UP with ships, Hoffman Island
is Jammed, piers now are being used as
lodging places for passengers. and end
less misery is being caused the immi
grant. Also, UNNECESSARY anxiety is
being created by failure Of the govern
ment to adopt some forward looking
plan. 1t seems to me to be most un-
patriotic for Congress to disregard The
liain facts. and to consider adjourning
without taking the only step that can
possibly effect solution of the dis
ed-immigrant problem"
If the fifteen cases of typhus fever
discovered by the city authorities
among passengers landed in this city
from the steamship Presidente Wilson
three weeks ago had not been detected
and prevented from mingling with the
citizenry, the Health Commissioner ex-
planned, there might have been from
1900 to. $4,000 cases Of typhus in this
city to-day
Only Twenty-seven Held
A total of 1901 immigrants we're in
spected yesterday by the emergency
torce of the Health Department.. OF
these, twenty-seven were sent to Will
lard Parker Hospital for vermln disin-
lection. Three Of those infested were
taken from among $40 immigrants
landed from Ellis Island.
A conference Of state health officers
will be held to-day in Washington,
presided over by Surgeon General
Hugh S. Cumming. DIR. Copeland, who
left last night to attend, expressed the
hope that concerted action would be
taken there to get Congress TO recon
s:der the 100000 quarantine item.
An official announcement yesterday
by Port Health Officer Cofer said the
local quarantine station would pass
into the control of the Federal govern
rnent next Monday. The passing Of The
station to the control of the United
States Public Health Service places
every port in the United States under
jurisdiction of the Federal govern.
ment, New York being the last etate ia
reinqush control.
Dr.. Cofer, who Is an officer Of the
Public Health Service, serving The state
on temporary leave, will remain in
charge.