New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-02-13
Labor Department Closes
Ellis Island to Health
officers, Preventing Ex-
animation of Aliens
Change of Front
Puzzles Copeland
Opens Battery Station,
Hoping to Round Up ALI
Who Are Sent Ashore

Emergency efforts OF the New York
r.y Health Department to prevent
,ossible spread Of typhus fever
,s,onOhout tbs country met with
..,ious setback yesterday when tele-
ram from the Department of Labor
n Washington TO Commissioner Of
immigration Frederick A Wallis di-
,seted that no interference with the
,ork OF the Ellis Island authorities
vould be permitted.
Upon receipt of the telegram Com
-,;ssioner Wallis notified DR.. Royal S.
ropslsnd, Commissioner Of she Health
pevartment, that under the instruc-
1ons from Washington the Health De-
,srtment's examiners and inspectors
would not be allowed to conduct their
sxsminations Of immigrants at Ellis
Island.
Later in the day members Of the
solicc force detailed to assist the
He.lth Departments force Of diagnos-
s;tisns, sanitary inspectors and clerks
organized by DR.. Copeland on Friday
we're -efused admittance to the United
States Barge Office at the Battery,
where the immigrants are sent after
detention and examination by Federal
health officials at Ellis Island. The
Health Department had established its
own clearing station in the Brooklyn
Thirty-ninth Street ferry house adja-
cent, after learning that the exarnin-
ing force could not perform it's work
on Ellis Island.
Puzzled by Attitude
Both local and state health officials
we're puzzled by this apparent change
in attitude Of the Federal authorities
and keen disappointment because OF
this evident intention not to cooperate
With the city in its campaign to keep
out infectious diseases brought to this
port from the Levant and other foreign
areas was expressed by Commissioner
Copeland.
He was surprised; he said, when he
learned Of the telegram forbidding the
city from carrying out its program of
prevention.
Friday night DR.. Copeland was in
communication with Hugh S. Cumming,
=, Surgeon General OF the United States
Fnblic Health Service, and at that time
feceIVed assurances that the measures
the local Health Department desired to
institute to guard against the inception
mere OF the typhus plague would re-
eeiye the cooperation of the Federal
hsalth authorities. Commissioner Wallis
a,so said that he would interpose no
oOlecnons to the city's program.
Inc telegram, which came presum-
epy from the Office Of the Commis-
soner General Of immigration, was
quoted yesterday as follows:
heiefrlng TO telephonically reported
controversy between municipal and
state authorities relative to medical
ihspectaons, by order Of the Secretary
psrmls no interference by municipal
snicers with present examinations. Pro
eseo with examinations in customary
ansnner, landing immigrants as here
soiofe, leaving to the municipal au-
ttaorities responsibility for such steps
sney may choose TO take after immi-
grants have left Federal property"
Local Doctors Hampered
"nen Dr.. Copeland was informed by
Hnporters that the immigrants off the
holland America liner Ryndam were
osing brought from Ellis Island on
pooiic ferryboats, and that the immi-
grafton authorities would not allow the
posice who were assisting the city ex-
5sma'ning. squad to enter the Barge
to,siee, the Commissioner said these
saihgs we're great embarras sment to
tas Health Department officials.
lnere was danger, he said, that some
u. ,he immigrants would elude the or
qesi OF an additional examination and
Inspection OF Their immediate effects
Sst loose into the city and spread
tasoagh lice they might bear, the
s.'sshsmitting germ OF typhus or some
0tner infectious disease
u was made clear by DR., Lelanc
9oier, port Health Officer, and by Com
missioner Of immigration Wallis that
my were not responsible for the de.
9ssihS or cleansing of immigrants OF
siaef steamship passengers who might
as alao carry lice in their baggage or on
taslr persons.
am going to do the best / car
ss.ues the circumstances" said DR.
SsSope!snd. "It is my business TO keer
sue sewr, well, and the action of some
~ ths government officials is grea'
Su..snsppcintment to me. They seem un
,snang to allow the Health Department
cooperate with them, when, by sc
ssAg' we would be taking effective
iCentibuod an ssae Asups