The New York herald., 1921-02-13
COPELAND ORDERS
TYPHUS HUNT ON
ALL IMMIGRANTS
All Ellis Island Passengers
Searched-30 Policemen
Patrol South Street.
TWO LINERS DIVERTED
City Health Officers Barred
From Barge Office by
Federal Order.
NEW HEALTH STATION
Commissioner Wallis Defends
Administration of Health
Il Service.
NEW HEALTH STATION


Health Department, patrolled South
street yesterday and every time a
boat, immigrant laden, arrived from
Ellis Island they "frisked" the passen-
gers for traces of the deadly typhus
germs. In the days catch were four
of 200 immigrants admitted to the
United States who will be taken to
North Brother Island and cleansed
after the fashion of returned soldiers.
The inspection, ordered by Dr. Royal
S. Copeland, Health Commissioner,
marked the first phase Of little war
that has sprung up between the health
authorities of the Federal Government
and the city.
superintendent Percy A. Baker of
the immigration station, received or
ders from Washington to bar all local
health officers from the Barge Office.
DIR. Copeland said officially he was
distressed" How he felt about it un-
officially he asked the newspapermen
to keep off the record.
Two Liners Diverted.
During the day Commissioner Cope
land notified all the steain5hip lines
touching the port OF New York that
nc more unclean immigrants will be ad-
nitted to the city. AS a result the Ital-
ian liner, Re dItalia, and the steam
ship United States. of the Scandinavian
American Line, were instructed by wire
less to put in to Boston. They are bound
here with 1900 and COO immigrants, re-
spectively.
Other measures taken by the Health
Department to guard the city from the
typhus scourge were the installation OF
a health station at South Ferry, in the
Thirty-ninth street, Brooklyn, ferry
house; the issuance OF a "fumigation
order" applicable to all immigrants and
the establishment of an ambulance SER
vice between South Ferry and North
Brother Island until a more convenient
cleansing station can be provided.
Following the refusal of the Federal
realth service to accept seriously DR..
Copeland's warning that New York is
threatened with a typhuS epidemic,
trederick A. Wallis. United States Com
missioner OF Immigration at this port.
ssued a statement defending the Ad-
lIinistration-
MY attention" he said, has been
,alled to certain statements in the pub
led by the public health doctors, as un-
hble to earn a living because of disease
pr physical defects. have been admitted
by immigration officials. This Is err
-oneous.
Evidently some one in authority has
been misquoted The examining physi-
clans of the Public Health Service never
certify that an alien. because OF disease
pr physical defects, is unable to earn a
living. The admissibility to this country
pf aliens. who arc physically defective
ests with the judgment of the immigrs-
ion inspectors. II for any reason the
Inspector Is In doubt the case is then
deferred to the board of special inquiry,
which Is the highest court of authority
n local immigration administration.
This board is composed of experienced
Inspectors. who are specifically desig-
hated as members by the Department
f Labor at Washington.
AN erroneous impression seems 10
prevail in some quarters that the immi-
sration authorities at United States
PORTS arc responsible for the enforce
nent of wartime laws and regulations.
This is not a fact. The immigration
fiicials have nothing to do with the en-
orcement OF Quarantine laws. The
quarantine Station al the Port OF New
'ork is under New York State control.
Dur sole duty Is to enforce the immi-
ration laws after Quarantine has grant
q 'pratique' to arriving ships.
when the immigration officials have
eter1nined that an alien Is eligible for
Omission. II is their duty TO land him
romptly. irrespective of his dcstina-
lon.
'The strict and impartial enforcement
tho immigration law will continue TO
> the diligent and untiring aim of the
Ellis Island officials"
Scope of Fumigation Order.
Tho .fumigation order" which DR.
opeland. acting by authority Of law
assed seventy-eight years ago. put In
prcc yesterday requires ships from the
blowing ports 10 be fImiga d-pas-
engers and cargo--on arrival every
oyagc: All Asiatic ports. including the
falay Archipelago; all African ports.
lcluding the Canary. Cape Verde and
fadeira Islands, all South American
orts. except Dutch. British and French
uiana and Venezuela all Mediterrs-
oan ports. and tho following ports in
he Gulf OF Mexico: Vera Cruz, Tam
leo. New Orleans. Pensacola, Calves
Dn, Beaumont. Sabine. Point Neches and
ort Arthur.
Vessels from ports in Nicaragua,
osta Rica, Columbia and Mexico ex-
W 1ivS' Hduieu dDoNe, must DO 1uml-
atcd every four months vessels from
Putch, British and French Guiana and
onczuels, four months, and from other
orts every six months. The principal
1rpose OF this order Ia the destruction
rats.
The extra inspection at the Battery
as accepted quietly. Immigrants who
al gone through the mill on Ellis
land were prepared for anything, and
ne fact the inspectors OF the city's
oard OF Health we're "cootie" hunting
q not worry them much.
Some OF their friends made = little
lss when they were prevented t-om
rceung now arrivals until Dr. Lopc.
nd's mon had certified them 100 rer
mt. pure The immigrants landed
ere off the Holland America liner
,ndam, which brought PCS potential
tizens.
There are now thirty-four cases ~.
phus on Hoffman Island. tho station
here infectious cases arc taken from
usrantinc. One OF these cases, Or.
opeland said. is expected TO die on
Q Adriatic. which arrived yesterday.
ere we're six cases of measles. but no
Fphus.
Two now cases Of sleeping sickness
sro reported to the Health Depart
ent yesterdAy.